Adapting to Climate Change: The 2025 Update

This article is the fourth of five in a series to understand the science of climate change. Previous articles in this series looked at the basic concepts of climate change, the causes of climate change, and the consequences of climate change.

The global climate is changing as a result of human activity. But climate science is complicated, and it’s not always taught in schools. If you do not understand climate change as well as you’d like to, let this be your introduction to a basic understanding of climate science. Welcome to Climate Change 101.

The Situation

Global warming was identified as a threat in the mid-20th century. In 2008, scientists determined that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels above 350 parts per million (ppm) would raise global average surface temperatures more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. That would result in a climate significantly unlike the one to which life on Earth is adapted. As of April 2025, the atmospheric CO2 concentration has topped429.24 ppm and is still increasing rapidly.

This doesn’t mean that humans on Earth are doomed – with decisive action, atmospheric CO2 levels can be brought back down to safe levels over decades. But it does mean that global average surface temperatures have already increased 2.32 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) over pre-industrial levels. And we are already experiencing many of the impacts of that change.

Unless and until civilization becomes carbon-neutral, climate change is already locked in; we need to adapt to its consequences.

What to Expect

Scientists once likened attributing individual weather events to climate change to blaming a single cough on smoking. However, as climate science has advanced, so has our ability to link specific disasters to human-induced global warming. 2024 marked the hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold set by the 2016 Paris Agreement.​

Unprecedented warming has led to a surge in extreme weather events worldwide. In Washington, D.C., for instance, the intensity of hourly rainfall has increased by 15% since 1970, resulting in more frequent flash floods and infrastructure damage around the nation’s capital. Similarly, March 2025 was Australia’s hottest March on record, with national temperatures averaging 2.4°C above normal, which caused new stresses on ecosystems and delayed the onset of autumn.

Meanwhile, we are already seeing other impacts of climate change: heatwaves resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, an increase in water and mosquito-borne diseases, and increases in wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and extreme storms.

Climatic shifts are not only environmental concerns but also economic ones. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters have led to an insurance crisis, as insurers struggle to cover the escalating costs associated with climate-related damages in hurricane-, wildfire-, and drought-prone regions.​

The question is no longer whether climate change will disrupt our lives—it already has. How severe will humans allow these impacts to become due to nonaction by government and industry? Will society act boldly enough to adapt and mitigate these impacts in time?

A Renewed Warning

According to the latest findings reviewed in the Draft Fifth National Climate Assessment, climate change is already reshaping the United States. These escalating events are not just environmental issues but unraveling the threads of health systems, economies, infrastructure, and social cohesion.

While some communities, particularly tribal and local governments, have begun adapting, the scale of current action falls far short of what is needed. Incremental steps are no match for the accelerating pace of change. Without a more transformative approach—one that is rooted in equity, innovation, and a clear-eyed understanding of risk—our efforts will be overwhelmed.

The latest assessment warns that we are approaching thresholds beyond which adaptation becomes more difficult and expensive, and the damage to communities and ecosystems may be irreversible. It calls for urgent, coordinated action—not only to reduce emissions but to build resilience, strengthen vulnerable systems, and ensure that the benefits of climate solutions are distributed fairly. The future is not yet written—but the window to shape it is rapidly closing.

Studying Adaptation

​In the face of escalating climate challenges, experts emphasize a comprehensive strategy that includes emissions reduction, carbon removal, ecosystem restoration, and resilience building. The Global Commission on Adaptation’s 2019 report, Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience, highlighted the economic prudence of proactive adaptation. Investing $1.8 trillion globally in five key areas from 2020 to 2030—early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture, mangrove protection, and resilient water resources—could yield $7.1 trillion in net benefits, offering a benefit-cost ratio ranging from 2:1 to 10:1.​

Although the COVID-19 pandemic momentarily shifted global focus away from climate change, it demonstrated the consequences of unpreparedness. Despite the recognized benefits of adaptation, most comprehensive climate adaptation initiatives remain localized. This localization is partly due to the varied impacts of climate change across different regions, necessitating tailored responses. However, the Global Commission on Adaptation emphasizes that while local actions are crucial, they must be supported by national and international frameworks to effectively address the multifaceted nature of climate risks.​

As we navigate the complexities of a changing climate, the decisions made today will shape the resilience and well-being of future generations. Despite the triple dividends provided by adaptation, as early as 2013 the world’s most extensive climate adaptation plans are local. This trend persists in 2025 because of the localized nature of climate impacts and the capacity of local governments to tailor solutions to their specific vulnerabilities.​

Climate change impacts—such as flooding, heatwaves, and droughts—manifest differently across regions, necessitating localized responses. Local governments possess unique insights into their communities’ needs and can implement targeted strategies effectively. However, while local actions are crucial, they often require support from national frameworks to address broader systemic challenges, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development.

And communities are taking the lead. For example, Montpelier, Vermont, aims to become the first U.S. state capital to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. The city’s comprehensive plan includes transitioning to a fossil-fuel-free public transportation fleet and reducing downtown vehicular traffic. In Phoenix, extreme heat and drought has reshaped water management and urban design. Initiatives include using renewable surface water supplies and redesigning downtown areas to mitigate heat retention. Meanwhile, London is investing £68 million between 2020 and 2027 on climate action, including upgrades to riverside walls and the introduction of green corridors to combat urban heat islands.​

Local initiatives are vital, but national adaptation plans (NAPs) must provide a strategic framework to guide and support local efforts. NAPs aim to reduce vulnerability to climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience across all levels of government. However, in countries like the United States, the absence of a comprehensive national adaptation plan means that local governments often operate without cohesive federal guidance, leading to a patchwork of adaptation efforts.

Key Adaptations

The Global Commission’s report found that investing $1.8 trillion globally from 2020 to 2030 could generate $7.1 trillion in total net benefits. According to the report, governments should focus on six interrelated, key areas for adaptation planning.

Food Systems

Climate change continues to threaten global food security. Recent studies indicate that despite advancements, global farming productivity is 21% lower than it could have been without climate change, equating to a loss of about seven years of productivity gains since the 1960s. To address this, initiatives like the United Nations Development Praogram’s Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans program promotes nature-based solutions in agri-food systems to enhance resilience and reduce emissions. ​

Nature-based Solutions

Natural systems regulate water flows, protect shorelines, and complement built infrastructure. Those systems require large-scale protection and restoration. Governments should accelerate progress towards existing political commitments, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and appropriately value natural assets in land-use decisions.

Cities worldwide are integrating nature-based solutions to manage climate risks. For instance, Amsterdam’s Resilio project has transformed over 9,000 square meters of rooftops into blue-green infrastructure, capturing and managing rainwater to mitigate flooding. Similarly, cities like Valencia and Bangkok are utilizing floodable parks and temporary lagoons to absorb excess water during heavy rains.

Water Systems and Resources

Urban areas are increasingly facing water scarcity due to climate change. Bogotá, Colombia, recently ended a yearlong water rationing period caused by severe drought. The city implemented 24-hour water shutoffs every nine days, affecting over 8 million people. Bogotá’s water crisis highlighted the need for sustainable urban water management strategies, including conservation practices and infrastructure investment.

Cities

Urban areas are home to more than half the global population. Cities everywhere need to use community-level data to prioritize actions. They need better climate risk information and technical capacity to respond to changes supported by nature-based solutions. Governments should also invest in improvements to the living conditions of the people most vulnerable to climate change.

Urban centers are adopting innovative approaches to enhance resilience. Copenhagen has repurposed Enghaveparken, a historic public space, to cope with extreme rainfall by building new parks and reservoirs and upgrading sewers to prevent overflow. In China, the “sponge city” initiative emphasizes flood management through green infrastructures like urban parks and wetlands, aiming to absorb and reuse 70% of rainwater.

Infrastructure

Good choices about where and what to build and which existing infrastructure assets to upgrade can directly build resilience. The priority should be building green infrastructure with designs that ensure functionality even as damages occur.

Resilient infrastructure is vital for climate adaptation. In Ireland, Storm Éowyn caused unprecedented damage, leaving 768,000 buildings without power. The event underscored the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades, including the use of smart sensors and renewable energy solutions, to withstand future extreme weather events.

Disaster Risk Management

Governments need to proactively encourage the removal of people and assets from harm’s way through better planning and investment decisions. Simultaneously, they need to step up efforts to warn and prepare people ahead of disasters. Finally, social safety nets and improvements in forecast-based planning can help hasten recovery from disasters when they do strike.

The United Nations has developed a national adaptation planning process to guide nations through climate adaptation planning. However, the U.S. does not have a national climate adaptation plan. In the U.S., the response has been for the EPA to develop guidelines and resources for communities to confront their local climate vulnerabilities.

Effective disaster risk management involves proactive planning and community engagement. The Navajo Nation, where 30% of residents lack running water, has implemented solar-powered home water systems to build resilience against climate impacts. These initiatives demonstrate how tailored community approaches can address infrastructural challenges. ​

Personal Adaptations

Individuals can also adapt to ongoing climate changes.

The Institute for Economics & Peace estimates that, as a result of extreme environmental changes, there could be as many as 1.2 billion climate refugees by 2050. If they can, individuals living in high-risk areas – such as floodplains or coastal areas subject to inundation from sea rise – should consider voluntarily relocating before disaster strikes.

Wherever you live, it is worth taking a close look at your regional disaster vulnerabilities. Choose your insurance plan accordingly and keep those risks in mind when planning home maintenance. You might need a wildfire-resistant landscape or choose a roof for extreme weather. And every household should have a family emergency plan.

Finally, register to vote. At every level of government, vote for candidates who acknowledge the importance of preventing and preparing for the impacts of climate change.

Editor’s Note: Originally published on May 25, 2020, this article was substantially updated in April 2025. The final article in this series looks at what we can do to stop the progression of climate change.