Adaptation and development for mitigating impacts of climate change and climate extremes in urban areas

Abstract

Adaptation is essential to reduce increased risks and repetitive disasters from climate change that limit opportunities for development. Thus, ‘adaptation as development’ as an approach perceives development as the basis for, and in some cases synonymous with, adaptation. Different groups of population become vulnerable to the impacts of climate change for being in geographic space—where vulnerable people and places are located; or social place/position—who in those places is the most vulnerable. However, adaptation in the built environment has to consider climate variables that impact on various financial, physical and human capitals. Recognizing diversity within a society along with associated opportunities and challenges helps in recognizing the diverse adaptive capacities of different groups as well as addresses the problematic issues of agency, power-relations and negotiation of inhabiting the built environment in urban areas.