The terms “adaptation” and “resilience” buzz around discussions of climate change, often used as synonyms. Although they’re closely linked, understanding their distinct meanings is critical for effectively tackling our changing world. Think of it like this: adaptation is about changing your raincoat to better handle the rain, while resilience is about having a whole system in place to stay dry, even if the rain turns into a flood.
“Sometimes, adaptation even means capitalising on new possibilities, like growing different crops better suited to a warmer climate.”
Adjusting to a new reality
At its core, adaptation is about change. It’s the process of adjusting to the actual or expected effects of climate change. It’s about taking action now to minimise harm and even seize potential opportunities.
Imagine rising sea levels impacting our coastal cities like Lagos, Mombasa, or Dar es Salaam. This directly threatens port infrastructure critical for trade, tourism businesses reliant on beaches, and fishing communities that provide livelihoods and food security. Adaptation measures could include investing in resilient port infrastructure designed for higher water levels, relocating key business operations and residential areas further inland through strategic urban planning, or restoring mangrove forests that act as natural coastal defences and also support valuable fisheries. Sometimes, adaptation even means capitalising on new possibilities, like growing different crops better suited to a warmer climate.
Adaptation is about making tangible changes to how we live and operate in response to a changing climate.
Bouncing back stronger
Resilience, on the other hand, is about the ability to bounce back. It’s the capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of climate-related disasters, minimising damage to our well-being, economies, and environments.
For African businesses to thrive in the face of climate change, we need to build resilience across our operations and communities. This means putting in place strong government policies that support sustainable growth, investing in reliable infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather, ensuring access to essential services like energy and water, careful long-term planning, and clear communication with our stakeholders. Essentially, it’s about safeguarding our investments, protecting our supply chains, and ensuring business continuity in a changing climate. It’s about empowering communities to cope with and recover from climate shocks.
Think of a coastal community facing a hurricane. A resilient community not only has strong sea walls (an adaptation measure) but also has effective early warning systems, evacuation plans, emergency shelters, and robust social support networks to help people recover after the storm.
Read also:Facing the fury: How Nigerian farmers battle climate change amid economic challenges
A complex relationship
Adaptation measures can often enhance resilience, but the relationship isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes, adaptation can inadvertently undermine resilience.
Let’s say we invest a lot of money in one large-scale project, such as a massive irrigation system to combat drought. This approach can limit our flexibility. If climate change alters rainfall patterns, that system might not work as well as expected. Farmers who’ve relied on it might be reluctant to adopt new, more sustainable approaches because of their initial investment. This means we might miss out on more effective long-term solutions. This is the “sunk-cost effect,” where past investments cloud future decision-making.
Similarly, focusing solely on one type of adaptation, such as building large flood barriers, can create a false sense of security. This can lead to neglecting other critical resilience-building activities, such as improving drainage systems or developing flood insurance programs.
A three-tiered approach
Resilience can be understood as a combination of three capacities—coping, adapting, and transforming.
Coping is the immediate reaction to a sudden problem. For example, if your supply chain is disrupted due to a road closure after heavy rains, coping might mean quickly finding alternative suppliers or rerouting deliveries. It’s about managing the immediate crisis.
Adapting involves making incremental changes to existing systems, like improving drainage or building slightly higher flood defences.
Transforming This entails fundamental, system-level changes, like relocating entire communities away from vulnerable coastlines or completely changing agricultural practices.
When coping strategies are no longer sufficient, adaptation becomes necessary. And when incremental adaptation is inadequate, transformation is required.
A powerful partnership
Building a successful business requires both short-term tactics and a long-term strategy. It’s the same with climate change. Adaptation is like your sales tactics, the immediate actions you take to respond to market changes. Resilience is your overall business plan; it’s the framework that ensures long-term growth and stability, even when facing unexpected challenges.
Resilience thinking encourages a shift from short-term, reactive approaches to long-term, proactive strategies. It promotes holistic planning that considers a wide range of factors, from social and economic to environmental and political.
For example, a flood adaptation strategy informed by resilience thinking wouldn’t just focus on building flood barriers. It would also involve analysing flood risks, developing early warning systems, creating evacuation plans, strengthening community support networks, and implementing flood insurance programs.
A clear understanding of adaptation and resilience gives us a strategic advantage. It allows us to develop smarter, more sustainable business practices that not only help us weather the impacts of climate change but also make us more competitive in the long run, which secures a better future for all.
About the author:
Ota Akhigbe is a leader in driving social change across Africa, particularly within the healthcare sector. Ota is passionate about building healthier futures and has extensive experience in fostering partnerships for impactful development initiatives.
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