Assets and adaptation: an emerging debate

Previously viewed as a somewhat defeatist response to
climate change, adaptation is now seen as an essential
component of any climate policy (Pielke et al. 2007).
There are three main reasons for this increase in
interest. First, that the impacts of climate change are
already being observed and, because of lags in the
natural system, more impacts are inevitable (Burton et
al. 2002). Second, that mitigation responses have been
slow and inadequate, making adaptation all the more
necessary (Reid and Huq 2007). And third, aware that
they are likely to bear the greatest physical impacts
from climate change, governments in developing
countries are increasingly demanding greater attention
to adaptation on the international stage