Climate change adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimize the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise. It has been shown that well planned, early adaptation action saves money and lives later. Identifying risks and opportunities related to climate change, the reliable data stimulates development of climate adaptation strategies, management of territories, design and object management. Climate change adaptation strategies contribute to the sustainability and flexibility of the economies, enabling the development of management recommendations for inhabitants, businesses, state and local authorities, with further engineering decisions and projects realized.

Adaptation measures requires research, analysis, development of recommendations, concepts and plans and, for example, may include:

• using scarce water resources more efficiently
• adapting building codes to future climate conditions and extreme weather events
• building flood prevention structures and raising the levels of dykes
• developing and introduction drought-tolerant crops
• choosing tree species and forestry practices less vulnerable to storms and fires
• biodiversity planning, setting aside land corridors to help species migrate
• development of information policies and public education programs
• improving cities and rural areas to meet social and economic challenges arising from consequences of new climate conditions
• other tailor made solutions to tackle the specific issues