Kari Manlove on adapting to the effects of climate change

What is climate adaptation?

Climate adaptation means building communities and countries that are climate resilient, or able to prepare for and cope with the challenges that climate change is going to bring. This means giving them technology to track storms or providing them with drought-resistant seeds. It also means doing things like handing out mosquito nets so that water-borne diseases aren't spread as easily. All of these measures, whether small or large, are equally important.

Why should the United States help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change?

The United States historically has been one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing global warming and therefore all of these adverse impacts on other countries. We therefore have a responsibility to help these countries adapt. It's also in our own interest to help countries, especially developing countries, adapt. Experts have called global warming a threat multiplier, and if we leave these problems unaddressed, we're going to see instability and insecurity abroad to proliferate because we're not dealing with problems like huge drought, resource competition, and mass migration. Therefore, in the interests of stability and security abroad and here at home, and to promote prosperity all around the world, we need to take action on adaptation.

What is the United States doing to far on climate adaptation?

So far the United States hasn't done much on adaptation policy, and there are two reasons for this. One is that the Bush administration didn't even acknowledge that global warming is real and that it's a problem. The other reason is that only recently has adaptation really risen in the profile of the international community. But given that, we've got an opportunity for the United States to take action, and we can do this in several ways. Earlier this year, we saw the Appropriations Act commit 10 million dollars to the Least Developed Countries Fund, which does specific adaptation projects. We also have an opportunity to act in our domestic climate legislation, where we can either create adaptation programs, or we can designate a percentage of auction revenue to go toward adaptation abroad. And through these mechanisms we can reengage with the international community and take a global initiative on adaptation.