With countries scaling back on climate action, should the world start preparing for harsher climate impact?

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Given the geopolitical headwinds on climate action, should countries start focusing on climate adaptation? There are two key prongs of climate action – mitigation, or efforts to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and adaptation, or taking steps to prepare for climate impacts.

Mitigation has long been a key focus of climate action globally. But with the United States, one of the world’s largest emitters, backing out of the Paris Agreement, and many other countries and companies scaling back on climate action, should the world start to prioritise climate adaptation?