As we all know, a dreadful new yet familiar regime is about to begin across the pond. Meet the new President, same as the old President: …I mean, the 2016-2020 President.
Or perhaps worse: for this time he has a plan.
The election of a climate-denier as United States President has left many people disillusioned and anxious about the future of climate action. Is the game up? With the prospect of environmental policies being rolled back and a leader who openly rejects the science of climate, there’s a very real risk that many will simply give up. The overwhelming sense of inevitability may lead to a fatalistic resignation: if the government won’t act, why should we?
However, such giving up would be disastrous: and is not called for. What is called for is a pivot. This is exactly the moment when we need to pivot toward a more pragmatic and resilient strategy, one that can be done pretty effectively bottom-up, one that needs to be done now no matter what—one centring climate adaptation. Meaning: a strategy that places preparedness for and resilience against impacts front and centre. Instead of being paralyzed by inaction at the top, we must focus more on what can be done at the grassroots level, both at home and abroad. Climate decline is no longer a future threat—it’s already here, and it’s already happening. Adaptation is not just necessary; centring it is the only viable path forward.
To be very clear: this is not giving up on climate ‘mitigation’. Far from it. What we are talking about is a kind of adaptation that includes decarbonisation organically within it. And moreover what we are talking about is a strategy that will act as a ‘mindbomb’, as adaptation talk and adaptation-action explodes inside people’s reality. When adaptation is taken seriously, then by definition we are believing in the emergency, because adaptation is here and now. Once people are really starting to act as if the crisis is real, then momentum can grow again for decarbonisation. Momentum which otherwise has, we have to plainly admit, very badly stalled, and even gone into reverse.
In Spring 2025, the Climate Majority Project will launch the ‘SAFER’ campaign. At the heart of the SAFER campaign (www.ClimateMajorityProject.com/SAFER ) is a fundamental shift in the climate narrative: a pivot towards a strategy centring climate adaptation of a strategic and transformative kind. As already noted, this approach is critical, not only in addressing the inevitable impacts of climate breakdown but also in reinforcing broader climate action efforts. Adaptation needs to be integrated into every conversation and strategy, from policy frameworks to everyday choices. And if it is done so, then there will be an unexpected beneficiary…
The New Ally of Mitigation
Adaptation-centrism is emerging as an unexpected ally of mitigation (aka decarbonisation). While mitigation—reducing greenhouse gas emissions—has long been the cornerstone of climate action, the stark reality of the climate crisis now, in 2025, under Trump et al, calls for a broader approach. By embracing adaptation, we can accelerate and amplify mitigation efforts! Because climate adaptation is the ultimate in wake-up calls.
When the effects of climate damage are directly felt—whether through extreme weather events, rising sea levels, or crop failures—people become more likely to take action in relation to climate across the board. Transformative adaptation—a key aspect of the SAFER framework—helps to reframe adaptation not as a retreat or substitute for mitigation, but as a complementary and necessary strategy.
So, supporting adaptation (of the right kind) isn’t an alternative to ‘mitigation’: it is quite simply now one of the very most effective ways to drive mitigation. Prepared communities, resilient to climate impacts, are more likely to adopt practices that reduce emissions. Ecosystem-based adaptation, for example, can support both environmental protection and emission reductions, creating a positive feedback loop.
The Need for Global Adaptation Efforts
The climate movement has been missing a trick by being so fixated on decarbonisation, in a manner that has not resonated with portions of the population not already convinced. Climate consciousness has up until now been primarily focused on reducing emissions, often ignoring the fact that climate impacts are (increasingly) already here—and worsening by the day. If we don’t act swiftly and seriously on adaptation, we risk facing even more severe consequences, disrupting communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide.
This is the very real risk of “derailment,” as described by Laurie Laybourn et al. (Derailment-LaurieLaybourn ) If climate impacts continue to devastate countries without the necessary preparation, we’ll see a collapse in interest and investment in both climate mitigation and global cooperation. Instead of looking toward long-term solutions, nations will become preoccupied with short-term survival.
Moreover, it’s critical to bear in mind that climate impacts disproportionately affect countries with the lowest carbon footprints. These countries, often already struggling with poverty, are suffering the most from climate disasters, even though they are not the primary contributors to the crisis. It is essential that global efforts to adapt are not just focused on high-emission countries, but on those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate decline. And if they are, then those countries will become enlisted to the cause far more effectively. (smallest-footprints-largest-impacts/UNTrade )
We can no longer afford to wait for a perfect solution in mitigation—adaptation is the critical bridge that allows us to cope with what’s already happening and protect what we can.
The Reality of Behavior Change
Shifting global behavior is never easy, and large-scale more or less voluntary behavior change can often feel like an insurmountable challenge. However, the harsh reality is that massive changes are coming—whether we like it or not. As climate disasters increase in frequency and intensity, humanity will be forced to adapt, often with painful consequences.
At the end of the day, this isn’t voluntary at all.
For this change, while disruptive, quite simply is also inevitable. As I argued nearly a decade ago now, our civilization is at a critical juncture. If we are strategic and resourceful, we can use the very deterioration of our climate as an opportunity for positive transformation rather than allowing it to be our undoing.
The Role of Adaptation in Building Resilience
The devastating impacts of recent events, such as last autumn’s floods, and the recent LA fires, are grim reminders of the urgency of adaptation. Initially, much of the push for adaptation may focus on short-term, reactive measures—what some might, fairly, call “defensive adaptation” or “reactive adaptation” or “shallow adaptation”. These are the immediate, often more straightforwardly politically acceptable responses to climate threats.
However, over time, this can—and must—evolve into something more transformative. Just as we must change our approach to mitigation, we must rethink how we adapt. Strategic adaptation must and can integrate not only defense against climate impacts but also the broader goals of resilience, ecosystem restoration, and long-term sustainability. (Strategic-Adaptation/TimesRadio )
The Bottom Line: A New Strategy for Change
The climate crisis has reached a tipping point. The mitigation-focused strategies that dominated climate discourse in the past decade were worth trying, but it’s now clear they are out of time. We can definitely no longer rely solely on a tech-centric, emission-reduction approach. Climate decline is happening, and we must act accordingly. Adaptation must become the central focus of our climate strategy—not as a backup plan, but as the core of the way forward.
The SAFER strategy is ambitious, even audacious. But in the face of escalating climate impacts, it’s clear that it is our best chance at building a more resilient future. As Trump takes power again, be empowered yourself… the time to pivot toward a strategy centred on adaptation is now.
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For more on the SAFER campaign, visit www.ClimateMajorityProject.com/SAFER
Check out ‘Transformative Adaptation’, published by Permanent Publications https://www.permanentpublications.co.uk/port/transformative-adaptation/
