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Adaptation

Human population has adapted to natural environment throughout history by developing practices, cultures and livelihoods suited to local conditions. However, there is now a possibility for the societies to face changes in temperature, storm frequency, flooding and other factors which they haven’t come across with and are not prepared for.

Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate actions to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of the opportunities that may arise. It has been shown that well-planned, early adaptation actions save money and lives in a long run.

Adaptation measures may be planned in advance or put in place spontaneously in response to a local pressure. Such measures include large-scale infrastructure changes — such as building defences against sea-level rise or improving the quality of road surfaces to withstand higher temperatures — as well behavioural shifts, such as individuals using less water, farmers planting different crops, and more households and businesses buying flood insurance.

There are four main types of adaptation:

  • Anticipatory adaptation – changes are made before the impacts of climate change happen (prevention). An example of anticipatory adaptation could be if a farmer being aware that the climate is likely to get drier in the future decides to change to growing crops which need less water.
  • Reactive adaptation – actions are taken once something has already happened (like a cure), e.g. a farmer buys new irrigation technologies because he is no longer able to grow sustainably their crops due to drought.
  • Spontaneous (autonomous) adaptation – it just happens in response to the changes in the environment (natural systems) or market or welfare (human systems), e.g. a farmer changes the timing of planting, because the seasons appear to be changing.
  • Planned adaptation – based on awareness that changes have or are likely to occur, a decision is made on what action is going to be taken to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired situation. A planned adaptation might be a change in building regulations to make sure that new buildings will be suitable to a hotter climate.

Educational scenario

Measures to tackle climate change

“We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we are the last generation that can do something about it. ”

Jay Inslee, an American politician and economist


The two most commonly used approaches to tackle global warming and climate change are:

  • Mitigating climate change by taking action to reduce or prevent the further release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Such actions may include: improving energy efficiency, using energy-efficient appliances, reducing waste generation; transition to more sustainable models of production and consumption, etc. – Learn more,
  • Adaptation to climate changes that have already occurred. That includes diverse measures, targeting different components of the environment, human health and economic activities – Learn more.

The worrying consequences of the climate change on Earth have forced the international community to take actions for addressing the climate change effects.


Nutrition that helps tackle climate change


Preliminary discussion:

Share with students some of the scientific research and recommendations related to the food we eat every day and its impact on climate:

  • Raising cattle and sheep creates huge amounts of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Less frequent inclusion of this meat in the diet, preferable consumption of fish and chicken or vegetarian food can seriously reduce the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
  • The production of plastic products is based on the use of non-renewable energy sources and is accompanied by significant energy consumption. A plastic water bottle, for example, is usually used once, then thrown as a garbage, and it takes over 1,000 years to decompose it in natural conditions. That's why using a glass water bottle instead of a plastic one protects nature from pollution and at the same time helps to overcome climate change.
  • Growing and consuming your own fruits and vegetables and/or buying local organic agricultural production reduces transport costs and therefore the greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
  • Composting (the transformation of food scraps, fallen leaves and grass clippings into fresh, nutrient-rich soil), in addition to being beneficial for nourishing the domestic garden, helps reduce household organic waste by about 20 to 30 percent.
  • Reducing the amount of food waste thrown into the garbage has a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Research by experts shows that each European citizen generates around 173 kg of food waste annually.

In class:

Present the video "The diet that helps fight climate change", using, if necessary, the automatic translation into Bulgarian.

Discuss the facts presented by the video in the context of the information provided by the preliminary discussion.

The diet that helps fight climate change


Show the video "10 Ways to Slow Climate Change" to the class. Discuss the 10 proposals presented in order to tackle climate change. At the end of the discussion, ask the class to answer the question: Which proposals have already been implemented in the students' families and which can find application in the future...

Present the video "Climate of Europe in 2050" to the class, using, if necessary, the automatic translation into Bulgarian.

Discuss:

  • How many degrees would the average temperature rise by, if no measures were taken (4oC)?
  • Which regions is the most unbearable heat expected in for the people living there (the regions of the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan peninsulas)?
  • Which part of Europe will see a decrease in precipitation and more intense drying of the soil (Southern Europe)?
  • How will the climate change affect heat waves passing through the European continent (increasing their intensity and duration)?
  • Which regions of Europe will climate change be most felt in during the winter period and what does this change mean (Northeastern Europe, less frost and snow cover)?
  • Which topographical part are climate changes occurring in faster and what are they manifested in (in the mountains, less snow, more precipitation and floods, shorter time for winter sports)?
  • How will the precipitation pattern in Europe change (more precipitation in winter in the north and less precipitation in summer in the south)?
  • What changes are expected in the urban climate (the northern cities climate will resemble the current climate of the southern cities in 2050)?

Explain that the disturbing consequences of Earth climate change have forced the international community to take action to address the impacts of climate change such as:

Encourage students to learn more about these measures described in the Klimadapt portal if you think their age is appropriate for working with such information on their own.

Explain to the class that climate change mitigation refers to actions for the reduction and prevention of the further release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Actions can be taken at individual, local or international level. Too often, however, some individuals and societies prefer someone else to do the job to mitigate the effects of climate change, as long as they themselves can benefit from that. So tackling climate change is a great example of the need for effective collective actions at all levels

Discuss specific measures and give examples of mitigation such as:

  • improving energy efficiency at home;
  • improving transport energy efficiency;
  • efficient appliances usage;
  • green energy utilization;
  • forests, soil and ocean protection.

Support students work by directing them to specific topics in the Klimadapt portal (Energy, Transport, Forests, Agriculture, Ocean) where more details could be found.

Study and discuss with students the information presented in Worksheet Consumer Society and Climate Change. Search the Internet for additional information about consumer attitudes in Bulgaria and Europe.

Discuss:

  • Is it possible to force limit the excessive consumption of goods and services, or is it more effective to use educational methods and information campaigns?
  • How would you comment on the North American Cree Indians proverb: "Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money."

Ask the students when they have felt happier: when they receive or when they grant a gift to a loved one? In which case have they been excited longer and stronger?

Present to the students the following situation: In a week, a person, very dear to them, will celebrate his/her birthday. What gift would they choose? Ask the students to think of and come up with suggestions for an interesting gift that is not material or at least not expensive.

Organize the class work into small groups so that each student can share their experience and suggestion. Give them 10-15 minutes to share their ideas, with the group choosing only one gift suggestion at the end. Make a presentation of the gifts chosen from each group and write them on the board. Discuss whether a valuable gift can be non-material and not necessarily expensive (for example, a new experience, a surprise, a handmade gift – drawing, collage or other). Is it possible for such a gift to be unique, valuable and unforgettable? Ask the class to choose one or two of the most interesting suggestions.

Remind them that modern people possess a huge amount of things that they do not use, where raw materials and energy are invested, which make a burden on the environment and the climate.

Professions that can help


Preliminary preparation:

Divide the class into 5 groups (or choose 5 volunteers) who will get acquainted with the information related to the professions:

You could increase the number of groups (volunteers) if you add some more of the professions listed below:

In class:

Organize a 7-10 minute presentation of each of the chosen professions. Have the groups/volunteers highlight their impact on the environment and climate, as well as the ways in which this impact can be mitigated or neutralized. Encourage students to be ingenious, creative and artistic in presenting the listed professions.


Climate change adaptation measures


Explain to the students that:

  • Human population has adapted to the natural environment throughout history by developing practices, cultures and livelihoods suited to local conditions. With the current rapid pace of climate change such as extreme temperatures, catastrophic rainfall and flooding, hurricane storms, etc., it is possible that societies will face challenges that they have not encountered and are not prepared for.
  • Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate actions to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of the opportunities that may arise.
  • Adaptation measures can be both large-scale (such as infrastructural changes in roads, coastal zones) and conducted at individual level or within a single household.

Brainstorm sequentially generating and recording ideas for adaptive measures related to:

  • Water (Rainwater collection; water storage and preservation techniques; water re-use; desalination; economical water use and irrigation efficiency);
  • Biodiversity (Creation of dedicated land corridors to help species migrate);
  • Agriculture (Adjustment of planting dates and crop varieties; crop relocation in other regions; development of drought-sustainable crops; improved land management, such as erosion control and soil protection by tree-planting);
  • Human health (Heat protection action plans development; provision of emergency medical services; improved climate-sensitive disease surveillance and control; provision of clean water and improved sanitation);
  • Tourism (Diversification of tourist attractions; relocation of ski tracks to higher altitudes and glaciers; artificial snow usage);
  • Transport (Prioritisation and reorganisation of transport types and usage of alternative eco transport; introduction of new standards and planning for roads, rail and other infrastructure to cope with warming and floods);
  • Energy – Strengthening of overhead transmission and distribution infrastructure; underground cabling for utilities; improvement of energy efficiency; use of renewable sources; reduced dependence on single sources of energy.
  • Construction (Adaptation of building regulations to future climate conditions and extreme weather events);
  • Ethics (Promotion of lifestyles tailored to increased sustainability and resilience to climate change).

The measures in parentheses are intended to support students work during brainstorming and are by no means exhaustive of the possibilities for other ideas.


"To have" or "To be"


Write on the board (or quote to the class) Kevin Kruse statement (former Deputy Attorney General of the United States): "Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.

Encourage students to share how they understand and appreciate this concept, giving examples related to their everyday lives.

Explain that according to the German psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm (1900-1980), the attitude of "having" orients a person toward material possessions and power and is linked to greed, envy, and aggression, while the attitude of "being" is directed toward the pleasure of shared experience and creative activity and is motivated by justice and humanism.

Make the transition from these philosophical generalizations to the realities of environmental protection and the threat of climate change. Remind students of the different levels of responsibility and action on climate change:

Explain that only united and focused efforts at all levels can produce the desired results to combat climate change. These results are extremely dependent on the actions of each one of us.

Challenge the students to decide for themselves which position they would choose regarding the climate: To have and receive (goods, money) or To give and be (an active and useful inhabitant of planet Earth).


Score: | 10
Question: | 10


To celebrate the World Climate Change Day (15 May), organize a campaign including:

  • cleaning, afforestation and other eco activities;
  • conducting a video week with the presentation of films dedicated to climate change and ways to limit it. Invite viewers of different ages and parents;
  • creation of information wall (or periodic electronic edition) with information materials on environmental and climate issues.

Make a comprehensive assessment of the environmental condition of the school in terms of energy efficiency and plan its gradual improvement. Look for partners such as institutions, companies and non-governmental organizations to implement activities to improve energy efficiency.


The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein

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About the portal

The informational and educational portal Klimadapt is intended for the dissemination of information, training of students, teachers and the general public, as well as for the organization of civil projects and campaigns dedicated to overcoming and adapting to climate change. Its creation took place within the project Changing with Climate, which is implemented by 10 partner organizations with the support of the Environmental Protection and Climate Change Program through the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area /2014-2021/.

The Klimadapt portal includes a variety of informational and didactic materials (texts, videos, lesson plans, dilemmas, model stories and fairy tales, worksheets, experiments, tests, games, instructions on how to organize actions, etc.) that provide opportunities for implementation of a learning process and/or organising a variety of activities related to mitigation or adaptation to the occuring climate changes.

Portal Development

Information texts and structure, concept of the portal: Kliment Mindjov

Educational scenarios: Kliment Mindjov, Tatiana Miteva

Portal design and PDF files: Sylvia Magyar

Illustrations and graphics: Laszlo Falvay

Video adaptation: Ivan Kozhuharov

Translation from/into English: Irina Dobriyanova, Kliment Mindjov

Editing in Bulgarian: Galina Spassova

Programming: Daniel Mirea

Management of the "Changing with Climate" project: Mariana Bancheva, Violeta Nikolova

The portal uses photos from the iStock and Unsplash platforms, as well as “pro bono” provided materials from the photo and video library of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC).

Acknowledgements

The development of the Klimadapt informational and educational portal was made possible through the goodwill and cooperation of a wide range of specialists and organisations.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Dennis Meadows and his collaborators for the copyright for the Bulgarian language version of "The Climate Change Playbook", which includes 22 interactive games.

Nikolay Petkov researched and prepared information related to good Bulgarian and foreign practices in dealing with climate change. We thank him.

In the virtual library of the portal, informational and educational materials of various nature of various organizations, created years ago, but facing increasingly difficulty to find on the Internet, are included. In this regard, our thanks go to:

The informative and educational texts in the portal reflect facts and data from various international and Bulgarian sources: European Commission, European Environment Agency, World Health Organization, United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); United States Environmental Protection Agency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), World Bank, World Resources Institute,  Ministry of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria, Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, publications in BBC, The Guardian and other periodicals. The creators of the portal are responsible for the content and the way the information is presented and visualized.

Finally, but not least, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our sponsors from the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA FM) and the program operator at the Ministry of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria. Thank you!

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