Which of the following is an example of climate change adaptation?

• A. Implementing a cap-and-trade system
• B. Expanding solar power capacity
• C. Improving flood risk management and water resources planning
• D. Carbon capture and storage

Answer: (C)

Adaptation involves adjusting systems and practices to reduce the harm from climate impacts and to take advantage of potential benefits. Improving flood risk management and water resources planning fits this idea because it directly targets expected changes in rainfall, river flows, and flood frequency. By strengthening infrastructure, forecasting, early warning, water storage, and allocation strategies, communities become less vulnerable to floods and droughts and able to manage water more reliably as climate patterns shift.

In contrast, actions like expanding solar power, cap-and-trade systems, and carbon capture and storage aim to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions—the drivers of climate change—rather than directly altering how we cope with its impacts. These are mitigation strategies, not adaptations.