Climate change effects are no longer only speculative scenarios we read about in scientific papers; they are the news stories in our everyday feeds. Whether it’s severe heat spells, floods, or anything in between, we are feeling the effects of climate change. However, while we are focusing on reducing emissions (which is extremely important), we need to accept that some changes are already happening and that we need to adapt. Along with reducing emissions, it is important to focus on climate adaptation technology.
What is climate adaptation technology?
In a basic sense, climate adaptation technology is the technology that allows us to live with the effects of climate change. It is similar to the difference of trying to stop the storm (mitigation) and designing a better umbrella (adaptation); we need to do both
Smart cities being progressively smarter with their water
Let’s start with something that’s pretty much universal—urban flooding. Cities like Copenhagen were so inundated by floods in 2011 that they now view urban flooding like they view waste. Completely different from before.
So how did they solve this? “Sponge city” design. Instead of combating water with concrete sonotubes, they have permeable pavements, rooftop gardens, and urban parks with topsoil, grass, trees, and shrubs that now operate as retention areas during heavy rain. These permeable spaces absorb water as opposed to allowing it to flood streets and homes. The underlying technology includes advanced monitoring sensors to detect water levels and automatic systems which control water ways, enabling water to be redirected to sites that will retain or repurpose the water.
Agriculture that can take the heat
Our food systems are veryalso susceptible to climate change. Eccentric weather patterns, extended drought, and ever-increasing pest migrations havecalled crop yields into question. But farmers are striking back with some genuinefancytechnology. Drought-tolerant crop speciescreatedfrom traditional breeding and genetic engineering are ensuring food security. At the same time, farmers are using precision agriculture tools thatletthem micromanage workflows on their fields. They are using soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and satellite imagery to make informed, data-based decisions about exactly when and where to irrigate -ultimatelyensuring that they are conserving water resources and maintaining yield.
An example of this is Hello Tractor’s work in Africa, which has been called “Uber for tractors.” Their platform connects tractor owners with farmers who want to utilize their tractor services, all through a smartphone app. This allows smallholder farmers to gain access to modern farm equipment at just the ideal moment, and allows them to better prepare themselves for changes in growing conditions.
The protection of our homes and buildings
Wecansignificantly reduce energy use, as buildings are a majorcomponent of energy usage, and with extreme temperatures ontherise, that energy burden is only going to get heavier. But what if thebuildingwere able to adapt to the climate ratherthan fighting it? “Smart” windows that tint automatically depending on how much sunlight is coming in are also becoming easierto come by.
These windows will block heat when thetemperatureis hotter, while stillallowing for the warming rays ofthesun when the temperature is cold. In places like Phoenix, Arizona, watching the summer thermometerclimbfar beyond 110°F (43°C), these technologies arealreadynecessities,notmere conveniences. There’s also phase-change materials that can be installed in building walls that will absorb heat or release heat,andthushelpregulate temperature naturally. This is not science fiction, as these materials are already being integratedinto some trailblazingbuild projects.
Early warning systems saving lives
Improved early warning systems for extreme events are perhaps the most immediate life-saving adaptation technologies. Access to advanced modeling of weather events, along with satellite monitoring and AI prediction systems, are providing communities with hours or days needed to prepare for extreme events.
For example, in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most cyclone-vulnerable countries, text message warning systems have reduced storm casualties because communities now have time to act. Access to mobile technology and satellite-based sophisticated modeling is leveraging a simple technology—the mobile phone—and helping to save thousands of lives.
Power of community-based monitoring
Adaptation technologies don’t all need to be high-tech solutions driven by sources like big corporations or government bodies. Some of the most easiest but effective adaptation technologies can give communities the tools to monitor their own problems.
For example, communities in flood-prone areas of the world use low-tech water level monitors that are connected to mobile networks to monitor rising waters and provide that information to their communities. Indigenous communities in the Arctic are using mobile apps to document environmental changes and in doing so have created datasets that are part traditional knowledge and part modern monitoring.
What are you able to do?
Climate adaptation feels like a process undertaken by governments and other large agencies, but we all have a role to play as well. Simple technologies like weather stations at home that connect to wider networks can help improve weather predictions at the local scale. Rain barrels and smart irrigation systems can help lower your use of water in your own garden. Staying aware of what new technologies are available to you in your own space – such as heat reflective roofing and flood resistant building materials – can also help you make your own home more resilient.
The changes our globe is undergoing may be hard to confront, but the innovations we have developed give us reason to be optimistic. Humans are incredibly adaptable. Inventing and developing technologies speak to the possibility of us rising to meet our most important challenges – if we want to.
While we navigate a changing world, adaptation technology reminds us that we are not just passive recipients of climate change; we are capable of molding our responses to climate change through our ingenuity and available technologies. That feels a bit hopeful, at least.
Top Reasons Vertical SaaS Is the Future
Explore more tech updates here → Click here