Climate adaptation refers to the ability of a system to adjust to climate change, to moderate potential damage or to cope with the consequences of climate change.

The IPCC defines adaptation as the “adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment".

There are several ways of approaching adaptation: retreat, accommodate and protect.

Retreat:

The managed retreat approach applies to coastlines at risk from sea level rise. Managed retreat is designed to avoid hazards and prevent ecosystems from being squeezed between development and the sea.
The most common mechanisms for managed retreat are:
- setbacks that require new development to be a minimum distance from the shore
- density restrictions that limit development
- rolling easement policies that allow development on the condition that it be removed to enable wetlands to migrate landward
Coastal realignment is common on UK coastlines.

Accommodate:

Accommodation is defined as the process by which existing mental structures and behaviors are modified to adapt to new experiences. In the case of climate change, accommodation implies that people continue to use the land at risk but do not attempt to prevent the land from hazards.
Accommodation involves changing the landscape so that it can continue to be used. For example, where saltwater damages agricultural lands and traditional crops, salt-tolerant crops may be a feasible alternative.
This method of adaptation requires large amounts of planning to be effective.

Protect:

Protection involves defensive measures and other activities to protect areas against inundation, tidal flooding, effects of waves on infrastructure, shore erosion, salinity intrusion and the loss of natural resources.
This form of adaptation focuses on protecting both the physical environment and income.
Protection may involve hard engineering and soft engineering options.