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Adaptation strategies for high winds include using building practices that strengthen structures,
designing building sites with high winds in mind, protecting power lines and other infrastructure, and
providing education on safety in the face of severe winds.

Winter storms can include high winds and storm surges (if along the coast), but they bring the
additional hazards of snow, ice, and cold temperatures. A loss of power following a winter storm can
lead to a lack of heat for buildings, putting people at risk and causing water pipes to freeze and burst.
Implementing and enforcing building codes can help reduce the risk of weak roofs that collapse
under heavy snow, and can reduce heat loss through the use of insulation.

Utility lines can be protected from ice and snow damage through similar measures as described
above for protection from high winds, and communities can install snow fences or rows of trees to
prevent snow from drifting and building upon roads.

Drought
Adapting to more frequent and severe drought can involve monitoring and planning, restricting
water use and grazing, improving and upgrading water supply and delivery infrastructure, developing
and encouraging the use of drought-tolerant plants for gardens and crops, and educating the public
and farmers on water conservation practices.

Ecosystems also experience stress during times of drought, but people can take action to help plants
and wildlife adapt. One example is by creating fish passages. When streams and rivers dry out
because of drought, fish find it much more difficult to travel upstream to spawn. Even if they are able
to spawn, low stream flows can threaten the viability of their eggs and young. Fisheries managers can
help fish by building channels with sufficient stream flow to allow fish to pass, and by removing
barriers such as dams.
Agriculture

Farmers can limit the adverse impacts and enhance the beneficial impacts of climate change through
suitable adaptation measures, such as adapting crop varieties, changing sowing dates, improving
irrigation or using agroforestry practices.

Transportation, telecommunications, and energy distribution

For activities such as transportation, telecommunications, and energy distribution, many of the
adaptation strategies for extreme heat involve technological solutions. For example, power lines may
need upgrading with wiring and transformers that work well at higher temperatures. Bridge and road
materials may also need upgrading, and public transportation systems such as subways and buses
may need more and better air conditioning. In addition, if large-scale systems that use energy can be
made more energy-efficient, it will reduce the strain on electrical systems during heat waves when
demand is high.

Students use a card sort activity to explore different actions we can take to reduce the
risks of climate change and learn to recognize different types of climate solutions:
mitigations and adaptations.
https://scied.ucar.edu/activity/mitigation-or-adaptation

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the

information contained therein.