mALADAPTATION
maladaptation is when climate change adaptation interventions HAVE THE OPPOSITE INTENDED EFFECT AND INCREASE CLIMATE VULNERABILITY RATHER THAN DECREASE IT.
Climate change adaptation interventions can reinforce and perpetuate existing inequalities. For example, climate adaptation measures aimed at increasing crop yield oftentimes excludes those who are not land owners, and the livelihoods of those who don’t own land are more vulnerable to climate change. This type of adaptation policy fails to affect the social and political dynamics that have produced different levels of vulnerability patterns.
Climate change adaptation interventions can redistribute vulnerability. Protecting and regulating certain resources in one area may undermine access to those resources by another group.
Climate change adaptation interventions can inadvertently create new sources of vulnerability. For example, irrigation solutions may help relieve drought-ridden areas, but it may also decrease the water table in an area and increase dependency on those water resources. This type of policy encourages reliance on water that is not guaranteed.