A recent report from McKinsey points out that adapting to climate change requires a systemic approach. Much of what has been written on climate change has focused on mitigation—reducing carbon emissions, carbon capture of various types, etc. But the report notes, “Civilization has been built on a foundation of climate stability that no longer exists. Adaptation is now as important as mitigation, and so is understanding its interrelated requirements.”

While humanity has lived through eras of climate change in the past, and has adapted to those conditions, it’s a different time now. As McKinsey reports, and as the common knowledge among experts supports, climate change is happening more quickly than before. We continually hear the shock and dismay from climate experts as to the rapidity with which polar ice caps are melting, and in cold sub-polar climes such as Greenland, glaciers are meltingfaster than previously thought. This is leading scientists to revise their projections about rising sea levels.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global sea level is projected to rise by 26–82cm (10–32 in.) by the end of the 21st century. The IPCC’s projections are based on a range of different scenarios, but they all agree that sea level rise is a major concern. The most extreme scenario, which assumes that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise unabated, could lead to a sea level rise of up to 82cm (32 in.) by the end of the century. This would have a devastating impact on coastal communities around the world, inundating low-lying areas and displacing millions of people.