At the same time, adaptation research is also challenged by increasing attention to transformational adaptation, which refers to fundamental changes going beyond existing practices, including new approaches to adaptation decision making . Whereas AR5 noted transformational adaptation as an area of future research , it has continued to grow in profile since then. Rather than a future or fringe consideration-for example, an extreme action necessitated by the limits of incremental adaptation- transformational adaptation is increasingly an option that decision makers are considering today. This increasing attention to transformational adaptation is driven by a growing recognition of climate risks and impacts, as well as the need for urgent, systemic action as laid out in the IPCC's recent special reports . Yet what incremental and transformational adaptation look like, how they relate in practice and how to appropriately choose incremental or transformational options is uncertain and increasingly debated . One of the main challenges is now to generate empirical evidence and policy relevant insights on transformational adaptation . Transformative approaches are especially being discussed in the context of COVID-19 .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report