Conceptually, the opposite of successful adaptation is maladaptation, that is, when adaptation responses produce unintended negative side effects such as exacerbating or shifting vulnerability, increasing risk for certain people or ecosystems, or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Among the adaptation options assessed in this report , physical infrastructure along coasts  has the highest risk for maladaptation over time through negative side effects on ecosystem functioning and coastal livelihood opportunities. However, such adaptations may appear valuable in the short and even longer term for already densely populated urban coasts, demonstrating that an adaptation can be differently judged based on the context it is implemented in . Many other adaptation options have a larger potential to contribute to successful adaptation , such as nature restoration, providing social safety nets and changing diets/minimising food waste.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report