There are many barriers to starting adaptation pre-emptively   . Recent institutional changes in New Zealand indicate that this is changing . Many groups are yet to engage deeply with climate change adaptation , and some adaptation processes are being blocked  or exploited to deflect from mitigation responsibilities . Some actors are resistant to using climate change information . Fear of litigation and demands for compensation can contribute to this reluctance and is increasingly inviting litigation and other costs . Jurisprudence is evolving from cases on projects to cases about decision-making accountability in the public and private sectors  and rights-based cases . National and sub-national governments may become exposed to unsustainable fiscal risk as insurers of last resort, which can lead to inequitable outcomes for vulnerable groups and future generations , path dependencies and negative effects on physical, social, economic and cultural systems . Cross-scale governance tensions can prevent local adaptation initiatives from performing as intended . Adaptation that draws on Māori cultural understanding in partnership with local government in New Zealand can lead to more effective and equitable adaptation outcomes .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report