Adaptations to climate change impacts in human systems vary depending on exposure to risks, types of risks and responses, underlying social vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities, including access to resources, the extent of adaptation responses and the potential of these responses to reduce risk/vulnerability . Adaptations tend to be applied locally, tackling symptoms of the problem and proximate drivers , rather than distant or external drivers . Different groups require different kinds of supports and levers to enable them to follow adaptive pathways  and face different barriers and limits to adaptation . What constitutes an incremental adaptation in one location may be transformational in another. Spatial patterns of dryland resilience and adaptive capacity can be partly explained by access to livelihood capitals  and are shaped by prevailing structures and power dynamics. Supportive policies, institutions and good governance approaches can strengthen the adaptive capacities of dryland farmers, pastoralists and other resource users  . Table CCP3.2 provides examples of illustrative adaptation options responding to major challenges of climate change and desertification in deserts and semiarid areas. Some adaptations present no-regrets options while others tackle desertification and/ or climate changes to different extents.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report