Finally, some adaptation policies or actions can erode the preconditions for sustainable and resilient development by indirectly increasing society's vulnerability . Mandates to mainstream adaptation into existing development logics and structures perpetuates development-as-usual, reinforcing technocratic forms of local governance and locking in structural causes of marginalisation and differential vulnerability . Adaptation policy examples include: Australia's adaptation policy focus on financial strategies, preference for business-as-usual scenarios and incremental change will not contribute to transformative change ; Surat, India, where a focus on adapting industries and economically important assets in the city can divert policy attention away from general social equity and urban sustainability priorities ; Cambodia, where conflict between adaptation practitioners and local communities and non-compliance with regulatory safeguards led to conflict and potential for maladaptation . Finally, although insurance has the potential to incentivise practices to reduce risks, including through measures to reduce premiums , researchers of insurance-led adaptation actions have argued that, since insurance regimes privilege normality, they tend to structurally embed risky behaviour and inhibit change . All of these examples illustrate how incremental strategies that rely on business-as-usual
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report