Which statement best defines adaptive capacity?

• A. Adaptive capacity is a system’s ability to adjust to climate risks.
• B. Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from disturbances.
• C. Adaptive capacity refers to how quickly an economy can grow after a climate event.
• D. Resilience measures the total cost of ownership over a product’s life cycle.

Answer: (A)

Adaptive capacity is the system’s ability to adjust to climate risks. It reflects how well a community, ecosystem, or organization can anticipate changes, modify practices, and invest in flexible options so that vulnerability is reduced before harm occurs. This includes things like improving governance and institutions, expanding access to information and resources, diversifying livelihoods, and building adaptable infrastructure. The point is to prepare for and respond to evolving conditions rather than just bouncing back after a disturbance. Resilience, for example, focuses on recovering from shocks, while other choices describe growth after events or costs of ownership, which don’t capture the proactive adjustment to changing risks.