Economists and greens now talking ‘adaptation’

An article in this week’s Economist (UK) reports that environmentalists and economists are now coming round to the idea of adaptation rather than just talking about climate change prevention. This new focus on 'coping' is manifesting in a number of private and public sector projects. But even if poor countries do get adaptation money, there will be tough choices over how to use it. For example, if infectious diseases are rising, do you spend money trying to eradicate the worst ones, like malaria, or do you spend it on health and nutrition in general? No doubt everyone will be divided over the ‘right answer’.