The Adaptation Solutions We Need to Navigate Climate Change

We all have one home planet in this galaxy and it’s showing signs of malfunction. The only answer is to work together to fix it. Everyone is experiencing the impacts of a shifting climate and its effect on weather, food and water supply, infrastructure and more. To confront the problem, we’re going to have to make some changes – and adapt to changes that have already happened.   

We know that industry must reduce emissions to slow the pace of global climate change.  Innovative new technologies such as renewable energy sources, direct air capture and carbon capture are vital to ensuring the future health of the planet – however, it’s equally important to develop solutions that enable humanity to adapt to the climate challenges we face today. 

From replanting forests to planning for heat waves to building public infrastructure designed to withstand extreme conditions, adaptation strategies are key to establishing climate change resilience. Protecting people and communities from harm compels us to address current and future challenges across ecological, social and economic systems. Adaption equals survival. 

Protecting Our Infrastructure 

Climate adaptation strategies are vital for protecting critical infrastructure such as public transit, bridges and pipelines from worsening weather impacts. The corrosion and degradation of metals and alloys is already a costly problem that is now being accelerated by extreme heat and humidity stemming from climate change. This leads steel structures to deteriorate more quickly and replacing them comes at a huge financial and environmental cost. Worldwide corrosion authority NACE International estimates that proper corrosion management – such as the systematic material characterization assessments offered by Battelle’s – could save between $375 to $875 billion annually.  

At Battelle, we have multidisciplinary and comprehensive materials science and engineering expertise enabling us to develop a wide array of solutions that can solve the most challenging corrosion problems. For example, we have extensive expertise in polymers, advanced materials with enormous potential to help humans adapt to climate change. Not only are they essential in the production of renewable energy technologies, but they can also improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings and infrastructure. Polymers can even adsorb and capture CO2 from industrial emissions or directly from the atmosphere and can be used to create more environmentally friendly packaging.  

Battelle’s polymer-based Smart Corrosion Detector® fulfills a crucial need as hot and humid weather becomes more common. This dual-action microbead breaks open and fluoresces when corrosion is detected, then releasing self-healing materials to fill the corrosion cracks at the microscopic level. Mixing the beads into paints and coatings used on pipelines and critical infrastructure allows us to detect corrosion earlier and stop its spread, preventing damage while mitigation efforts are under way.  

Convening Experts to Tackle Climate Adaptation 

Annually, Battelle gathers experts from government, private industry and academia at  the Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference, also known as ICR, to share technology breakthroughs and action plans to address the effects of climate change, with special focus on adaptation in addition to mitigation and sustainability. In 2025, ICR will focus on increased investment and commercial participation through partnership, acceleration, and action, explains Battelle Technical Fellow and ICR24 Chairman Justin Sanchez.  

Every year, ICR features presentations on the latest private and public endeavors from speakers like Richard Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator, who presented on tools like climate mapping for adaptation and funding and partnerships for resilient communities. ICR will continue to combine and connect across disciplines to accelerate all aspects of climate resilience, including adaptation. 

Uncovering Climate Solutions with Big Data 

Even as we adapt to current shifts in our environment, we can’t assume that those changes will remain constant. Relying solely on global temperature observation and modeling to inform our adaptation techniques is not enough. Continuous, successful adaptation requires the collection of granular data on a wide variety of aspects of our natural environment. 

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a National Science Foundation creation managed and operated by Battelle. NEON comprises 81 field sites across the continental U.S. and collects long-term, open-access ecological data to better understand how ecosystems are changing. One way NEON’s data has been used is to monitor biodiversity on a global scale and predict water quality changes. It has also informed explorations on the connection between shrinking plant habitats, climate change and the factors contributing to ecosystems’ “tipping points.” When we have a thorough understanding of how our ecosystems are changing or could change, we are better equipped to develop targeted solutions. 

Another way researchers are leveraging NEON’s data is by studying the problem of permafrost thawing, which has been accelerating significantly in recent decades due to global warming. When permafrost thaws, it leads to ground sinking, which destabilizes natural habitats and human infrastructure while also releasing large amounts of carbon and methane into the atmosphere, potentially further accelerating climate change. NEON data is being leveraged in research using artificial intelligence (AI) to delve into the complex relationships and feedback loops between permafrost thaw, greenhouse gas emissions and specific climate variables. This information will enable the development of better predictive models of permafrost degradation, which will give scientists a clearer understanding of pending shifts and how to proactively avoid or respond to them. 

Tackling Climate Change Requires a Multipronged Approach 

The unprecedented and unpredictable nature of climate change means society may not realize the ripples of its impacts until we stand face to face with them. Ongoing comprehensive environmental research and collaboration across industries can help us identify and implement actionable solutions that will help economies and societies become more resilient, today and beyond. By constantly observing our environment, we become able to record our world, store the comparable data year over year and share these observations as a reference point within the larger worldwide effort to achieve climate resilience.  

Sustainability and mitigation strategies, which make up the remaining two pillars of climate resilience, are equally important and must be deployed in tandem to protect the health of people and the planet today, tomorrow and beyond. Learn more about how Battelle approaches climate resilience and how we are actively supporting it through our research.