What does climate resilience refer to?

Climate resilience refers to the capacity of a system—such as a community, ecosystem, or infrastructure—to withstand, adapt to, and recover from the adverse effects of climate change. This concept emphasizes not only the ability to endure climate-related challenges, such as extreme weather events or shifting environmental conditions, but also the effectiveness of measures in place to facilitate recovery and adaptation.

The focus on resilience is crucial in the context of climate change, as it recognizes that while mitigation efforts play a vital role in reducing emissions, communities must also prepare for and respond to the inevitable impacts of climate change that are already occurring. Incorporating resilience into planning and development helps ensure that societies can maintain functionality and continue to thrive even when faced with the challenges posed by climate impacts.

The other options, while related to environmental contexts, do not accurately capture the essence of climate resilience. Reducing waste can contribute to broader sustainability goals but does not specifically address the ability to respond to climate impacts. The health of an ecosystem is indeed important, yet it is a more general measure of biological well-being rather than a reflection of resilience in the face of climate challenges. Lastly, the process of increasing carbon emissions directly contradicts the goals of climate resilience, which aims to address and mitigate such emissions to