1 Objectives of Public Economic Policy and the Adaptation to Climate Change

Research on adaptation to climate change is still in its infancy. Much can be learned about adaptation by applying structures and methodologies already used in other research fields. In this study we employ a public economic policy approach to investigate how- or if at all-adaptation should be supported by the public sector. We identify three different fields of adaptation activity which are especially relevant for governmental intervention and we propose ways how governmental support could be accomplished. Adaptation is mainly a regional issue although it may also have global effects. In our analysis we take into account that especially developing regions are vulnerable and they have insufficient funds to adapt to climate change in an adequate way