News & ViewsPublished: 24 July 2026Climate change adaptationKatharine Vincent ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3152-15221 Nature Climate Change (2026) Cite this articleSave articleView saved researchSubjectsClimate changeAssessing the status of adaptation is important to target support and determine priority gaps. Here I look back on an influential 2021 study that reported a systematic review of evidence of implemented human adaptation and consider how this underscored the imperative for greater policy action and spawned methodological advancements in how to track adaptation progress.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: A woman collects water using a pump.ReferencesFord, J. D. & Berrang-Ford, L. Mitig. Adapt. Strateg. Glob. Change 21, 839–859 (2016).Article Google Scholar Tompkins, E. L., Vincent, K., Nicholls, R. J. & Suckall, N. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Clim. Change 9, e545 (2018).Article Google Scholar Berrang-Ford, L. et al. Nat. Clim. Change 11, 989–1000 (2021).Article Google Scholar Mills-Novoa, M., Thomas, K. A. & Mikulewicz, M. Nat. Clim. Change 15, 912–914 (2025).Article Google Scholar Singh, C. et al. Clim. Dev. 14, 650–664 (2022).Article Google Scholar Owen, G. Glob. Environ. Change 62, 102071 (2020).Article Google Scholar Petzold, J. et al. Commun. Sustain. 1, 62 (2026).Article Google Scholar Nalau, J., Gilmore, E. & Howden, M. npj Clim. Action 3, 76 (2024).Article Google Scholar Nalau, J. & Verrall, B. Clim. Risk Manag. 32, 100290 (2021).Article Google Scholar Sietsma, A. J., Ford, J. D. & Minx, J. C. Nat. Clim. Change 14, 31–39 (2024).Article Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsKulima Integrated Development Solutions, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaKatharine VincentAuthorsKatharine VincentView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Katharine Vincent.Ethics declarationsCompeting interestsThe author declares no competing interests.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article