Abstract:

Background & Aims: Global climate change profoundly impacts human society and the natural environment on which it depends. Our study systematically reviews the policies, measures and actions adopted by the European Union (EU), the United States and Australia to adapt to climate change, particularly within the biodiversity conservation domain. The concept of adaptation was formally introduced in the climate change field in 1990. By the early 21st century, Australia had released the first National Action Plan on Biodiversity and Climate Change. By reviewing progress in developed regions and countries, this study aims to provide references for refining China’s biodiversity conservation policies and actions in response to climate change. 

Results: Based on the analysis of keywords extracted from biodiversity policy documents on climate change adaptation, we found that the EU emphasizes ecosystem-based approaches and strengthening ecosystem connectivity; the United States prioritizes research and control of invasive species, highlights the role of ecosystems in climate change adaptation, and has developed adaptation measures for freshwater ecosystems; Australia focuses on policy formulation and management planning while prioritizing research. Regarding implemented measures and actions, nature-based solutions (NbS) including ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) represent widely recognized adaptation approaches internationally, which have been widely incorporated into national adaptation strategies and action plans. Other biodiversity-specific conservation measures included: improving ecosystem conditions through protection and restoration; protecting and managing large-scale landscapes, particularly expanding protected area networks and establishing ecological corridors; measures targeting specific species or ecosystems, such as controlling invasive species, reducing other threats, and assisting species settlement and dispersal; and conducting monitoring to support early warning and adaptive management. Finally, we report several best practices of biodiversity conservation for climate change adaptation. 

Perspectives: China has integrated biodiversity-related climate impact monitoring and NbS into its major national strategies. However, existing policies are fragmented and poorly coordinated across different authorities, with inadequate monitoring systems, technical standards, assessment frameworks and demonstration cases for climate-driven biodiversity measures. This study proposes the following recommendations: (1) enhancing top-level policy design and cross-departmental policy coordination, including spatial planning optimization under future climate scenarios; (2) improving long-term biodiversity monitoring and early warning systems; (3) formulating practical implementation guidelines and technical specifications; (4) establishing evaluation mechanisms for adaptive management; (5) promoting demonstration pilots in ecologically vulnerable areas to disseminate practical experience.

Key words: climate change adaptation, policy analysis, nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation, protected areas, best practices.