Canadian Politics Today

I agree on cost benefit but when dealing with unknowns it is very easy to concoct whatever answer you want by manipulating the assumptions used to do the analysis. The main reason why adaptation is a preferable is because you spend based on real data telling you how the local conditions are changing. i.e if the local sea level is rising you build dikes and adjust building codes. Computer models about global sea level rise are not that relevant. A second reason to prefer adaption is there is no need for global agreement on a regime that will only reward those who renege/cheat.

I don't think residents of say New York City or coastal Florida have to rely on computer models to tell them about SL rise. They can just look out their windows.