see appendix for a full description of alternative development pathways this clearly points to the importance of understanding the options for building climate resilience with full consideration given to climate change and socioeconomic megatrends unquestionably the only way to prevent the adverse consequences of climate change for human and natural systems is through mitigation however effective policies focused on adaptation are urgently needed as well to enable the building of resilience those policies may also assist both in preventing the negative impacts arising from climate hazards and in slowing the process of climate change