Maladaptive actions are those that may result in increases in the risk of climate-related negative impacts and vulnerability or welfare loss, now or in the future. Examples include measures that increase exposure to climate risks (e.g. promotion of economic development in high-risk locations), measures that increase climate risks (e.g. increased greenhouse gas emissions), measures that increase environmental, social or economic vulnerability (e.g. displacement of flood risk downstream), or measures that reduce incentives for adaptation.

In this section, different resources for the generation of knowledge on maladaptation and for the reduction of maladaptation are listed.