Adaptation to extreme events can reduce climate risks: Human-induced climate change leads to more frequent and intense weather and climate extremes, which can have harmful impacts on various sectors and societies. Adaptation is crucial to reduce exposure and vulnerability, and can be proactive, reactive, incremental, or transformative. Despite increasing adaptation efforts globally, significant adaptation gaps persist due to varying conditions in planning, implementation, and financing depending on political and socio-economic contexts. Adaptation measures should be planned within the context of societal transformation and sustainable development to create synergies and facilitate financing. The flood disaster in the Ahr Valley underscores that even developed countries need to invest more in proactive adaptation.