'climate-adaptive' originates from the combination of 'climate' and 'adaptive', where 'climate' refers to the weather conditions prevailing in an area, and 'adaptive' means having the ability to adjust to new conditions.

The term 'climate-adaptive' evolved from the increasing need to address climate change impacts, combining 'climate' with 'adaptive' to describe systems or designs that can adjust to environmental changes.

Initially, it meant 'able to adjust to climate', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.