Abstract: Since 1990s, the global change studies began its new phase.The orientations of the global change studies signif icantly changed(1) from the pure basic studies for underst anding the fundamental rules regulating the earth system to the ones for the more practical issues about the life support environment in association with sustainable development;(2) from the impacts of human activities on environmental change to the adaptation of human society to global and regional change;(3) for the integrated study on the eart h system at a higher level.This paper analyses the background of the study on the regional response and adaptation to global change, which received increasing att ention, and introduces some concept s and new research progresses that highlight:(1) The relationship between the adaptation to global and regional change and sustainable development.The two should be closely linked and coordinated asinteg rated one.At the same time, adaptation should beachieved by treating the activities of the regional or global environment as whole, not by only treating local activities.