Climate action explained: mitigation or adaptation, or both?
What Is Climate Action?
Climate action refers to all efforts taken by governments, businesses, and communities to fight climate change. It includes two main strategies: mitigation and adaptation.
Mitigation
= cutting the causes of climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, switching to renewable energy, or improving energy efficiency.
Adaptation
= coping with the effects already happening, like building flood defenses, developing drought-resistant crops, or changing water management systems.
Both are essential, but they raise tough questions about priorities, funding, and global fairness.
Three Big Challenges in Climate Action
1. Finding the Right Balance
Mitigation protects the future; adaptation saves lives today. Policymakers and companies face constant pressure to decide how to allocate limited resources effectively.
2. Paying the Bill
Climate solutions cost trillions. Renewable energy projects often attract private investors because they can generate profit. In contrast, adaptation measures like protecting wetlands or relocating communities rely heavily on public funds or international aid.
This raises questions about climate justice: Who should pay, and how should funds be distributed?
3. Fairness and Global Responsibility
Developing countries often suffer the most from climate change yet have contributed the least to its causes. Wealthier nations carry a moral and political responsibility to help finance both mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Why We Need Both Mitigation and Adaptation
Without mitigation, climate change will spiral out of control. Without adaptation, people will continue to face disasters unprepared. A strong climate strategy combines both approaches for a sustainable and resilient future.
Climate action includes climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and climate change solutions.
A sustainable future is possible, here are two examples with renewable energy and climate justice.
Popularized by Fabrice Delobette