35 Chapter 35: Climate Change Adaptation
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Learning Objectives:
Differentiate between actions to mitigate vs adapt to climate change impacts
The climate crisis is increasingly distressing. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to ensure our future is as prosperous as possible. These actions fall into one of two broad categories: climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. These terms go hand-in-hand while navigating through the climate crisis, but they mean very different things.
Climate change mitigation
Climate change mitigation means avoiding and reducing emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to prevent the planet from warming to more extreme temperatures. Climate change adaptation means altering our behavior, systems, and—in some cases—ways of life to protect our families, our economies, and the environment in which we live from the impacts of climate change. The more we reduce emissions right now, the easier it will be to adapt to the changes we can no longer avoid.
Mitigation actions will take decades to affect rising temperatures, so we must adapt now to the change that is already upon us—and will continue to affect us in the foreseeable future.
What is the definition of climate change mitigation?
- a) Altering our behavior to protect our families from the impacts of climate change
- b) Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to prevent extreme warming
- c) Adapting to the changes that are already upon us
- d) None of the above
The mitigation piece of the puzzle is easy to explain, but difficult to accomplish. We must transition from powering our world with fossil fuels to using clean, renewable energy. And we need to stop deforestation and restore our natural habitats until we reach net-zero carbon emissions—meaning that the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is balanced with the capture and storage of those gases in places like tree roots. Much like investing in a retirement fund, the sooner we act to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the better off we’ll be in the future. So far, the world has been slow to act, but momentum is shifting.
What is the goal of mitigation in the context of climate change?
- a) To use fossil fuels more efficiently
- b) To transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy
- c) To increase the rate of deforestation
- d) None of the above
Why is it important to act now to mitigate the impacts of climate change?
- a) Because it will be easier to accomplish mitigation later
- b) Because the world has been slow to act
- c) Because the impacts of climate change will become more severe over time
- d) Both b and c
Climate change adaptation
If you grew up in Florida and suddenly relocated to North Dakota, you wouldn’t survive for long if you didn’t make a few adjustments to your lifestyle. To start, you would need warmer clothes and to learn how to drive in icy conditions. In other words, you would have to adapt to a new climate. In a warming world, however, you don’t have to move somewhere far away to experience a different climate—a new climate is coming to you. Climate change affects where we can grow food, how much water we have, and where we can build our homes. And we’ll face new challenges: firefighters will need to battle longer and more intense forest fire seasons; our public health officials may need to manage diseases that are not currently a problem; and city planners will need to encourage development away from areas we like to live, such as on coastlines and river fronts.
Climate change affects
Which of the following actions can be taken to adapt to climate change?
- a) Cutting down more trees to make space for new crops
- b) Ensuring infrastructure cannot withstand extreme weather
- c) Diversifying crops to tolerate extreme weather conditions
- d) Wasting water and other natural resources
Researchers are working to better understand how a changing climate impacts wildlife and finding ways to help them adapt. Protecting wildlife—stopping poaching, curbing overfishing, and conserving habitats—is more important than ever with the added pressures of climate change.
We’re in this together
Climate change adaptation and mitigation are both equally important and time-sensitive and we need to do both. You can help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions in your own life, letting your representatives know you support climate-smart policies, and supporting businesses and organizations embracing renewable energy. Help your community adapt by learning how your area is vulnerable to climate change and advocating for smart policies that reduce risk. You can also support local initiatives that help people prepare for and recover from extreme weather events or simply reduce your use of water in times of drought. Climate change is a serious problem, but our planet can continue to thrive if we all work together to both avoid the worst impacts and adapt to our changing world.
Source Text
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-s-the-difference-between-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation
