What is Climate Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience
Source: Michael Elliott Photography
OVERVIEW
Originating from heightened awareness of anthropogenic climate change, the concepts of mitigation, adaptation, and resilience play a crucial role in addressing both the root causes and inevitable impacts of global warming. This global, multifaceted challenge reaches across science, economics, society, politics, and ethics and requires a ‘just’ approach to transition, ensuring no one is left behind. Action must be prioritised at local levels through mitigation strategies such as renewable energy transition, energy efficiency improvements, afforestation, and sustainable agriculture practices; adaptation through climate-resilient infrastructure, water management strategies, climate-resilient agriculture, and early warning systems; and resilience through nature-based solutions, integrated urban planning, insurance mechanisms, community-based adaptation, and adherence to international frameworks. Disclosure frameworks are also crucial to offer greater transparency in climate-related, nature-related, and sustainability reporting for businesses. As the global community grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, we need coordinated, innovative, and inclusive strategies to forge a sustainable and resilient future, now more than ever before in our history.
12min read
WHAT IS THIS
Climate change is one of the most complex challenges that humanity currently faces. It spans many dimensions – science, economics, society, politics, and ethics. It is a global problem, felt on local scales, that will be around for thousands of years. Central to this challenge is carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is the primary driver of recent global warming. It lingers in the atmosphere for many thousands of years, and the planet (especially the ocean) takes a while to respond to warming.
The concepts of mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in the context of climate change originated from the growing awareness of the multifaceted challenges posed by anthropogenic (human-induced) climate change.
Mitigation: Mitigation focuses on addressing the root causes of climate change by reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases. It aims to stabilise the levels of these gases in the atmosphere, ultimately curbing the extent of climate change.
Mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind power), enhancing energy efficiency in industries and households, afforestation (planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide), and implementing sustainable practices across various sectors.
Adaptation: Adaptation is a response to the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. It recognises that certain changes are already in motion, emphasising the need for societies to adjust and minimise negative consequences. Adaptation involves making adjustments to social, economic, and environmental practices to effectively cope with these changes.
Adaptation measures include building resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events (such as floods or storms), implementing water management strategies to address changing precipitation patterns, and developing climate-resilient agriculture practices suited to evolving climate conditions.
Climate Resilience: Resilience encompasses the ability of communities, ecosystems, and economies to withstand, recover from, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. It involves building robust systems that can absorb shocks and continue to function effectively.
Climate resilience strategies integrate both mitigation and adaptation approaches. Examples include designing buildings to withstand extreme weather events (mitigation) and diversifying agricultural practices to cope with changing climate conditions (adaptation). By combining these strategies, communities become more resilient to the broader impacts of climate change.
The development of these concepts can be traced back to scientific research, policy discussions, and international efforts to address the impacts of a changing climate. Here's a brief overview:
Scientific Recognition (Late 20th Century)
In the late 20th century, scientific research began to highlight the link between human activities and the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This understanding laid the groundwork for the concept of mitigation, recognising the need to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to address the root causes of climate change.
International Policy Frameworks:
The concepts gained prominence in international climate negotiations, particularly through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC, established in 1992, marked a significant milestone in recognising the need for global cooperation to address climate change. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) focused primarily on mitigation, setting binding emission reduction targets for developed countries.
The subsequent international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement (2015), represented a shift towards a more comprehensive approach by acknowledging the importance of both adaptation and mitigation. These agreements emphasised the interconnectedness of mitigation efforts to reduce future impacts and adaptation strategies to cope with existing and unavoidable impacts.
Growing Understanding of Adaptation (1990s Onwards):
The concept of adaptation gained prominence as scientists and policymakers recognised that certain climate changes were already set in motion, necessitating adjustments to minimise negative consequences. The UNFCCC, through its various conferences and reports, began to explicitly address adaptation strategies to cope with the impacts of climate change.
Integration of Resilience (Later Years):
The concept of resilience, although often used interchangeably with adaptation, gained explicit recognition in later years. It became evident that merely adapting to specific changes was insufficient, and there was a need to build systems that could withstand, recover, and adapt to a range of climate-related challenges. Resilience became a key component of comprehensive climate strategies.
In summary, the concepts of mitigation, adaptation, and resilience emerged from a combination of scientific understanding, policy discussions, and international efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change. They represent a holistic approach to tackling the complexities of a changing climate by addressing both the root causes and the inevitable impacts. The evolution of these concepts is closely tied to the global community's recognition of the urgent need for coordinated action to mitigate, adapt to, and build resilience against climate change.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT
Climate change is a global challenge with far-reaching implications for communities worldwide. Mitigation, adaptation, and resilience are crucial at the local level to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and address environmental concerns.
Mitigation plays a pivotal role in preventing the worsening of climate change, maintaining ecosystem stability, and minimising the occurrence of extreme weather events. Adaptation measures are essential for shielding communities from immediate impacts like rising sea levels, floods, and heatwaves. Resilience ensures swift recovery from climate-related disruptions, safeguarding both lives and livelihoods.
Biodiversity is protected through mitigation efforts that prevent habitat loss, adaptation strategies that aid ecosystems in coping with change, and resilient systems that recover from disturbances, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Economically, mitigation fosters sustainable, low-carbon economies, reducing risks associated with climate change. Adaptation measures protect critical infrastructure, mitigating economic impacts from climate-related disasters. Resilient economies can adapt to changing conditions, ensuring stability and fostering sustainable growth. In essence, these concepts are vital tools for building a sustainable, secure future in the face of climate change.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
To effectively address the global challenges posed by climate change, we need to focus on five key areas:
Policy and Regulation: Governments play a crucial role in enacting and enforcing policies that incentivise mitigation actions, encourage sustainable practices, and require climate-resilient infrastructure.
Technology and Innovation: Advancements in technology, such as renewable energy solutions and sustainable agriculture practices, contribute significantly to mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Community Engagement: Local communities are key stakeholders in climate resilience. Engaging them in the planning and implementation of strategies ensures a more comprehensive and effective approach.
Education and Awareness: Increasing awareness about the impacts of climate change and the importance of mitigation, adaptation, and resilience fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages collective action.
International Collaboration: Climate change is a global challenge that requires international cooperation. Collaborative efforts can facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resources, and technology to address the collective impacts of climate change.
A ‘just transition’ approach
As we confront this grand challenge, it is crucial to ensure a coordinated and inclusive process for transitioning to a low-carbon and sustainable economy, safeguarding the well-being of workers, communities, and marginalised groups. This approach, known as the ‘just transition,’ recognises that the shift to a more sustainable future should not come at the expense of social equity.
Worker Resilience and Training (Mitigation): Mitigation efforts often involve transitioning away from industries with high carbon footprints. A just transition ensures that workers in such industries are not left behind. It includes providing training and support for workers to transition into new, sustainable sectors, fostering resilience in the workforce.
Community Adaptation and Empowerment (Adaptation): Communities that may be disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change or the transition to sustainable practices are a key focus of a just transition. It involves empowering these communities to adapt to changes, ensuring that they have a voice in decision-making processes and can actively participate in shaping their future.
Social and Economic Resilience (Resilience): A just transition emphasises the importance of maintaining social and economic resilience during the transition period. This includes providing support for communities that may face economic challenges due to the shift away from certain industries, ensuring that they can adapt and thrive in the evolving economic landscape.
Collective local action
Local action is crucial, with countries worldwide making progress in developing and deploying the necessary actions for mitigation, adaptation, and building resilience to our changing climate. Examples of local level action:
Mitigation
Renewable Energy Transition: Shifting from fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. Regulations: Various countries have set renewable energy targets and implemented policies encouraging clean energy production.
Energy Efficiency Improvements: Enhancing the efficiency of energy use in industries, transportation, and buildings. Regulations: Energy efficiency standards and codes for appliances, vehicles, and buildings are common regulatory approaches.
Afforestation and Reforestation: Planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate the impact of deforestation. Regulations: Forest protection and afforestation initiatives are often supported by national and international regulations.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Implementing practices that reduce emissions from agriculture, such as precision farming and agroforestry. Regulations: Agricultural policies promoting sustainable practices and emissions reduction goals.
Adaptation
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Designing infrastructure to withstand climate-related impacts like floods, storms, and sea-level rise. Regulations: Building codes and standards incorporating climate resilience requirements.
Water Management Strategies: Developing sustainable water management plans to address changing precipitation patterns and ensure water availability. Regulations: Water use regulations, drought contingency plans, and floodplain management regulations.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Implementing practices that enhance agricultural resilience to climate change, such as crop diversification and improved irrigation. Regulations: Agricultural policies promoting climate-resilient practices and risk reduction.
Early Warning Systems: Establishing systems to provide early warnings for extreme weather events, allowing communities to evacuate and prepare. Regulations: Implementation of regulations requiring the development and maintenance of early warning systems.
Resilience
Nature-Based Solutions: Implementing solutions that harness natural processes, such as restoring wetlands to mitigate flooding. Regulations: Integration of nature-based solutions into land-use planning and environmental regulations.
Integrated Urban Planning: Planning urban spaces to accommodate climate impacts, considering factors like green spaces and resilient infrastructure. Regulations: Urban planning regulations incorporating climate resilience criteria.
Insurance and Risk Transfer Mechanisms: Using insurance and financial instruments to transfer climate-related risks, providing financial protection. Regulations: Development of regulations supporting the establishment and operation of climate risk insurance mechanisms.
Community-Based Adaptation: Engaging communities in identifying and implementing locally appropriate adaptation strategies. Regulations: Policies that empower local communities in the adaptation planning process and allocate resources accordingly.
International Frameworks: Participation in international frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, fostering collaboration and shared learning. Regulations: National regulations aligning with and supporting international resilience frameworks.
Disclosure Frameworks
To promote transparency and action related to climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability, companies today are utilising important disclosure frameworks. These frameworks guide businesses, operations, investors, and other stakeholders to build sustainable and resilient futures, the primary disclosures frameworks in play today are:
TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures): Discloses climate-related risks and opportunities, encouraging emissions reduction and sustainable practices.
Mitigation: Focuses on disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities, encouraging emissions reduction and sustainable practices.
Adaptation: Considers physical and transition risks, encouraging disclosure on how companies are adapting to climate-related changes.
Resilience: Implicitly considers resilience by addressing how companies manage risks for long-term viability.
TNFD (Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures): Aims to address nature-related risks and opportunities, encouraging disclosures related to ecosystems, afforestation, and nature-based solutions.
Mitigation: Aims to address nature-related risks and opportunities, encouraging disclosures related to ecosystems, afforestation, and nature-based solutions.
Adaptation: Can encourage disclosures related to how companies are adapting to changes in ecosystems and biodiversity loss.
Resilience: Explicitly focuses on resilience, encouraging disclosures on enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and biodiversity.
CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project): Focuses on climate change, water security, and deforestation.
Adaptation: Encourages companies and cities to disclose their environmental impacts and strategies.
SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board): Focuses on industry-specific sustainability accounting standards.
Adaptation: Provides a set of industry standards for disclosure of financially material sustainability information to investors.
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative): Focuses on comprehensive sustainability reporting.
ResiliencE: Provides a framework for organisations to disclose their economic, environmental, social, and governance performance.
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Reporting: Focuses on alignment with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Resilience: Encourages organisations to report on their contributions to global sustainable development.
IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council): Focuses on integrated reporting on financial and non-financial information.
Resilience: Aims to provide a more holistic view of an organisation's value creation.
EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) ESG Consultation: Focuses on aligning corporate reporting with sustainable development.
Resilience: Enhances corporate reporting on ESG matters, contributing to the EU's sustainable finance agenda.
CDSB (Climate Disclosure Standards Board): Focuses on climate-related financial disclosures.
Resilience: Works to advance and align the global mainstream corporate reporting model with natural capital.
UN PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment): Focuses on ESG considerations in investment decisions.
Resilience: Encourages investors to incorporate ESG factors into their decision-making processes.
As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, the need for comprehensive strategies encompassing mitigation, adaptation, and resilience becomes increasingly evident. Addressing the social and economic dimensions of sustainability recognises that climate action and environmental protection must be inclusive and considerate of the well-being of workers, communities, and vulnerable populations. A coordinated and inclusive process of shifting to a low-carbon and sustainable economy requires collaboration, innovation, and inclusive and transparent practices to build a sustainable and resilient future.
Researched and written by Rebecca Agent with editorial support from Grammarly (English AUS) and ChatGPT
WORKS CITED
Mehryar, S. 2022. What is the difference between climate change adaptation and resilience? The London School of Economics and Political Science