Processes · Cross-cutting
Mitigation & adaptation
Two complementary ways to respond to climate change.
Local to global responses
What to understand
- 1Mitigation reduces greenhouse-gas emissions or strengthens sinks.
- 2Adaptation reduces vulnerability to current or expected climate impacts.
The distinction to remember
Cutting emissions addresses the cause; preparing for heat or floods addresses impacts. A project can contribute to both.
Conservation connection
Reducing emissions does not eliminate the need to adapt to changes already underway.
Pause & recall