Why It Matters
Human activities have raised the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere to levels unprecedented in at least the past 800,000 years. The resulting climate change manifests as rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather, sealevel rise, and shifts in ecosystems. Mitigation and adaptation are the two complementary strategies needed to limit damage and protect people, economies, and biodiversity.
Mitigation: Reducing the Sources of Climate Change
Decarbonise Energy Supply
- Shift from coal, oil and gas to renewable electricity (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal).
- Expand nuclear power where socially acceptable and safe.
- Phase out unabated fossilfuel power plants.
Improve Energy Efficiency
- Upgrade building envelopes, lighting, and appliances.
- Adopt highefficiency industrial processes.
- Promote smart grids and demandresponse programs.
Transport Transformation
- Electrify personal and public transport.
- Invest in highspeed rail and publictransport networks.
- Encourage walking, cycling, and modal shift.
LandUse & Forestry
- Stop deforestation and promote reforestation.
- Adopt agroforestry and sustainable agriculture.
- Maintain and restore wetlands and peatlands as carbon sinks.
Industrial Decarbonisation
- Deploy carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
- Switch to lowcarbon feedstocks (hydrogen, biobased materials).
- Encourage circulareconomy practices to reduce waste.
Behavioural Change
- Promote lowcarbon diets (less meat, more plantbased foods).
- Reduce food waste.
- Encourage responsible consumption and longer product lifespans.
Collectively, these actions aim to limit global warming to well below 2C and pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Adaptation: Preparing for the Changes Already Underway
Coastal Protection
- Build sea walls, levees, and stormsurge barriers.
- Restore mangroves, coral reefs and saltmarshes.
- Implement managed retreat in highrisk zones.
WaterResource Management
- Develop integrated riverbasin plans.
- Increase rainwater harvesting and storage capacity.
- Promote droughtresilient crops and irrigation techniques.
Urban Resilience
- Upgrade building codes for heat, flood and wind extremes.
- Expand green infrastructure (parks, green roofs, permeable pavement).
- Improve publictransport networks to reduce heat islands.
Health System Preparedness
- Strengthen diseasesurveillance for vectorborne illnesses.
- Ensure heatwave response plans and cooling centres.
- Adapt nutrition and watersanitation programs to changing conditions.
Agricultural Adaptation
- Introduce climatesmart crop varieties.
- Adopt conservation tillage and soilcarbon sequestration.
- Provide farmers with earlywarning systems and insurance.
EcosystemBased Adaptation
- Protect and restore biodiversity corridors.
- Use natural floodplains to moderate river flows.
- Integrate traditional ecological knowledge.
Adaptation reduces vulnerability and saves lives and livelihoods while buying time for deeper mitigation.
Policy, Finance & International Cooperation
Effective climate action requires coordinated policies, adequate financing, and strong global partnerships.
Key Policy Instruments
- Carbon Pricing: Carbon taxes or emissions trading systems internalise the cost of GHGs.
- Regulatory Standards: Fuelefficiency limits, building codes, and renewableenergy targets.
- Subsidy Reforms: Phase out fossilfuel subsidies and redirect support to clean technologies.
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries outline mitigation and adaptation plans under the Paris Agreement.
Mobilising Finance
- Public funds: Green bonds, climatebudget integration, and dedicated adaptation funds.
- Private capital: Incentives for ESGaligned investments, blended finance models.
- International mechanisms: Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and the World Banks climate portfolio.
Cooperation Platforms
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- IPCC assessments guiding sciencepolicy dialogue.
- Regional initiatives such as the European Green Deal, Africa ClimateResilient Investment Facility, and the Pacific Islands Climate Action.
What Individuals Can Do
While systemic change is essential, personal choices collectively make a difference.
- Reduce energy use switch to LED lighting, improve home insulation, and turn off devices when not needed.
- Travel smarter walk, bike, use public transport, or choose electric vehicles.
- Eat responsibly favour plantbased meals and minimise food waste.
- Support climatefriendly policies vote, advocate, and join local sustainability groups.
- Invest sustainably opt for green funds or companies with strong climate targets.
