Climate change mitigation entails the reduction of heat-trapping greenhouse gases while simultaneously increasing carbon sinks to remove them from the atmosphere. It can involve everything from implementing national strategies to hosting local habitat restoration projects.
Everyone plays an essential part in combatting climate change. From shopping second-hand or reducing plastic use, every action counts towards mitigating global warming.
Transitioning to renewable energy
Energy transition is central to combatting climate change, as fossil fuels produce most of the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for heating our atmosphere. By contrast, renewable energies produce power with minimal to zero carbon emissions.
Fossil fuels produce harmful pollution that contributes to smog, acid rain and respiratory illnesses; cleaner and more sustainable energy sources eliminate these toxins and promote healthier communities.
Rapid transition to renewables would be far better for nature, humans and communities than our current business-as-usual approach – as shown by an independent analysis conducted by WWF and Boston Consulting Group that compares socioeconomic metrics under two scenarios of business as usual and rapid renewable energy shift.
As part of an equitable energy transition, it is equally crucial to facilitate an orderly shift away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy while providing workers with pathways towards high-quality jobs and financial assistance, training programs, healthcare benefits and retirement provisions.
Reducing how much people consume
To address climate change, we must reduce our consumption of natural resources such as fossil fuels. However, in societies accustomed to overconsumption this may prove challenging. Achieve sustainability means bringing our consumption levels closer to sustainable levels – known as sufficiency.
Energy efficiency is an integral component of addressing environmental challenges. From purchasing appliances that are EPEAT or ENERGY STAR certified, using solar heating for our homes or simply turning off lights when not needed – taking these actions can have a dramatic impact.
Renewable energy sources also offer great environmental advantages. By emitting less air pollution that contributes to climate change, such as carbon dioxide and methane emissions, renewables allow us to reduce our reliance on power plants by transitioning towards renewable electricity generation or electrifying transportation, significantly decreasing heat-trapping emissions from both sectors of the economy.
Keeping fossil fuels in the ground
Extracting and burning fossil fuels – such as oil, coal and natural gas – endangers human health through climate change and pollution. As non-renewables that emit carbon dioxide into our atmosphere and contribute to global warming, as well as produce harmful air pollution such as sulfur oxides that contribute to breathing issues among vulnerable populations, extracting and burning these fuels threaten human wellbeing in numerous ways.
Addressing climate change by simply regulating smokestacks and tailpipes alone is futile; we must instead stop new and renewed fossil fuel leases on public lands, oceans and federal lands – SEI research on policies that restrict fossil fuel supply demonstrates this is the most effective means of mitigating climate change.
However, codifying normative guidance regarding the link between fossil fuel production and climate policy into international law will require extensive multilateral negotiations. SEI is supporting this effort by deepening understanding and creating a community of practice on this vital topic; including through our work on this important issue at local, regional and global levels.
Switching to sustainable transport
Electric vehicles and public transport powered by renewables, as well as switching to low-carbon fuels in shipping and aviation, as well as improving efficiency, land use and system design are a vital part of climate change mitigation strategies. They help mitigate environmental impacts, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and enhance sinks such as regenerative agricultural practices that help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
These efforts are critical for meeting global carbon reduction goals, since transportation accounts for roughly half of GHG emissions worldwide. With an estimated US$7 trillion spent annually on fossil fuel subsidies (direct public spending) and indirect externalities like climate change and premature deaths due to air pollution, redirecting this money toward sustainable transport could make an incredible difference.
Wealthy nations must acknowledge their unjust historical responsibility for climate change and take the initiative in reducing their own high-emission activities and helping vulnerable countries adopt low-carbon development pathways – this is essential to climate justice.