Climate change mitigation entails taking measures to limit or halt greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere – such as carbon dioxide – through policies, incentive schemes or investments.
Climate justice has increasingly become the centerpiece of mitigation calls, in recognition of their unbalanced historical contributions. Richer countries must lead in finding solutions to address the climate crisis.
1. Invest in renewable energy
Renewable energy (RE) is helping drive a global shift away from polluting fossil fuels that harm the environment, as well as offering economic, social and climate benefits, including reduced fossil fuel importation from unstable regions.
Transitioning to renewable energy sources is key for combatting climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while simultaneously supporting sustainable development efforts and providing affordable power to those who may otherwise lack access.
Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, bioenergy, hydroelectricity and tidal power; all generating electricity with zero carbon emissions unlike non-renewable resources like coal, oil and natural gas which emit CO2 into the atmosphere when burned. By investing in R&D for renewables this helps make these technologies competitive with fossil fuels enabling governments and businesses to lower GHG emissions while positioning themselves as leaders of climate action movements and attract eco-conscious customers and investors.
2. Reduce your consumption
Consuming less fossil fuels and other natural resources will help combat global warming. Increased consumption is one of the primary contributors to climate change; by cutting consumption we could achieve net zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.
Electronics, clothing, and plastics each leave behind a carbon footprint which includes energy use to extract raw materials, manufacture them, transport them to you and dispose of them when no longer useful. Once incinerated as waste they release long-lived greenhouse gases (LLGs). By purchasing less items or secondhand goods and repairing or reusing existing goods we can reduce our consumption’s environmental impact.
Many cities include objectives and actions related to reducing consumption-related GHGs as part of their climate action plans, in order to legitimize sustainable consumption as an integral component of climate solutions, while providing communities with the tools for real emissions reductions. Such efforts also have positive health benefits, by decreasing air pollution while encouraging healthy eating practices and active living habits.
3. Reduce your emissions
Climate change is caused primarily by heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHG) released into the atmosphere, so reducing these emissions is one of the key ways to combat global warming and its associated consequences.
At home, individuals can reduce GHG emissions by using less electricity, cycling and walking more, carpooling or taking public transit. You could also switch to renewable energy and stop buying products made with fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals.
Manufacturing emissions can be reduced by choosing alternatives that do not produce greenhouse gasses (GHGs) and by recycling and composting organic material such as food. You may also choose recycled goods when possible and minimize shipping by purchasing local goods or opting for fuel-efficient cargo ships.
Actions taken to reduce short-lived climate pollutants are also essential, since their lifespan in the atmosphere is much shorter and they contribute up to 80% of needed reductions for meeting our 1.5degC target. These actions include those to decrease black carbon, methane and tropospheric ozone which have global warming potentials many times higher than CO2.
4. Adapt to climate change
Mitigation efforts aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by decreasing sources (like burning fossil fuels for energy) or by strengthening “sinks” that remove these heat-trapping emissions from entering. This helps limit climate overshoot and its adverse impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, people and food production.
Adaptation to climate change refers to any actions that reduce the risks associated with human-caused climate changes, such as extreme weather events, flooding or food and water insecurity. These may include protecting both the environment and human well-being, such as planting shade trees around houses to keep temperatures down or developing sustainable farming practices.
Many adaptation measures can aid with mitigation, such as protecting against rising sea levels by building sea walls or reclaiming land on small islands. Unfortunately, limited capacity and funding often impede their effectiveness and implementation; there also remains a gap between what can be adapted to and what has actually been adopted across regions, sectors, or communities.