Climate change mitigation entails reducing heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs). It involves conserving energy and switching over to clean sources like solar or wind power; conserving forests as carbon sinks; as well as protecting ecosystems that act as carbon sinks.
UNDP is working with partners around the globe to combat climate change through climate mitigation projects that support low-emission development pathways. These efforts range from supporting sustainable habits to implementing regulations, incentives and investments.
Reducing emissions
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions is key to combatting climate change. This can be done through various measures, such as using renewable energy sources or investing in forests and restoring ecosystems.
Global emissions could be reduced by an estimated annual reduction of 7.3 gigatonnes through stopping deforestation, ecosystem degradation and increasing agricultural productivity – providing improved air quality, food and water security and strengthening rural economies around the world.
Reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) is one of the fastest and cost-effective strategies for combatting global warming, according to a new UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health study. Reducing emissions such as outdoor air pollution has far greater benefits than implementation costs – including saving lives due to air pollution each year and saving millions due to reduced climate change-related crop losses.
Adapting to climate change
Climate change impacts are already being felt around the world, from flooding in Pakistan to wildfires in Siberia. These disasters represent an urgent climate emergency which threatens people, nature and our planet’s future. Countries must make massive cuts in fossil fuel emissions, switch to low-carbon economies and invest in adaptation measures in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and achieve their goals of keeping our climate within safe limits.
Adaptation is the practice of making societies, infrastructures and systems more resistant to climate risks. This may involve adapting directly to floods or droughts that occur or factoring future risks into development planning and investment decisions; or protecting and restoring ecosystems.
There are various barriers that prevent countries from undertaking effective adaptation efforts, including lack of financial resources, capacity and information. Wealthier nations tend to adapt more successfully, along with those boasting strong government institutions and formal arrangements for sharing knowledge.
Investing in renewable energy
As investors seek ways to reduce risks and secure returns, the climate sector is poised for further development. Investing in clean energy companies such as renewables can help mitigate carbon emissions while creating jobs; moreover, such investments also benefit economies by providing revenue generation as well as stability and security.
Investors have increasingly turned their focus toward climate-related investments, such as carbon markets and Carbon Capture Utilization Storage and Recovery (CCUSR). Over the next several years, their global market should experience rapid expansion.
Investors must ensure their investment strategies meet climate goals. This requires supporting accelerators and early/late stage investors alike as well as working with regulators/standard setters to promote green investments. Furthermore, investors must communicate the business case for climate adaptation investments which includes benefits that they bring – this will help unlock private funds faster and expedite priority projects’ implementation.
Reducing waste
Each step in a product’s life cycle generates greenhouse gases, from extracting raw materials to manufacturing to transportation. One simple way to mitigate emissions is avoiding waste altogether through reduced consumption and purchasing sustainable products. Recycling, reusing and repairing products as well as purchasing only what you need will all help reduce GHGs produced during their creation and disposal.
Reducing food waste can also help lower GHG emissions. When food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, an effective greenhouse gas. By keeping food out of landfills and turning it into compost instead, methane production can be decreased significantly.
An EEA briefing suggests that European nations consider including actions related to waste management and circular economy in their climate change mitigation efforts, in order to achieve more holistic reporting on climate targets and opportunities, reduce environmental impacts associated with disposal, improve resource efficiencies and ensure resource efficiency.