GEOG 438W
Human Dimensions of Global Warming

The difference between mitigation and adaptation

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This week, we're looking at mitigation and next week we'll turn our attention to adaptation. It's important to understand the difference between these two ways we respond to climate change because they:

  • often occur at different geographic scales;
  • tackle different parts of the problem;
  • lead to specific outcomes not fulfilled by the other.

In other words, these terms are not interchangeable, nor do they happen in isolation.  

table describing the differences between mitigation and adaptation
Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions for Climate Change
Click here for a text alternative to the figure above
Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions for Climate Change
Mitigation Adaptation
SPACIAL SCALE

Primarily an international issue, as mitigation provides global benefits

Primarily a local issue, as adaption mostly provides benefits at the local scale

TIME SCALE

Mitigation has a long-term effect because of the inertia of the climatic system

Adaptation can have a short-term effect on the reduction of vulnerability

SECTORS

Mitigation is a priority in the energy, transportation, industry and waste management sectors

Adaptation is a priority in the water and health sectors and in coastal or low lying areas

Credit: Synergies between mitigation and adaptation in a nutshell By B. Locatelli, Published by the Center for International Forestry Research (Fair Use)

The simplest way to understand it is:

  • mitigation - addresses the root cause of climate change (emissions)
  • adaptation - addresses the impacts of climate change

Another way to think about this is mitigation is getting your flu shot to avoid illness while adaptation is taking medicine after you've gotten sick to alleviate your symptoms.

Flow chart: greenhouse gas conc. to climate change to impacts to responses to mitigation (to greenhouse gas conc.) or adaptation (to impacts)
Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions for Climate Change
Credit: Synergies between mitigation and adaptation in a nutshell By B. Locatelli, Published by the Center for International Forestry Research (Fair Use)

We can't focus our efforts on simply one or the other.  At this point, we can't mitigate our way out of the problem entirely.  Our centuries of fossil fuel combustion have already committed us to a certain amount of warming, even if we shut every emissions source down right now.  Conversely, if we throw up our hands and decide that it's too hard to find lower-carbon solutions and instead we'll focus our efforts on adapting to the new normal, we likely won't be able to keep up with the pace and severity of change.  We need to work on both parts of the problem: adapt to the warming and impacts we're already likely to face and reduce emissions now to prevent worsening impacts in the future.