Adaptation and Mitigation

The goals of mitigation are to avoid dangerous human interference with the climate system, to stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. An example of mitigation is by facilitating carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration is the natural uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide by environmental sinks such as trees, oceans, and soils through biological processes. Plants are among the most effective carbon sinks because of their immense use of carbon for photosynthesis. The sequestration of carbon dioxide in the plant’s root, in soil, increases agricultural productivity by acting like an organic fertilizer. [Lecture] To do this, we can plant more trees, though this would typically be effective at a large-scale led by governing bodies.

The goals of adaptation are to reduce our vulnerability to sea-level encroachment, intense extreme weather events or food insecurity. Adaptation aims to make the most of any potential beneficial opportunities associated with climate change such as longer growing seasons or increased yields in some regions. A historical example of this is the wind towers found in Iran. [Lecture] Also known as windcatchers, they can function in three ways: directing airflow downward using direct wind entry, directing airflow upwards using a wind-assisted temperature gradient, or directing airflow upwards using a solar-assisted temperature gradient. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windcatcher] These served to ventilate buildings in an age without advanced technology.