Overview of Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation
What is Climate Change Mitigation?
Climate change mitigation refers to practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in turn, reducing the impacts of climate change.2 Fossil fuel use, for instance, is the largest contributor to anthropogenic GHG emissions. Renewable energy sources, such as bioenergy, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, and wind energy, have the potential to meet the energy needs of the world while minimizing GHG emissions. Consequently, investing in renewable energy is an important climate change mitigation strategy and one that can be implemented at all levels of government, from local to international.3 As the GHGs emitted by the world’s nations have a harmful global impact, effective climate change mitigation will require a global effort.
What is Climate Adaptation?
Despite previous and on-going efforts to mitigate GHG emissions, our climate is changing at an unprecedented rate and building resilient adaptation strategies is critical.4 Climate change adaptation is defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as “adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects.”5 Climate adaptation can be reactive or anticipatory and can include a wide range of actions including policy development, grassroots initiatives, research, and innovation. Effective climate adaptation strategies through changes in practices and policies, in conjunction with mitigation efforts, can be used to create the most optimal conditions for a resilient response to the challenges of climate change and ecosystem disruption.
Dr. Stefan Grzybowski discusses whether or not global climate adaptation strategies have been effective and what we need to focus on when formulating adaptation plans (1:50)
Considerations For Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
Risk Assessment and Planning for Uncertainty
The impacts of climate change often lead to unpredictable consequences such as extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts. This unpredictability is often devastating for communities, particularly those lacking access to the capital and infrastructure required to protect them. Coping with uncertainty is an important challenge to overcome when developing a climate adaptation plan. While uncertainty is inevitable in climate adaptation planning, assessing and managing risk in order to protect communities and build climate resilience is critical. Climate risk assessments identify the likelihood of future climate disasters and evaluate their impacts on a given population or community.6 Climate adaptation policies must include proportionate, flexible, and iterative risk assessment and management approaches based on specific community-level social and economic factors.1 Governments and other decision-making stakeholders can achieve this by optimizing their knowledge of climate change to better predict future changes and plan for a range of outcomes through supporting research and innovation.1 This includes effective knowledge translation mechanisms like accessible data and short synthesis resource documents to ensure that all stakeholders are equipped with the information and tools necessary to create effective adaptation strategies to climate change.7, 8
Mitigation and adaptation strategies should include knowledge translation mechanisms to assure that all stakeholders are equipped with knowledge and tools necessary to adapt to climate change
Protecting and Sustaining Natural Ecosystems
Preserving and restoring biodiversity and natural ecosystems is an important, potentially cost-effective, and long-term adaptation measure against climate change threats.9 Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change support resilient livelihoods, protect food and water, and ensure healthier environments.9 Protecting ecosystems like salt marshes and barrier beaches can shelter communities from storms and flooding caused by sea level rise and reforesting flood-prone areas can limit soil erosion. These strategies are often more cost effective than non-ecosystem based adaptation like building dikes.10 In Canada, the federal government has committed to protecting 30% of both the country’s land and oceans by 2030 through the implementation of nature-based climate solutions.11 Examples include supporting grassland preservation through sustainable farming, planting native trees to safeguard forests, and funding organizations such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to remove waste from our coastlines.11 Initiatives like these acknowledge that climate-induced harm has already been caused to our wetlands, grasslands, forests, and coastlines but, with nature preservation and restoration prioritized, proactive adaptation is possible at a lower-cost.
Case Study: Protecting Teztan Biny/Fish Lake
Blaine Grinder discusses the project to protect Teztan Biny/Fish Lake BC from Taseko Mines Ltd and the spiritual importance of this location for the Indigenous peoples of the area (3:07)
Case Study: Abbotsford’s Nature-based Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Program
In late November 2021, Abbotsford, BC suffered severe flooding as the Fraser River overflowed its banks, washing away major highways, damaging infrastructure, and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.12 Abbotsford officials monitored conditions in their region and implemented their local emergency plan which included closing down highways, alerting community members, and issuing travel advisories. This disaster emergency response was critical in minimizing damage and ensuring the safety of residents. The following are some of the steps taken by authorities to help affected communities cope in the days following the flooding:
- Evacuation: A day after the torrential rain began, the City of Abbotsford declared a state of local emergency as flood waters swept across the community. Evacuation orders were issued to ensure the safety of residents living in flood-prone areas.13
- Road and bridge closures: During the two days of uninterrupted rainfall, reports of landslides, road closures and accidents accumulated at an alarming rate. A number of roads and bridges were closed, disrupting transportation. The authorities were quick to offer alternative routes, which made it possible for traffic to circulate.13
- Sandbags: A week after the flooding, another 120 mm of rain was recorded. Volunteers and military personnel worked together to construct sandbag barriers around houses and businesses in flood zones.14 These barriers prevented water from flooding buildings and causing severe damage.
- Assistance to Farmers: Abbotsford is known for its agriculture sector, which has been hard hit by flooding. Federal and provincial governments provided $228M assistance to affected farmers to fund needs not covered by existing programs or insurance.15
These coordinated efforts of emergency services, volunteers and municipal workers have contributed to effective use of resources, minimizing economic losses. However, the community and the local government believe that there is still a need for a wider range of strategies to mitigate the impact of flooding and improve the community’s resilience to future disasters.16 The City of Abbotsford is now working to develop a long-term and comprehensive mitigation program for the Sumas Prairie region, including a range of nature-based adaptation strategies such as the use of natural systems and green infrastructure to better protect communities from climate disasters, community engagement and education, and the development of early warning and response systems.
A key adaptation strategy to lessen the devastation of flooding is the development of natural systems and green infrastructure to manage and divert flood waters. Up to $81 million will be dedicated to projects under the new Green Infrastructure Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Program funded by the federal government.17 Projects include working with local landowners and farmers to create natural canals, rain gardens, and buried waterways that can divert flood waters away from homes and businesses.18In addition, the program aims to restore natural features such as wetlands and riparian zones that are vital to natural flood control and biodiversity. Finally, the City of Abbotsford is engaging with community members through public meetings, workshops, and education campaigns to promote preparedness and resilience.14
The devastation of the 2021 flooding in Abbotsford demonstrates the importance of proactive planning and investment into resilience strategies to help communities prepare for and respond to climate disasters. With human-induced climate change increasing the probability of such events12 , implementing a nature-based adaptation, resilience, and disaster mitigation program is critical to effectively respond to future floods and other climate events as well as to mitigate their impacts on the community.
