CWTS Final PDF

RAJ CLIFFORD N.
PEROTE BS MATH – STAT 1A, 1ST YEAR
NARRATIVE REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION
The Earth’s climate is changing. Some of this change is due to natural variations that have been taking place for millions of
years, but increasingly, human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere are warming the planet by
contributing to the “greenhouse effect.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that the best estimate for global average surface air warming
over the current century ranges from 1.8°C to 4.0°C (IPCC 2007). This rate of temperature change is without precedent in
at least the last 10 000 years. Consequently, historical climate no longer provides an accurate gauge for future climate
conditions.
What is climate change adaptation?
Even after introducing significant measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, some additional degree of climate
change is unavoidable and will have significant economic, social and environmental impacts on our community. To reduce
the negative impacts of this change and to take advantage of new opportunities presented, we will need to adapt. Climate
change adaptation refers to actions that reduce the negative impact of climate change, while taking advantage of potential
new opportunities. It involves adjusting policies and actions because of observed or expected changes in climate.
Adaptation can be reactive, occurring in response to climate impacts, or anticipatory, occurring before impacts of climate
change are observed. In most circumstances, anticipatory adaptations will result in lower long-term costs and be more
effective than reactive adaptations.
Adaptation is not a new concept: We have developed many approaches to effectively deal with the extremely variable
climate. For example, communities like provinces have been designed to withstand extreme differences in seasonal
temperatures. Nevertheless, the amount and rate of future climate change will pose some new challenges. The fact that
science now allows communities to anticipate a range of potential climate conditions, and therefore take action before the
worst impacts are incurred, makes adaptation to future climate change different from how our society adapted historically.
Adaptation (responding to climate impacts) and mitigation (reducing GHG emissions) are necessary complements in
addressing climate change. The fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that
while neither adaptation nor mitigation actions alone can prevent significant climate change impacts, taken together they
can significantly reduce risks. Mitigation is necessary to reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change, while adaptation
is essential to reduce the damages from climate change that cannot be avoided.
Single policies and measures can be designed to help tackle both mitigation and adaptation. For example, as the climate
changes, a projected higher frequency and intensity of rain storms may increase storm water runoff and the potential for
localised flooding in urban areas. Planting street trees is an initiative that municipalities can implement to both reduce storm
water runoff (adaptation) and increase carbon storage (mitigation).
In other cases, there may be conflicts between adaptation and mitigation goals that can only be addressed in a broader
context of community priorities and risk tolerance. For example, increased use of air conditioning can be considered an
adaptive measure because it reduces human health problems during heat waves, which are projected to become more
frequent in future. However, air conditioning is energy intensive and, depending on the source of the electricity, is likely to
increase carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, in deciding which adaptation action is most appropriate for a particular
situation, attention must be paid to its implications for adaptation and mitigation, as well as its cost, efficacy and acceptance
by the public.

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RAJ CLIFFORD N.

PEROTE BS MATH – STAT 1A, 1ST YEAR

NARRATIVE REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

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