BaCCC/Video Summaries/Adaptation vs. Mitigation Climate Change Solutions

Video Summary

Adaptation vs. Mitigation Climate Change Solutions (2:44)

Adaptation is trying to fix the effects of climate change and finding solutions to actual or predicted damage. It is like being on a leaking ship and bailing the water out as quickly as possible.
Adaptation can include building defences against sea level rise or behavioural shifts, such as reducing food waste, eating less meat, using less plastic and saving water.
With adaptation, we adjust our ways to live in a future impacted by the climate crisis.
Mitigation is trying to fix the cause of climate change. It is like being on a leaking ship and trying to plug the hole so the water stops pouring in.
Mitigation includes reducing the sources of greenhouse gases, retrofitting buildings and vehicles to be more energy efficient, and enhancing carbon sinks.
The goal of mitigation is to stabilise greenhouse gas levels to where ecosystems can naturally adapt to climate change.
Although adaptation and mitigation are because of the same crisis, neither option is enough on its own.