Mitigation ~ General information

Key concepts:

· At the most overarching level, climate change mitigation means addressing the causes of anthropogenic

climate change. Yet one does not have to dig deep to find that mitigation is a surprisingly complex concept

that defies simple definition. Consequently, most any simple definition of mitigation will come up against a

contrasting, conflicting, or at least overlapping definition out there as well.

· But while there are many ways to conceptualize mitigation, four broad categories include:

(1) reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

(2) protecting carbon reservoirs

(3) enhancing climate reservoirs

(4) implementing various forms of “climate intervention” (also called “geoengineering”)

· Confusingly, many approaches to climate change—for example, ”climate change law” and “carbon

offsets”—can apply across several of these categories. As such, mitigation is a highly wide-ranging topic

with numerous subcategories, many of which overlap with other climate change topics (most

notably, that of adaptation).

· Consequently, while key overarching mitigation initiatives are listed on this page and its subpages,

particular topics under the rubric of “mitigation” are integrated into the Climate A>Z page (entries

relevant to mitigation are highlighted with “M”).

Contents of this page:

· Key mitigation initiatives

Subpages:

Also see: