MITIGATION A BETTER

APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE

WHAT IS
MITIGATION?
 Mitigation involves attempts to slow the
process of global climate change, usually
by lowering the level of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere. Planting trees
that absorb CO2 from the air and store it
is an example of one such strategy.
 Mitigation has a long-term effect because
of the inertia of the climatic system
Adaptation can have a short-term effect
on the reduction of vulnerability.
Fuel switching from coal to gas; nuclear power;
renewable heat and power (hydropower, solar,
wind, geothermal and bioenergy).

Shifting from road transport to rail and public

transport systems. Increased non-motorized
transport (cycling, walking, etc.). PRESENT
Efficient use of lighting and daylighting. More
MITIGATIO
efficient electrical appliances and heating & cooling
devices. N EFFORTS
Improved afforestation (the establishment of a new IN PLACE
forest by seeding or planting on nonforested land);
reforestation; forest management; reduced
deforestation.

Improved crop and grazing land management to

increase soil carbon storage.
Climate change mitigation
is necessary and should be
our biggest priority
 The impacts of not focusing on climate change
mitigation are too profound and widespread for
any adaptation policy to be effective – that is
the losses that will be encountered due to
climate change impacts cannot be countered
by any feasible and economic adaptation
scheme
 Therefore it is necessary that we focus far
more on climate change mitigation than on
adaptation
 If present rates of
greenhouse gas
emissions continue, we
are looking at a situation
where by 2100 global
temperatures rise by over
3 – 5 degrees  
 A 2018 report by the Source : Reuters
IPCC put the threshold
for global temperature
rise at 1.5 degree Celsius
and said that even a rise
of 2 degree Celsius
would be extremely
problematic
 What are
 At current rates of emissions we are looking at a
temperature rise of approximately 4 Degree
Celsius by 2100. The impacts of such a rise in
the temperature include( but aren’t limited to )
 Loss of all coral reefs due to ocean acidification

possible because of excessive amounts of dissolved CO2 in

oceans

impacts if
 Sea levels could be 2 meters higher , and most low-
latitude glaciers around the world would be lost. It is
predicted for instance that two thirds of the glaciers in

present Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan mountains and

Tibetan plateau would melt.

rates of
 As sea levels rise, it is possible that over two billion
people are displaced from their homes ( climate
refugees) due to the sinking of coastal regions

emissions
persist?
Source : The Guardian

Source : The Economic Times

  The impacts of unchecked climate change are so
widespread, unpredictable and significant that formulating
an adaptation plan that reasonably protects us against all
possible effects is practically impossible.  

Why isn’t      There are multiple climate models which predict
different outcomes, and different magnitude of outcomes

adaptation
for climate change – which models should an adaptation
policy follow? And even if a model is chosen, there is the
possibility of the model being incorrect  
effective  There are also some impacts which you cannot adapt to. 
Some of the impacts are so significant that no human
against intervention can be effective against them

such
     For instance if we look at the possibility of there being
2 billion climate refugees by 2100 if climate change remains
unchecked it gives rise to an important question  - where do

impacts?
you relocate these people? Even if we manage the
relocation, there are other problems that we face  - firstly it
would lead to the overcrowding of the  areas to which they
are relocated, and secondly It would lead to an extremely
poor quality of life for all these refugees in whatever areas
they are relocated to 
INCREASING INVESTMENTS
ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
INCREASING ACCESS TO
OFF GRID SOLAR PANELS
In developing countries , off grid solar panels can
help provide electricity to those who dont access
to electricity . It can help reduce the total carbon
footprint as these people would earlier burn wood
to get heat and light, but now have access to
electricity. Bangladesh is a country that has been a
leader in this.
 CARBON TAX

Main purpose : to lower the greenhouse gas emissions.

· The tax charges a fee on fossil fuels based on how much carbon they emit when burned .

· Carbon tax also encourages alternative energy by making it cost-competitive with cheaper fuels.
Carbon Tax

Main purpose :

To lower the greenhouse gas emissions.

The tax charges a fee on fossil fuels based on how much carbon they emit
when burned.

Carbon tax also encourages alternative energy by making it cost-competitive

with cheaper fuels
  The amount of CO2 released in burning any
fossil fuel is strictly proportional to the fuel’s
carbon content. The energy essence of every
fossil fuel is its carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Oxidizing (combusting) those atoms release
their heat energy but also converts carbon to
carbon dioxide. Natural gas, with a high ratio of
hydrogen to carbon, is the least carbon-intensive
HOW IS fuel, while coal is the most. The CO2 released
from burning these fuels rises into the upper
CARBON atmosphere and remains resident there —
typically for around a century — trapping heat
TAX re-radiated from Earth’s surface and causing
MEASURED global warming and other harmful climate
change.
 The carbon content of every fossil fuel, from
anthracite or lignite coal to heating oil and
natural gas, is precisely known. A carbon tax
obeys these proportions, taxing coal more
heavily than petroleum products, and much
more than natural gas. This makes a carbon tax
simple to document and measure.
Advantages : Implementation :
• Increasing the cost of carbon-based fuels will motivate • The World Bank adds that there are a total of 88
companies to switch to clean energy. As per reports , 40 countries who tend to use carbon tax to meet their Paris
countries and 20 municipalities use either carbon taxes Agreement goals. This represents 56% of global
or carbon emission. That covers 13% of annual global emissions. In addition, there are 51 regional and local
greenhouse gas emissions. initiatives.
• Carbon tax will also increase the price of gasoline and • In 2018, Canada imposed a national carbon tax of $15 to
electricity. Consumers will then become more energy- $30 a ton of CO2. This will increase to $38 a ton by 2022.
efficient, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the revenue will be refunded to individuals on
their tax bills.
• In 2013, Britain imposed a $25 tax per metric ton of CO2.
As a result, utilities switched from coal to natural gas.
Greenhouse gas emission fell to their lowest level.
 Fuel Switching: Switching power plants and vehicles to
less carbon-intensive fuels can achieve emission reductions
in the short-term. For instance, switching from an average
coal plant to a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plant
can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 50%.2
 Capturing and Storing Emissions: CO2 can be captured
from large point sources during both pre- and post-
combustion of fossil fuels. Once CO2 is separated, it can be
stored underground. Alternatively through climate
intervention strategies, existing CO2 can be removed from
the atmosphere through various Carbon Dioxide Removal
(CDR) technologies and methodologies such as direct air
capture and sequestration, bioenergy with carbon capture
and sequestration, land management strategies, as well as
many other methods.
  The Stern review HM Treasury has found that it
would cost 2% of the GDP in case of the UK to
stabilize the CO2 to 500-550ppm
concentration in the air.
 Whereas during the same period if we were to

WHY be adapting it would cost us around twice that

of the cost of mitigation that is only if the
climate change continues at the predicted rate
MITIGATIO costing people double the amount.
 Mitigation will keep the topic of climate

N IS MORE change always on the minds of people and

keep them aware of its consequences whereas

FEASIBLE in the case of adaptation most people are not

going to be bothered about the problem as
they will feel that their actions won’t cause
any difference.
 This will aggravate the whole crisis and
climate change would occur at a much faster
rate.
 The adaptation costs set out by the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) were based on climate reports
of 2009 which then found it feasible.
 Now it has been found that the total costs
can touch up to $500Billion per year as the
new climate change figure is much higher
than that in 2009.
 Certain studies have stated that mitigation
can cost $500 to $750Billion a year but
this would still account to only 1% of total
GDP whereas the side effects of climate
change can cost 5-20% of the global GDP
 Mitigation will help develop many more
sectors of the economy and will help
improve energy security, it will create
many more new industries this is likely to
boost the GDP of the country