Adaptation and Mitigation
At a global policy level the urgent need is recognised both to mitigate the causes of climate change by radically reversing current trends of greenhouse gas emissions and to invest in coping strategies that strengthen resilience and ‘adaptive capacity’ to live with inevitable changes in climate. Together these two sets of actions can contribute to meeting the objectives of sustainable development.
Developed countries with disproportionately high levels of emissions have recognised their responsibility to reduce their impact, through the Kyoto Protocol. Developing countries, particularly least developed countries, are increasingly emphasising their need to adapt to impacts of climate change, some of which are now unavoidable.