The term adaptation dates back to the early 17th century, when it was used to describe a relationship between design and function, or how something fits into something else. In biology, this generic concept has been hijacked, and adaptation now has three distinct interpretations. First, an animal or plant can adapt physiologically by adjusting to its immediate environment—for example, by changing its temperature or metabolism as altitude increases. Second, and more generally, the term adaptation refers to either the process of adaptation or the characteristics of organisms that improve reproductive success in comparison to other alternative characteristics.The third, and more widespread, understanding of adaptation is in terms of the shape of a feature that has evolved for a certain function through natural selection. Giraffes have long necks for feeding in the tops of trees, aquatic fish and mammals have streamlined bodies, flying birds and mammals have light bones, and carnivores have long daggers like canine teeth.
Difference between Adaptation and Mitigation
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Adaptation |
Mitigation |
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Large-scale infrastructure modifications, such as building defences to protect against sea-level rise, as well as behavioural shifts, such as individuals reducing their food waste, are examples of adaptation strategies. |
unfavourable consequences of climate change and taking proper action to prevent or mitigate the damage that they can cause, as well as seizing opportunities that may occur. |
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Adaptation, in its most basic form, is the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change. |
Mitigation refers to minimising the severity of climate change impacts by preventing or reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. |
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To prevent the globe from rising to more extreme temperatures, climate change mitigation entails avoiding and lowering emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. |
Mitigation can be accomplished by either reducing the sources of these gases — for example, by increasing the percentage of renewable energies or developing a cleaner mobility system — or by improving the quality of the gases themselves. |
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Climate change adaptation entails changing our behaviour, processes, and—in some cases—ways of life in order to safeguard our families, economies, and living environments from the effects of climate change. |
The easier it will be to adjust to the changes we can no longer avoid, the more we reduce emissions now. |
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Adaptation is the process of adapting to the changes brought on by climate change. |
Because mitigation measures will take decades to have an impact on rising temperatures, we must adjust today to the change that is already here—and will continue to harm us in the foreseeable future. |
Adaptation and Mitigation Association
Mitigation is defined as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. As is the case with carbon offset programmes, carbon dioxide is commonly employed as the baseline against which all other gases are measured. Methane, on the other hand, contributes far more to climate change per molecule than carbon dioxide. Adaptation can be either reactive or proactive. Anticipatory interventions will provide the best cost-effective response to risk reduction where practicable. Impact assessment can help identify potential contributors to greenhouse gas emissions as well as feasible climate change adaptation strategies.Climate change contributions and consequences are not fairly spread over the world.EIA and HIA are instruments that are used around the world to assess climate impacts on projects, policies, and programmes, as well as the effects of climate on populations and communities. They are one of the only globally standardised instruments for incorporating the consequences of climate change into project, programme, and policy design by projecting changes in baseline and future .
Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses are coastal ecosystems that act as natural water filters and marine habitats. They protect coastlines from rising sea levels by absorbing storm surges and floodwaters, as well as storing masses of carbon in their roots and soils. If mangrove forests are destroyed, the equivalent of more than two years’ worth of world emissions would be released into the atmosphere, worsening the consequences of climate change.By 2050, increasing protected coastal wetlands and recovering around 40% of the ecosystem’s global coverage might reduce CO2 emissions by one gigaton per year, or three years’ worth of emissions.
Conclusion
Local communities that rely on these ecosystems for their homes and livelihoods must be included in efforts to preserve coastal wetlands. Fiji is one of these countries.Climate change will have a severe impact on power transmission and distribution systems in developing countries. Simultaneously, development and population increase are driving up energy demand and consumption. Because interruptions at one point in the system can affect the entire network, centralised energy systems — with massive power plants and infrastructure connecting over vast distances — are particularly sensitive to climate change.