- 2082 Baisakh · 4 marks
Short note: Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Short answer
Mitigation reduces the cause of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing sinks, for example renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric transport and forest conservation. Adaptation reduces the harm by adjusting systems, for example drought-tolerant crops, early warning systems, glacial lake lowering and climate-resilient infrastructure. Both are needed: mitigation limits future damage, adaptation deals with change already happening.
Write a short note on climate change: mitigation and adaptation measures.
Responses to climate change are of two kinds: mitigation (reducing the cause) and adaptation (reducing the harm).
Mitigation
Mitigation means actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sinks, so that warming is limited.
- Shift to renewable energy – hydropower, solar, wind, biogas.
- Energy efficiency – LED lights, efficient motors, better buildings.
- Electric transport and public transport (Nepal's hydropower suits EVs).
- Forest conservation, afforestation and REDD+.
- Clean cooking – electric/induction cookers, improved stoves.
- Sustainable agriculture, less methane from waste (composting, landfill gas capture).
- Carbon pricing and cleaner industrial processes.
Adaptation
Adaptation means adjusting human and natural systems to cope with actual or expected climate impacts.
- Drought- and flood-tolerant crop varieties, changed cropping calendars.
- Water harvesting, spring recharge ponds, irrigation.
- Early warning systems for floods and GLOFs, and lowering the water level of dangerous glacial lakes (e.g. Imja and Tsho Rolpa).
- Climate-resilient roads, bridges and hydropower design.
- Disaster preparedness and insurance.
- Health measures against dengue and heat stress.
- Plans in Nepal: NAPA (2010), LAPA (2011), National Adaptation Plan (2021).
| Basis | Mitigation | Adaptation |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | Reduce cause | Reduce impact |
| Scale of benefit | Global, long-term | Local, immediate |
| Example | Solar power | Flood early warning |
Both are needed: mitigation limits future damage; adaptation deals with change already happening.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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