Adapting and Mitigating the Climate Crisis

Adapting and Mitigating the Climate Crisis are the two approaches to building climate resilience and creating relevant climate action.

The need to understand the concept of Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change Impact cannot be overemphasised.

On the 13th and 14th of June 2020, Revamp Rave Network held the 6th session of her virtual training programme on climate change, themed “Concept of Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change”, taught by Shingirai Sakarombe- Environmentalist from Zimbabwe and Richard Abubakar Umar — Green Entrepreneur.

Shingirai Sakarombe, who took the first phase of the session, spoke explicitly on adaptation’s concept to climate change. He said “adaptation to climate change refers to adjustments in human and natural systems in response to actual or expected climatic variations to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities (IPCC 2001).

He noted the critical concepts of climatic change adaptation are climatic resilience, which can withstand and recover from hazards or shock resulting from the changing climate. Vulnerability to climate change — the degree to which a system is susceptible to and unable to cope with climate change’s adverse effects, including climate variability and extremes, and climate risk — a combination of the likelihood (probability of occurrence) and the consequence of an adverse event.

Also, he explained the types of adaptation emphasising, which are anticipatory Adaptation, reactive Adaptation, and transformative Adaptation. Shingirai mentioned some ways Climate Change Adaptation can be observed: building resilience in communities by increasing their adaptive capacity, reducing vulnerability and reducing climate hazard/disaster risks.

He highlighted some adaptation measures to be observed in Africa. Such methods are improved monitoring and analysis of available national surface and groundwater, prevention of deforestation, reduction of fires, agriculture conservation, agroforestry, improved grazing management, crop diversification, etc.

He concluded his session by explaining some of the challenges of climate change adaptation to be the limitations of understanding the nature and extent of current, projected risks and vulnerabilities, and the lack of supportive policies in climate change adaptation processes, standards, regulations and design guidance to mention a few. Also, they exist legal or regulatory restrictions. Lack of availability or restricted access to appropriate technologies. Prohibitive costs of identified adaptation options when budgets are limited.

There is a need to work with the scientists to innovate change, more of green companies to come together with the civil societies to provide solutions” — Richard A. Umar.

Richard Abubakar Umar, who thought in the second phase of the session, explained the concept and need to mitigate climate change.

He said that “we are actors in the mitigation of climate change, and as actors, we understand that mitigation is a tool in tackling climate change”.

They’ve already been lots of advocating in almost all nations, but the question is, how do we mitigate activities contributing to climate change? How can advocates act together in the right direction to ensure climate mitigation is achieved in all nations?

He made an example stating that due to the lockdown in the ongoing global pandemic caused by COVID 19, an improved atmospheric condition has been observed. The sky is becoming more evident; oceans are becoming cleaner etc. Because there are restrictions in movement, cut down of industrial activities amongst others. These changes had a positive effect on the environment.

He explained that mitigation and adaptation of climate change must be synchronised if climate change mitigation is pursued.

Richard concluded the session by encouraging the need to go beyond activism. He challenged us to take more action and work harder toward mitigating climate change. He said we have to move from the discussion table level to a more experimental stage to provide a solution where the right conversations are propelled.

He ended by saying smart agriculture is a way to mitigate climate change, especially in Africa.

https://rravenetwork.medium.com/biodiversity-to-the-natural-environment-3202ba08025a