A Holistic Approach to Climate Action

Those who advocate and work in the fields of climate change mitigation and adaptation have typically been operating in distinct silos. A recent article from the Stanford Social Innovation review is making the case that the two camps need to come together in order to have a holistic and thus more effective approach to solving problems related to climate change. The divide seems to stem from a concern among those working in the field of climate change mitigation that talking about adaptation is akin to admitting defeat: that reducing GHG emissions is an unattainable goal and that we better start planning for a worst-case scenario. The reality, as discussed in the article, is that because climate change is already occurring, adaptation efforts must be undertaken immediately. This certainly does not imply that mitigation efforts should be diminished - taking action now could reduce the severity of climate change in the future. The article also points out that pursuing adaptation now can be a win-win, as some adaptation measures can actually result in reduced GHG emissions.