Table 1 Definitions of and differences between climate adaptation and mitigation
From: Climate change adaptation, coffee, and corporate social responsibility: challenges and opportunities
Climate Mitigation | Climate Adaptation | |
|---|---|---|
Definition | “A human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.” (IPCC, 2014). | “The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities” (IPCC, 2014). |
Examples | Reducing fossil fuels in favor of renewables, conserving forests and other ecosystems, energy, and fuel efficiency. | Flood resistant buildings and cities, using more resilient crop varieties, shifting production to different areas, migration. |
Benefits | Global | Mostly local |
Type of good | Mostly public | Mostly private |
% of total climate finance | > 90% | < 10% |