Climate change mitigation and adaptation

Overview

Responding to climate change requires an approach which combines both mitigation and adaptation.

Mitigation

Mitigation involves taking action to reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere, or to increase the carbon emissions absorbed (such as, by trees or peat bogs), which in turn will reduce the amount of warming that our planet will experience. For example:

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings, including homes, by installing systems and technologies which use less energy (such as LED lights, efficient appliances and heat pumps), and helping residents understand how to get the best from these and other existing systems (for example, heating controls). Improving thermal efficiency (so a building stays warmer for longer in winter and cooler for longer in summer) by installing more insulation.

Energy from renewable sources

Installing technologies which generate energy from renewable sources, such as solar panels, to reduce the use of energy generated from burning fossil fuels. Advising users on how to get the most benefit from this energy (for example, using it when it’s generated rather than selling it back to the grid).

Car usage

Reducing car usage, increasing use of public transport and walking, wheeling or cycling.

Planting trees and wildflowers

Planting trees and wildflowers, and reducing grass mowing in spring which all help to absorb carbon emissions and improve biodiversity.

Adaption

Adaptation means taking action to prepare for more extreme weather events that a warming planet will bring, including more flooding and extreme heat, in order to protect health, lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure. Preparing for climate change now can often reduce the impact of future costs and damage and enable organisations and individuals to take advantage of potential opportunities. For example:

Thermal efficiency

Improving the thermal efficiency of care homes to protect vulnerable residents from the negative health effects of extreme heat.

Council services

Designing Council services with the resilience to protect residents during extreme weather events (heat, flooding).

Flood defences

The Council leads Our City Our River (OCOR), Derby's flood alleviation project, in partnership with the Environment Agency. Information about this can be found on the Our City, Our River pages.

More information about mitigation and adaption can also be found on the NASA website.