Page 24 - Governing Congo Basin Forests in a Changing Climate • Olufunso Somorin

Chapter 1
CLIMATE CHANGE
Human interference
including Variability
Exposure
Initial Impacts or Effects
MITIGATION
of Climate Change via GHG Sources and Sinks
Autonomous Adaptations
Residual or Net Impacts
Planned
ADAPTATION
to the Impacts
Policy responses
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Figure 1-1: Adaptation and Mitigation as policy responses to climate change (Source: Forsius et al., 2013: p. 27)
Many authors have argued that despite adaptation and mitigation sharing a common objective of addressing climate change, differences exist in their approaches and strategies. Drawing from the work of different scholars, Table 1-1 provides a snapshot of these main differences. The differences, including spatial scale, relevant sectors, time scale, and urgency, have been considered as the reasons for the trade-offs between both climate responses (Tol, 2005; Locatelli et al., 2011). Even at the global policy-making level within the UNFCCC, they are both considered as separate issues (Swart and Raes, 2007). Under the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, mitigation is seen as the responsibility of developed countries while adaptation is considered as a challenge for the South, due to its low mitigative capacity and significant adaptation needs (Ayers and Huq, 2009). However, in recent years, the ‘reality’ of this principle is quite opposite. On the one hand, more developing countries are involved in mitigation activities through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the UNFCCC. On the other hand, planning adaptation needs and options pose policy challenge even for developed countries.
4
IMPACTS
VULNERABILITIES