What is climate change mitigation and how does it differ from climate adaptation?
Climate change mitigation refers to actions that reduce net greenhouse gas emissions or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere in order to limit global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines it as a human intervention to reduce emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases. Adaptation, by contrast, focuses on adjusting to the effects of climate change that are already occurring or expected.
By how much do global emissions need to fall by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius?
The IPCC's 2022 Sixth Assessment Report stated that greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and decline by 43% by 2030 to have a good chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The 2022 UNEP Emissions Gap Report put the required reduction at 45% compared to projections under current policies.
What are the cheapest renewable energy sources for climate change mitigation?
Solar photovoltaics and onshore wind are the cheapest sources for new bulk electricity generation in many regions. A 2024 review found the global levelized cost of electricity for solar PV had fallen to between US$0.039 and 0.041 per kilowatt-hour. The IPCC estimates these two options have the largest potential to reduce emissions before 2030 at low cost.
How much can dietary change reduce greenhouse gas emissions from climate change mitigation?
Widespread adoption of a vegetarian diet could cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2050. China's 2016 dietary guidelines aim to cut meat consumption by 50% and reduce emissions by 1 gigatonne per year by 2030. Food is responsible for nearly 20% of the global carbon footprint, and the livestock sector alone accounts for almost 15% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
What role do forests and land use play in climate change mitigation?
Agriculture, forestry, and land use account for about 18.4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Reforestation could save at least 1 gigatonne of carbon dioxide per year at a cost of $5-15 per tonne. Peatlands, which cover just 3% of land, store up to 550 gigatonnes of carbon, representing 42% of all soil carbon.
What is the current status of carbon pricing as a climate change mitigation policy?
In 2021, more than 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions were covered by a carbon price, a significant increase largely driven by the launch of the Chinese national carbon trading scheme, which started at $7 per tonne. An evaluation of 1,500 climate policy interventions found carbon pricing to be the most effective single policy instrument in developed countries.