Adaptation and Mitigation: Key terms for us all

There are two main ways of managing climate change. One method, mitigation, involves finding and implementing methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The other method, adaptation, means taking action to minimize the negative impacts and maximize potential benefits from a changing climate.

Mitigation Efforts

Climate change mitigation consists of actions to limit the magnitude or rate of global warming and its related effects. In the context of climate change, the definition of mitigation generally involves reductions in human anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse (GHGs).Mitigation may also be achieved by increasing the capacity of carbon sinks for example through reforestation. Mitigation policies can substantially reduce the risks associated with human-induced global warming.

According to the IPCC's 2014assessment report, "Mitigation is a public good; climate change is a case of the "tragedy of the commons". Effective climate change mitigation will not be achieved if each agent (individual, institution or country) acts independently in its own selfish interest confirming that the need for collective action.

Examples of mitigation include reducing energy demand by increasing energy efficient, and phasing out of fossil fuels by switching to low-carbon energy sources, and removing carbon dioxide from Earth's atmosphere. Another approach to climate change mitigation is climate engineering. Climate change mitigation measures can be written down in national environmental policy documents of countries as each country's nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.

Adaptation Efforts

The current and projected impacts of climate change are likely to be significant to the environment, economy and daily lives of Nunavummiut. Therefore, we have an important role to play in educating the world about the significant impacts climate change is having and will continue to have, on Nunavummiut and our communities.

Nunavut is committed to remaining engaged in the global discourse surrounding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with the hopes that effective and timely action will be taken before impacts on our environment and way of life become too severe. Meanwhile, Nunavummiut must increase their own understanding of climate change and proactively plan for the changes being brought on by a warming climate.

As Inuit have done for centuries, we will have to adapt to these new and ever- changing conditions. As such, building adaptive capacity among Nunavummiut is the focus of the Government of Nunavut’s climate change mandate. For Nunavut then, a key focus and investment is in identifying and monitoring climate change impacts in communities, from those closely connected with the environment, and developing strategies that would help Nunavummiut adapt to climate change.