What is climate change adaptation and mitigation?

Climate change is a long-term change in temperature and weather patterns and is currently one of the biggest challenges for life on earth. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change mitigation as an “intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases. Climate change adaptation, on the other hand, involves adjustments and changes by humans and natural systems in response to actual or anticipated changes in climate. The ultimate goal of climate change adaptation and mitigation is to limit the negative impacts or maximize the potential benefits caused by climate change. 

Together, climate change mitigation and adaptation are key components of climate resilience. By reducing future climate risks through mitigation and preparing for existing and anticipated impacts through adaptation, we can build a more resilient foundation for dealing with current and future climate change. It should also be noted that while adapting to a changing climate is essential, it should not overshadow our efforts in climate change mitigation.

Addressing climate change with NbS

NbS can be highly effective in supporting both climate change adaptation and mitigation and for building climate resilience. For example, NbS can help to decrease greenhouse gas emissions related to land use change, capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (i.e. mitigation), or improve the ability of ecosystems to withstand the effects of climate change, such as flooding, sea-level rise, drought and heatwaves (i.e. adaptation).  

  • Land use (agriculture, forestry etc.) results in a large proportion of global emissions – better land management and conservation can help reduce these emissions. 

  • Healthy ecosystems can act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing CO2 – conservation, restoration and sustainable management of wetlands, forests and oceans can contribute to better carbon storage. 

  • Intact ecosystems can also help communities become more resilient to extreme weather events and climate-related disasters. 

What to think about...

Measuring the efficacy of a NbS for climate change mitigation can be difficult and will be dependent on the starting point before the NbS is implemented. The effectiveness of NbS can also vary depending on the specific ecosystem type and implementation approach. Some examples of possible indicators for the effects and success or failure of an NbS related to climate mitigation and climate resilience can be: 

  • Total carbon removed or stored in vegetation and soil per unit area per unit time: the quantification of carbon storage in soils, vegetation, or wetlands, is considered a key indicator, as this provides direct evidence of CO₂ mitigation benefits. 

  • Avoided greenhouse gas emissions from reduced building energy consumption  

  • Monthly mean value of daily maximum/minimum temperature: In urban areas, looking at reduction in urban heat island effects through monitoring temperature changes in areas with NbS interventions compared to areas without can also provide information on mitigation effects. Such cooling effects can help reduce energy use for cooling and mitigate emissions indirectly, especially relevant if fossil energy sources are used. 

  • Heatwave incidence: Days with temperature >90th percentile 

  • Stormwater runoff related to precipitation 

Examples of effects of NbS related to climate change adaptation and climate resilience can be: 

  • Reduction in flood hazards. Measuring the change in flood-prone areas or flood intensity after implementing NbS can serve as an indicator of their effectiveness.  

  • NbS aimed at improving drought resilience, could be traced by looking at changes in water availability during dry periods, soil moisture retention, or crop yields in drought-prone areas. 

  • NbS being implemented to address heatwaves, particularly in urban areas, could be documented by looking at changes in urban heat island effects or reductions in peak temperatures during heatwaves 

The effectiveness of NbS can vary depending on the local context, and a combination of indicators may be necessary to fully assess their impacts related to climate change. As is the case for any NbS, when addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation, cross-sector involvement is very important. To ensure that the NbS is meeting its goals for climate change adaptation and mitigation, it is also essential to have monitoring in place. 

NbS with a focus on climate change

In GuideNbS, we highlight the societal benefits of each nature-based solution, considering the context-specific potential that is determined by ecosystem characteristics. We encourage users of this handbook to fully realize the potential within the specific context of the ecosystem and to set clear targets that can be followed over time.  

Many of the NbS described in this handbook have the potential to address climate change adaptation and mitigation. The following is a selection of these. If there is nothing relevant to you here, we encourage you to visit one of our ecosystem-specific pages. 

  • No tillage: No, or reduced, tillage refers to the practice of sowing or planting the new crop, after harvest, without first tilling the soil.  

  • Mulching: Mulching is a collection of NbS that focuses on covering the soil and adding nutrients and organic matter to it. This can be compost, chopped plant material, or even living mulch in form of intercropping plants that grow under the main crop. 

  • Rain gardens and swales: Rain gardens and swales can mitigate the effects of frequent rainfall and snowmelt by slowing and filtering stormwater runoff. These structures can help prevent flooding, reduce pollution entering waterways, and recharge groundwater.  

  • Rewetting: Former wetlands that have been drained for human activities are rewetted applying different types of NbS that restore the natural hydrology of the area 

  • Floodplain reconnection: Floodplain can be reconnected to its surrounding by applying different types of NbS that reconnect the hydrological connectivity between the river and the floodplain. 

Are you unsure how to choose an NbS that addresses climate change adaptation and mitigation? See our general guidance on Nature-based solutions!