and balance the processes of adaptation and mitigation. But how can we combine adaptation and mitigation to form an optimum response on climate change? Who decides and based on what criteria? When would be better to choose mitigation and when adaptation? What is their cost compared to their effectiveness? The study on the inter-relationship between the two responses gives these clear answers: 1 – mitigation has global benefits, while adaptation works of the scale on the impacted system which is regional at best; 2 – mitigation benefits will be evident in several decades, while adaptation is effective immediately and reduces vulnerability; 3 – initiative of mitigation policy stems from community agreements and public policies, while adaptation has historically been motivated by the selfinterest of the affected actors. The best combination and synergy of the two strategies depends on several factors and every territory has a different vulnerability. The vulnerability of any ecological system is determined by its exposure and its sensitivity to climate stimuli and by its adaptive capacities. The adaptive capacity is managed by - preparing for or reducing exposure to hazardous events - developing mechanisms to aid recovery after the event strikes.
References - EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 2007, Limit global warming due to climate change to +2 degrees Celsius; the path to be taken up to 2020 and beyond, (report) - IPCC, 2009, Statement of Dr. R.K. Pachauri UN Summit on Climate Change, 22 September 2009, (report) - IPCC, 2006, Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change, [Chapter 18 Interrelationship between Mitigation and Adaptation, Chapter 19 Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from CC, Chapter 20 Perspectives on CC and Sustainability ], (report) - Magnan A., Garnaud B., Billé R., Gemenne F., 2009, The future of the Mediterranean; from impacts of climate change to adaptation issues, IDDRI, (report) - Penney j., 2008, Emerging Climate Change Adaption Strategies, Statement at the Upwind Downwind Conference, Hamilton, Ontario - UNEP 2004, A case for climate neutrality, (report) - UNEP 2009, Kick the Habit: An U.N. guide to Climate Neutrality, (report) - UNFCCC 2009, Clean development Mechanism: project design documents form for afforestation and reforestation project activities, (report)
79 EX TREME C I T IES