Guardian UK: If we can't stop change, we must adapt

[marmar]

If we can't stop change, we must adapt
Today's meeting of climate change scientists in Copenhagen shows that mitigation alone is not the answer

Ben Caldecott
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 11 March 2009


The consensus reached at today's meeting of climate change scientists is an important one for policymakers. At the conference being held in Copenhagen, in advance of a key meeting of climate change negotiators in December, scientists have said that even after (as yet unachieved) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions we only have a 50:50 chance of preventing a two-degree rise in global temperatures. This is depressing stuff.

Given the evidence from Copenhagen, it makes many wonder why so many green groups and activists have a habit of focusing on mitigation first and foremost and then deride those who call for a more balanced or holistic approach. After all, their limited view is potentially perilous, as it's sucking away resources and political attention from two other fundamental areas – how we adapt to climate change and how we clean up and restore the habitats we've already destroyed.

As we have seen today, even with the best will in the world, the risk of significant climatic change taking place is high. In fact, some human-induced climatic change is already occurring and it is likely to get worse because our efforts at prevention are failing. This doesn't mean that we should stop trying to take collective action to significantly reduce global emissions – quite the opposite. It does mean though, that measures to manage the consequences of climate change need to be put in place. Doing this isn't giving up hope, as some green groups and activists would say, it's facing up to the reality of the situation we're in. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/mar/11/copenhagen-climate-change