This document discusses two approaches to coping with climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent further warming, while adaptation aims to adjust lifestyles to live with a changing climate. The document outlines efforts at the international, national, and local levels for both mitigation, such as the Kyoto Protocol, and adaptation, including constructing sea defenses. However, it notes that mitigation progress has been slow and adaptation may be costly and impossible in some developing areas.

1. Coping with climate change AS Geography

3. The public’s understanding of the issue is growing, but only slowly.

4. Although climate change is rated highly, other issues (e.g. terrorism, population growth) are perceived to be more serious.

7. Signatories agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by around 8% compared with 1990 levels.

9. Many EU countries are investing in renewable energy, recycling and public transport.

10. Even if all Kyoto’s targets were met by 2012, the reduction in climate warming would only amount to around 0.1ºC.

11. Attention has now shifted to the treaty needed for beyond 2012. Early negotiations for this began in Bali in 2008.

13. increasing renewable energy

14. making buildings energy efficient

15. reducing agricultural inputs

16. making transport efficient and reducing car use

17. increasing forest cover and sustainable forestry

20. Businesses may see rising fossil fuel prices as an incentive to switch to renewables and thereby increase the security of energy supply.

21. There are cost savings to be made by businesses as a result of reducing energy and other inputs.

23. BT reduced energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 71% between 1991 and 2004 and in so doing saved £1.1 billion.