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 changeAS Geography

2. Public concernCoverage of climate change in the media has increased immensely, particularly since 2003.

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.

5. About 25% of us think that ‘too much fuss’ is being made about global warming.Mitigation or adaptation?Attempts to cope with climate change fall into two broad categories:Mitigation — attempting to stop climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It requires actions to be taken now, or very soon.

6. Adaptation — attempting to live with a changing climate by altering lifestyles. This is a longer-term strategy. It assumes that climate change will be gradual and therefore there will be time to adapt.Mitigation The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, put the emphasis on mitigation.

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

8. Progress has been slow. Some countries did not sign up (e.g. USA); some later withdrew; others have not met targets; developing countries were not party to the treaty.Mitigation In Europe, the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) is being used to encourage businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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.