Key Idea: Topic 6.3 focuses on responses to climate change: mitigation (reduce causes) vs adaptation (reduce vulnerability), plus the role of international agreements and how EVSs shape climate decisions.
🧯 Mitigation vs adaptation
Mitigation: Cuts GHG emissions / increases sinks. Global benefits, needs cooperation. Examples: renewables, efficiency, CCS, afforestation.
Adaptation: Adjusts to impacts already happening. Local/regional benefits. Examples: sea walls, drought crops, flood planning, early warnings.
Mitigation tackles the cause; adaptation tackles the effects. Both are needed.
🌐 International agreements
- UNFCCC sets the framework
- Kyoto: binding targets mainly for developed countries (limited participation)
- Paris: NDCs for all + 5-year ratchet (broad participation, ambition varies)
🧠 EVSs and climate
- Technocentric EVSs favour tech/markets (CCS, nuclear, efficiency)
- Ecocentric EVSs favour lifestyle/system change (reduced consumption, local resilience)
- Different EVSs → different preferred policies + trade-offs
✅ Exam Checklist
- Define mitigation + give 3 examples
- Define adaptation + give 3 examples
- Explain why Paris is bottom-up (NDCs) and evaluate pros/cons
- Link EVS type → preferred solution