by Stephanie Ho Lem, CHCA Director – Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
Local governments around the world are solving their own climate problems. The City of Calgary formed the Climate Advisory Committee last December of which I am a member. The Committee’s responsibilities are numerous and varied, including advising Council on policies and initiatives that relate to climate change mitigation and adaptation in Calgary.
A suggestion to the readers of my article, download from the City of Calgary’s website, the Council-approved “Calgary Climate Strategy: Pathways to 2050.” It sets the City’s climate vision, guiding principles, goals, and targets to achieve the outcomes of the Climate Emergency Declaration.
What is Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation?
Since the late 1800s, we have elevated our standards of living but also elevated the amount of heat trapping greenhouse gases we are releasing into our atmosphere to power machines, generate electricity, and to heat our homes. As the levels of CO2 continue to rise, the planet is getting warmer, and as a result we are experiencing the early effects of climate change. As we continue to industrialize, global need for energy will continue to grow. CO2 stays in the atmosphere for a long time and if we continue to emit, we will be trapping the extra heat for hundreds of years.
Mitigation is a human intervention to reduce the sources of heat-trapping greenhouses gases into the atmosphere or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases.
Adaptation (adapting to life in a changing climate) involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. The goal is to reduce our risks from the harmful effects of climate change.
Sources: 2023-2026 Climate Implementation Plan, NASA, MIT Climate Portal
Please note that the content provided is for informational purposes.
