Question

Consider the following actions for dealing with global climate change. Identify whether each represents adaptation or mitigation.                

a) Building up tall levees to stop the rising ocean from flooding a town.

• Mitigation

• Adaptation

b) Rising the tax on gasoline.

• Adaptation

• Mitigation

c) Giving a subsidy for people to buy hybrid cars.

• Adaptation

• Mitigation

d) Giving a subsidy for people to buy air conditioners for their homes.

• Mitigation

• Adaptation

Answer 1

a) Adaptation. Building up tall levees to stop the rising ocean from flooding a town is an example of climate change Adaptation because tall levees only help to protect from the adverse effects of climate change.

Hence Adaptation is the correct answer.

b) Mitigation. Rising the tax on gasoline is an example of climate change mitigation because high tax will increase the price of gasoline hence its demand will decrease which ultimately helps environment.

Hence Mitigation is the correct answer.

c) Mitigation. Subsidy for people to buy hybrid cars is an example of climate change mitigation because more subsidy on hybrid cars will increase the demand for hybrid cars and eventually reduce the demand of fuel-driven cars and hence it will help to mitigate the problems of climate change.

Hence Mitigation is the correct answer.

d) Adaptation. Subsidy for people to buy air conditioners for their homes is an example of climate change Adaptation because subsidy will urge the people to buy more air conditioners to get relief from prevailing high temperature.

Hence Adaptation is the correct answer.