A crucial question recently struck me after a conversation with an industry expert: are we truly tackling climate change through mitigation, or are we merely adapting to its consequences?

While both perspectives have merit, the reality is unsettling – most current efforts lean heavily towards adaptation, a reactive approach to immediate and near-term crises.

This isn’t to downplay the importance of resilience. Responding to floods, droughts, and other climate events is vital. However, it shouldn’t overshadow the urgent need for proactive mitigation strategies. We must move beyond short-term fixes and implement a long-term vision with concrete deadlines. Sadly, COP28, which concluded in Dubai on December 8th, 2023, lacked this crucial element.

The gap in mitigation action stems from a confluence of factors. These include:

Data Gaps: While scientific evidence paints a clear picture of the climate crisis, we lack micro-geographical data for enabling communities to effectively prepare for local impacts.

Flawed Strategies: Many countries, regardless of their development status, have nominal mitigation plans riddled with loopholes that allow them to avoid accountability for missed targets.

Technological Lag: Despite efforts to develop climate prediction tools, a significant gap remains. Initiatives like India’s focus on precise climate forecasting for extreme weather events represent promising steps.

Unreliable Finance: While financial commitments are made, developed nations often fall short in mobilizing the necessary climate funds. The newly established “damage and loss” fund offers a glimmer of hope, but its scope is limited. Green funds, too, face challenges like greenwashing, making it difficult to track their actual utilization in mitigation efforts.

Implementation Delays: Reports before COP28 highlighted widespread lags in countries meeting their climate goals. A drastic course correction is needed, demanding a top-down approach that prioritizes community-level benefits while fostering global collaboration and joint action.

Bridging these gaps requires a multi-pronged approach:

• Strengthening Green Initiatives: Investing in green technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable practices is essential.
• Maximizing Green Funds: Effective allocation and utilization of these funds, along with robust monitoring mechanisms, is crucial.
• Leveraging Native Knowledge: Indigenous communities hold invaluable knowledge about living in harmony with nature. Incorporating their wisdom can empower local adaptation and resilience.
• Micro-data Driven Strategies: Focusing on acquiring and utilizing geospatial data will equip communities with the precise information they need to prepare for and manage local climate impacts.

Above all, we need a collective commitment to move beyond adaptation and embrace mitigation. I believe that the year 2024 will be a turning point, marked by the emergence of innovative technologies and a renewed focus on mitigation. Let’s work together to ensure that this year becomes a defining moment in our collective fight against climate change.