Abstract
Climate change is the greatest international cooperation challenge the world has ever faced. The UN continues to set lofty goals, such as halving global emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon-neutrality by 2050, but as they do so, the large equity disparities between countries and, subsequently, the resources they have to meet these goals become increasingly apparent. The Least Developed Countries Group (LDC Group) was formed by the UN in an attempt to address the unique obstacles faced by less developed countries in combatting climate change. However, previous discussions and scholarly research around climate solutions in less developed countries have concentrated on adaptation over mitigation in an attempt to focus on preserving the lives and livelihoods of those presently affected by environmental catastrophes. While it is important to continue research on adaptation, I argue that we must pay equal mind to mitigation which is critical in reducing emissions and preventing climate change long-term. Using case studies from various LDC Group countries, I examine effective adaptation initiatives and identify what lessons can be applied to effective mitigation strategies. The initiatives I’ve chosen to assess are successful due to their current positive impact in combatting climate change, long-term financial benefit to the nation, and support from the local community. A key finding of this research is that adaptation and mitigation are not mutually exclusive goals, and to best combat the effects of climate change the international community must band together to identify areas where dual mitigation and adaptation initiatives can be effectively implemented.
Presenters
Mia MaginnStudent, Economics / NGOs & Social Change, University of Southern California, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Climate, Mitigation, Adaptation, Responses, UN, International Cooperation, Less Developed Countries
