Adaptation - Adaptation links |
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Page 1 of 2 In the past, climate change policy has focussed on reducing greenhouse gas emissions - 'mitigating' the rate and magnitude of climate change. Over the last few years it has become apparent that mitigation will not be enough, and that we will also have to adapt our way of life to make us less vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In simple terms, adaptation refers to any activity that reduces the negative impacts of climate change and/or enables us to take advantage of any opportunities that climate change may present. We have now reached a stage where neither mitigation nor adaptation alone can prevent climate change impacts and we need to do both to significantly reduce the risks we face from these. The impacts of climate change will vary from region to region, as will the costs associated with mitigating or adapting to the effects. The consequences will also be circumstance-specific. While mitigation responses are best determined through international, national and state processes, many adaptation strategies are best developed at a regional level, taking into account local conditions and circumstances, and harnessing the potential of local communities.
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Fact sheet 1: Consequences of the impacts of climate change in Western Australia (
