Climate change mitigation and adaptation: minimising climate change risks to protect ecosystems and safeguard human health
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity. This is particularly so when viewed through the lens of human health and food security. COP26 has again shown that governments around the world have climate change high on their agenda, even if progress is slower than needed. This collection highlights some example actions that should be taken to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. The collection focusses on nature-based mitigation strategies to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, in essence capturing carbon in vegetation (trees) and soil. Specifically, papers highlight the potential contribution of changes in agricultural practices to increase carbon stocks in soils in arable and grassland settings as well as the potential for increased trees on farmland. Mitigation will not eliminate climate change leading to the requirement for adaptation to the new changing conditions. The collection highlights key aspects of the focus of adaptation approaches including adaptation to climate (drought) stress and invasive species, and actions to safeguard human health. Also highlighted is a crucial aspect of adaptation, namely embedding strategies in the local context and using local knowledge. Finally, a paper on the framing of discourse around climate change is included which highlights the lack of empowerments of poorer and younger people, especially in Global South, with regard to tackling climate change.
Edited by
Dr Philip Staddon(Royal Agricultural University & CCRI, University of Gloucestershire)