The Intersection of Mitigation & Adaptation in Climate Law & Policy

Abstract

As the world races toward a future altered by climate change, scholars and scientists are increasingly aware that efforts to mitigate the causes of climate change will not be sufficient to curb all of the consequences. Accordingly, research into adaptation has increased significantly in recent years. The scholarly community at large, and the legal community in particular, have only just begun, however, to explore the intersection of mitigation and adaptation. In short, mitigation and adaptation are inexorably intertwined, and by exploring the intersection of the two, scholars can identify synergies, trade-offs, and other unintended consequences that may exist. As a result, policymakers and planners will be better equipped to craft effective climate policy and laws. This Article makes an important contribution to the legal literature by examining the intersection of mitigation and adaptation, and offering a framework with which decision makers can explore the two climate change responses in tandem.