Mitigation

Definition

"A human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases."

Source: IPCC

Explainer

Mitigation is future-oriented and involves actions to reduce green greenhouse gases (GHG) by limiting or doing away with production and consumption practices that result in GHG emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane. Such actions include phasing out fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas and adopting low-carbon intensive development pathways. Mitigation also involves capturing and storing GHG and enhancing and protecting carbon sinks such as forests to reduce GHG presence in the atmosphere.

Examples of mitigation on the African continent include the use of renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydro; sustainable agriculture practices and household waste management and a climate-friendly transportation infrastructure.