What is Climate Mitigation?
Climate mitigation means taking actions to reduce or prevent the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere or to enhance natural systems that absorb these gases. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun, warming the planet and causing climate change. Since the industrial era, human activities including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and certain farming methods have increased these gases, speeding up global warming.
Mitigation aims to slow down this process by:
- Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal power
- Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transport, and industry
- Changing agricultural practices to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions
- Protecting and restoring forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems that act as carbon sinks
- Supporting policies such as carbon pricing and emission limits to encourage reductions
By reducing emissions and enhancing carbon storage, climate mitigation helps limit the rise in global temperatures and prevents the worst impacts of climate change.
Challenges Cities Are Facing Due to Climate Change
Cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their high populations and infrastructure concentration. Many are already experiencing serious problems:
- Extreme Heat: Nearly half of the world’s cities have faced dangerous heat waves recently. Urban areas often become heat islands, where concrete and asphalt absorb and hold heat, making temperatures even higher. This threatens health, especially in neighborhoods lacking green spaces or air conditioning.
- Flooding and Rising Sea Levels: Coastal cities like Miami, Mumbai, and Lagos face increasing floods from rising seas and heavy rains. In Miami, vulnerable communities such as Little Haiti and Liberty City are already seeing displacement due to flooding and heat.
- Air and Water Pollution: Cities like Delhi and Lima suffer from poor air quality that harms residents’ health. Water pollution also threatens urban populations, especially where infrastructure is weak.
- Strained Infrastructure: Rapid urban growth, especially in cities like Lagos, puts pressure on roads, housing, and water systems, making it harder to cope with climate impacts.
How Cities Are Leading Climate Mitigation
Despite these challenges, many cities are taking bold steps to reduce emissions and protect their residents:
- Urban Trees and Green Spaces: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and cool cities. For example, San Francisco’s mandatory composting program reduces methane emissions from food waste and produces fertilizer for local farms, cutting greenhouse gases by over 90,000 metric tons annually.
- Innovative Energy Solutions: Cities are shifting to renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in buildings and transport. Some cities participate in international networks like C40 Cities to share knowledge and accelerate climate action.
- Flood Management and Infrastructure Upgrades: Miami is investing in raised roads, better stormwater systems, and restoring wetlands to absorb floodwaters. Mumbai is building sea walls and improving rainwater harvesting to reduce flood risks.
- Community Collaboration: Smaller cities like Albany, El Cerrito, and Piedmont in California have developed joint climate action plans, sharing resources and strategies to reduce emissions and prepare for climate impacts.
- Policy and Planning: Cities such as Boston, Baltimore, and Eugene regularly update their climate plans, set clear emission reduction targets, and engage communities in sustainability efforts.
Slowing the flow of greenhouse gases is essential to limit global warming and avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Cities, home to over half the world’s population, are critical players in this effort. By reducing emissions, protecting natural carbon sinks, and adapting infrastructure, urban areas can become healthier, safer, and more resilient.
Patthiya Pechmee, Researcher
