Separate mitigation and adaptation

Supplied materials

• All measurements and observations below are supplied classroom examples. They are not data from actual learners or a claim about a particular real site.
• Paper or a browser document for a labeled drawing, table or explanation.
• Worked problem inputs: One plan cuts emissions; another shades people from heat. Compare their primary climate roles.
• Assessment case 1: A plan reduces greenhouse-gas emissions at the source. What primary pathway is targeted? Which inference or prediction is best supported?
• Assessment case 2: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Plan reduces heat exposure.
• Assessment case 3: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Emissions plan also improves air quality.
• Assessment case 4: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Flood defense shifts risk downstream in supplied model.
• Assessment case 5: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Efficiency plan reduces listed fuel emissions.
• Assessment case 6: A shade plan reduces people’s stated heat exposure without changing emissions. What primary pathway fits? Which inference or prediction is best supported?

Learn the idea

Mitigation reduces drivers of climate change; adaptation reduces harmful effects or vulnerability. A project can do both. Claims should specify boundaries and consider tradeoffs and implementation evidence.

Mitigation means reduces climate-changing drivers. Adaptation means reduces vulnerability to effects. Co-benefit means additional benefit beyond main goal. Tradeoff means benefit comes with another stated cost.

For the supplied mechanism problem, One plan cuts emissions; another shades people from heat. Compare their primary climate roles. Cutting emissions is mitigation of a driver. Shading reduces heat exposure and is adaptation. Either may have additional benefits, but these roles should not be conflated.

1. Read the supplied problem and mark the structures, processes or quantities named: One plan cuts emissions; another shades people from heat. Compare their primary climate roles.
2. Draw the relevant boundary, pathway or comparison and label it using the scientific ideas above.
3. Write a causal explanation or calculation, showing how each observation supports the result.
4. Compare your reasoning with the worked solution; name a condition that would change or limit the inference.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

New plan combines reduced emissions with a heat-protection design. Expected: identify mitigation and adaptation as distinct contributions; do not assume either supplies the other’s evidence.

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