What does climate mitigation aim to achieve?

Climate mitigation focuses on strategies and actions designed to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow down the pace of climate change. This is crucial because greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere and are significant contributors to global warming. By minimizing these emissions, mitigation efforts aim to alleviate the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and ecological disruptions.

This makes the goal of climate mitigation not only about protecting the environment but also about supporting public health, food security, and economic stability in the face of changing climatic conditions. It contrasts significantly with options that promote increasing emissions or fossil fuel consumption, which would exacerbate climate change rather than addressing the urgent need to mitigate its effects.