Climate Change Adaptation, Not Just Mitigation

By  by Bennett Gordon
Published on September 18, 2009
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If humans were able to freeze carbon emissions tomorrow–a long shot, to be sure–the climate would continue changing for years to come. That’s why some experts are trying to determine how we might adapt to climate change, even as we work to mitigate it. The new issue of Environmental Building News outlines a few suggestions for building green, and making sure the buildings stay that way. The suggestions include designing natural ventilation for cooling without extra energy, using materials that can survive flooding, and avoiding combustible siding to protect against wildfires. Environmental expert Jonathan Overpeck told the magazine, “adaptation and mitigation are not an either-or proposition.” People have to do both.

Source: Environmental Building News

Image by timsamoff, licensed under Creative Commons.

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