Page 59 - STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUR AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PERIOD 2021-2030 AND VISION TO 2050

23.
What is “climate change”? What are climate
change “adaptation” and “mitigation”?
Climate change is a change in the state
18
of climate compared to the average and/
or variability of climate that persists for an
extended period, often decades or longer.
Climate change can be caused by natural
internal processes, external influences, or
human activities that change the atmosphere’s
composition or land use.
Climate change adaptation is an
adjustment in natural or human systems in
response to current or future climate impacts/
stimuli, reducing harm or taking advantage of
climate change impacts (MONRE, 2008). The
Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) distinguishes several different types of
adaptation (to climate change) such as:
• Anticipatory adaptation:
the adaptation process that takes place
before the impacts of climate change
are felt, also known as active/proactive
adaptation.
• Autonomous adaptation: also known
as spontaneous adaptation, is an
adaptation process that does not arise
from a conscious response to climate
impacts, but originates from the
ecological changes in natural systems,
changes in markets or human welfare
systems.
• Planned adaptation: the process of
adaptation as a result of deliberate
20 The definition given in the National Target Program on Climate
Change Response is based on the IPCC definition
policy decisions based on the perception
of changed conditions, as well as the
need for action to return to, maintain, or
achieve the desired state.
• Private adaptation: an adaptation
process initiated and carried out by
individuals, households or private
companies. Private adaptation is
often based on the self-interest of that
individual/group of people.
• Public adaptation: the adaptation
process initiated and implemented
by Governments at all levels. Public
adaptation is often aimed at collective
needs.
• Reactive adaptation: the adaptation
process that takes place after seeing
the impacts of climate change.
GHG emission mitigation is an activity
aimed at reducing the level or intensity of GHG
emissions and enhancing GHG absorption
(Article 2, the Law on Environmental Protection
2020). Some concepts of climate change
mitigation are given as follows:
• A human intervention to reduce GHG
emissions and increase GHG reservoirs
(IPCC, 2001).
• A human intervention to reduce the
adverse effects of climate change;
Climate change mitigation includes
strategies to reduce emissions and
Guidelines for the Strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural development
in the period 2021-2030, and vision to 2050 59