The Fictitious Dualism of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Abstract

Evangelos Koumentakos

The present debate regarding climate action is twofold and includes mitigation of, and adaptation to climate change. However, most of the times in discussions, policy, and in the actual action as implementation of those policies, reducing emissions takes priority against adaptation. Even though from a theoretical point of view this dualism is possible only as a distinction/ separation, it seems that in practice the question of the primordial unity of adaptation and mitigation is completely forgotten. This practical approach to the question of dualism between mitigation and adaptation is intimately linked to the predefined interpretation of the concept of adaptation. It is possible to orient our understanding of the concept of adaptation in a way that conforms to the origins of the mitigation/adaptation dualism as uniqueness, towards composition and collaboration instead of competition and antagonism, by widening our perspective in order to include the world not only as a standing reserve to be exploited, but within its natural boundaries. This creative behavior can liberate science from its present dominant position vis a vis the earth, mankind, and guide our societies closer to the human essence as a symbiosis with nature.

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