Perhaps one reason to focus now on reducing CO2 (either through work on
policy, through developing an infrastructrure that is 'climate-friendly' or
through building public engagement) is that countries and communities that
are climate-friendly / energy-efficient etc. are also more likely to be
resilient to climate-related problems.
For instance, joint advocacy and lobbying action helps build social capital
(helpful if we all end up filling sandbags.....); energy-efficient buildings
are also likely to withstand storms and heatwaves; renewable-based
generation is more resilient to major storm-related grid failures (and so
on). As I see it work on reduction and work on adapting to climate change
have quite a bit in common (and one is pretty urgent right now!).
Chris Church
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