Final answer:
It encompasses immediate actions such as technology shifts to renewable energies, improved efficiencies, and governmental regulations. Immediate and unified action, often with a hierarchical approach, is essential to addressing the climate crisis effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitigation refers to efforts aimed at reducing or stabilizing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mitigating climate change, and preventing further environmental damage. It includes a variety of strategies and measures to address the root causes of climate change by reducing carbon emissions, among other things. The hierarchy of mitigation measures is a systematic approach that prioritizes actions based on their effectiveness and potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The following are common measures in the hierarchy:
- Eliminating unnecessary emissions through policy and technology (e.g., renewable energy).
- Reducing energy demand through efficiency and conservation.
- Managing resources and land use to enhance carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation).
- Improving processes and materials to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Implementing carbon pricing mechanisms like taxes and cap-and-trade systems.
Immediate action in mitigation is crucial to avert the worst impacts of climate change. This action often requires a combination of technology shifts (such as transforming the energy base to renewables), institutional strategies (like government regulations on vehicle fuel efficiency), and global commitments towards significantly reducing emissions.