Adapting to climate Change - Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. What is the difference between adaptation and mitigation?
2. Why is Worcestershire County Council adapting to the impacts of climate change?
3. What is being done nationally on adapting to climate change?
4. What is the difference between weather and climate?

Answers

1. Q. What is the difference between adaptation and mitigation?
   A. Mitigation - Reducing emissions to limit the impact we have on the environment
   
   Adaptation - Following years of emitting carbon and other greenhouse gasses, some level of change in climate is inevitable. It is important that we prepare for the potential impacts of climate change and work out how we can adapt to these to limit disruption.  For example; climate models project an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall.  By adapting our drainage systems to cope with more intense rainfall we can reduce the impact this weather event would have. 
   
   
2. Q. Why is Worcestershire County Council adapting to the impacts of climate change?
   A. There are a number of reasons for Local Authorities to adapt to projected changes in climate. The main reasons are to maintain service provision for all residents and to avoid unnecessary expenditure from the impacts of severe weather and climate.
   
   
3. Q. What is being done nationally on adapting to climate change?
   A. The Climate Change Act 2008 requires Central Government to complete a climate change risk assessment for the UK by 2012. The priority risks from this assessment will go forward to lead the National Adaptation Programme which will begin during 2012.  Public bodies and statuary undertakers such as water companies are now required to report on the climate risks to their service and how they plan to address these risks.
   
   
4. Q. What is the difference between weather and climate?
   A. The terms weather and climate are often used interchangeably but should be defined separately. Weather is what we see out of the window at a given time e.g. today it's raining. Climate is an average of this weather taken over a period of time (usually 30 years) e.g. a mild climate.