2 minScientific Concept
Scientific Concept

Climate Change Mitigation

What is Climate Change Mitigation?

Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, or to enhance their removal from the atmosphere, thereby lessening the severity of future climate change.

Historical Background

The concept gained prominence with the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change, solidified by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This led to international efforts like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, followed by the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, all aimed at addressing global warming. India has been an active participant in these global initiatives.

Key Points

10 points
  • 1.

    Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., CO2, Methane, N2O) from key sectors such as energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and waste.

  • 2.

    Transitioning to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal) and phasing out fossil fuels.

  • 3.

    Improving energy efficiency across all sectors through technological advancements and behavioral changes.

  • 4.

    Implementing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies to prevent CO2 release.

  • 5.

    Promoting afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management to enhance natural carbon sinks.

  • 6.

    Adopting sustainable land use practices and climate-smart agriculture.

  • 7.

    Developing and deploying low-carbon technologies and promoting technology transfer to developing nations.

  • 8.

    Implementing policy instruments such as carbon pricing, emission trading schemes, and regulations.

  • 9.

    Setting national targets and commitments, such as India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

  • 10.

    Fostering international cooperation and multilateral agreements to achieve collective mitigation goals.

Visual Insights

Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Overview of key strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Change Mitigation

  • Renewable Energy Transition
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Policy & Regulations

Evolution of Climate Change Mitigation Efforts

Key milestones in the development of climate change mitigation strategies.

The timeline shows the evolution of international efforts to mitigate climate change, from the initial recognition of the problem to the establishment of global agreements and ongoing assessments.

  • 1992UNFCCC established
  • 1997Kyoto Protocol adopted
  • 2015Paris Agreement signed
  • 2021-2023IPCC AR6 Report released
  • 2023COP28 - Global Stocktake
  • 2030India's NDC target year

Recent Developments

6 developments

India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted in 2022, committing to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 level.

Commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, announced at COP26 (Panchamrit goals).

Launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission to promote green hydrogen production and use.

Significant increase in renewable energy capacity, targeting 500 GW by 2030.

Initiatives like UJALA (LED bulb distribution) and FAME India (electric vehicles promotion) for energy efficiency and clean transport.

Focus on 'LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) movement to promote sustainable lifestyles.

This Concept in News

4 topics

India's Climate Leadership: Stepping Up as the US Retreats

18 Feb 2026

The news underscores the critical role of climate change mitigation in the face of potential setbacks in international cooperation. It highlights that mitigation is not just an environmental issue but also a matter of economic opportunity and national security for countries like India, which are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. The news event applies the concept of mitigation by suggesting that India can demonstrate leadership through concrete actions, such as scaling up renewable energy deployment and advocating for ambitious emission reduction targets. This reveals that mitigation requires both technological solutions and political will. The implications of this news for the concept's future are that India's success in mitigation could inspire other developing countries to take bolder climate action. Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for analyzing the news because it provides the framework for evaluating India's potential contributions and the challenges it faces in addressing climate change.

Mumbai Climate Week: Addressing Key Questions for Sustainable Solutions

17 Feb 2026

The Mumbai Climate Week news highlights the practical application of climate change mitigation at the city level. (1) It demonstrates the need for localized strategies to reduce emissions in urban environments. (2) The event applies the concept of mitigation by focusing on implementable solutions and collaborative efforts. (3) The news reveals the growing importance of cities in driving climate action and the need for innovative approaches. (4) The implications of this news for the concept's future are that mitigation efforts must be tailored to specific contexts and involve diverse stakeholders. (5) Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for properly analyzing and answering questions about this news because it provides the framework for understanding the goals, strategies, and challenges discussed during the Mumbai Climate Week.

District Cooling: A Solution for India's Climate and Urban Planning

17 Feb 2026

This news highlights the practical application of climate change mitigation strategies in urban areas. District cooling demonstrates how centralized infrastructure can significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions compared to individual building systems. It applies the concept of energy efficiency on a larger scale, showcasing how urban planning can contribute to climate goals. The news reveals that district cooling is a viable and increasingly adopted solution in India, particularly in new developments with high cooling demands. The implications are that scaling up district cooling can substantially reduce the carbon footprint of cities and contribute to India's climate commitments. Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for evaluating the benefits and potential of such technologies in addressing climate change challenges. It also helps in understanding the policy and investment decisions needed to promote their adoption.

Sitharaman: Polluters must pay for climate change mitigation efforts

15 Feb 2026

The news underscores the ethical and practical dimensions of climate change mitigation. (1) It highlights the issue of differentiated responsibility, a key aspect of the concept, acknowledging that countries have varying capacities and historical contributions to the problem. (2) The call for technology sharing challenges the existing intellectual property regimes and raises questions about equitable access to mitigation solutions. (3) The focus on resilience and adaptation alongside emissions control broadens the scope of mitigation beyond simply reducing emissions, acknowledging the need to manage the impacts of climate change that are already occurring. (4) The mention of funding challenges for African countries emphasizes the need for increased financial support to enable effective mitigation in vulnerable regions. (5) Understanding climate change mitigation, including its ethical and economic dimensions, is crucial for analyzing the news and formulating informed opinions on climate policy and international cooperation.

Source Topic

India's Climate Leadership: Stepping Up as the US Retreats

Environment & Ecology

UPSC Relevance

A core topic for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Environment & Ecology, Economic Development), frequently asked in both Prelims and Mains. Understanding mitigation strategies is essential for analyzing India's environmental policy, energy security, and international climate diplomacy.

Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Overview of key strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Change Mitigation

Solar, Wind, Hydro

Buildings, Transport, Industry

Forest Conservation

Carbon Pricing

Connections
Climate Change MitigationRenewable Energy Transition
Climate Change MitigationEnergy Efficiency
Climate Change MitigationCarbon Sequestration
Climate Change MitigationPolicy & Regulations

Evolution of Climate Change Mitigation Efforts

Key milestones in the development of climate change mitigation strategies.

1992

UNFCCC established

1997

Kyoto Protocol adopted

2015

Paris Agreement signed

2021-2023

IPCC AR6 Report released

2023

COP28 - Global Stocktake

2030

India's NDC target year

Connected to current news

This Concept in News

4 news topics

4

India's Climate Leadership: Stepping Up as the US Retreats

18 February 2026

The news underscores the critical role of climate change mitigation in the face of potential setbacks in international cooperation. It highlights that mitigation is not just an environmental issue but also a matter of economic opportunity and national security for countries like India, which are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. The news event applies the concept of mitigation by suggesting that India can demonstrate leadership through concrete actions, such as scaling up renewable energy deployment and advocating for ambitious emission reduction targets. This reveals that mitigation requires both technological solutions and political will. The implications of this news for the concept's future are that India's success in mitigation could inspire other developing countries to take bolder climate action. Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for analyzing the news because it provides the framework for evaluating India's potential contributions and the challenges it faces in addressing climate change.

Mumbai Climate Week: Addressing Key Questions for Sustainable Solutions

17 February 2026

The Mumbai Climate Week news highlights the practical application of climate change mitigation at the city level. (1) It demonstrates the need for localized strategies to reduce emissions in urban environments. (2) The event applies the concept of mitigation by focusing on implementable solutions and collaborative efforts. (3) The news reveals the growing importance of cities in driving climate action and the need for innovative approaches. (4) The implications of this news for the concept's future are that mitigation efforts must be tailored to specific contexts and involve diverse stakeholders. (5) Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for properly analyzing and answering questions about this news because it provides the framework for understanding the goals, strategies, and challenges discussed during the Mumbai Climate Week.

District Cooling: A Solution for India's Climate and Urban Planning

17 February 2026

This news highlights the practical application of climate change mitigation strategies in urban areas. District cooling demonstrates how centralized infrastructure can significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions compared to individual building systems. It applies the concept of energy efficiency on a larger scale, showcasing how urban planning can contribute to climate goals. The news reveals that district cooling is a viable and increasingly adopted solution in India, particularly in new developments with high cooling demands. The implications are that scaling up district cooling can substantially reduce the carbon footprint of cities and contribute to India's climate commitments. Understanding climate change mitigation is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides the context for evaluating the benefits and potential of such technologies in addressing climate change challenges. It also helps in understanding the policy and investment decisions needed to promote their adoption.

Sitharaman: Polluters must pay for climate change mitigation efforts

15 February 2026

The news underscores the ethical and practical dimensions of climate change mitigation. (1) It highlights the issue of differentiated responsibility, a key aspect of the concept, acknowledging that countries have varying capacities and historical contributions to the problem. (2) The call for technology sharing challenges the existing intellectual property regimes and raises questions about equitable access to mitigation solutions. (3) The focus on resilience and adaptation alongside emissions control broadens the scope of mitigation beyond simply reducing emissions, acknowledging the need to manage the impacts of climate change that are already occurring. (4) The mention of funding challenges for African countries emphasizes the need for increased financial support to enable effective mitigation in vulnerable regions. (5) Understanding climate change mitigation, including its ethical and economic dimensions, is crucial for analyzing the news and formulating informed opinions on climate policy and international cooperation.