Abstract

The fictitious dualism of climate change mitigation and adaptation

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
take priority against adaptation. Even though from a theoretical
point of view this dualism is possible only as an distinction/
separation, it seems that in practice the question of the primordial
unity is completely forgotten. This practical approach
to the question of dualism between mitigation and adaptation
is intimately linked to the predefined interpretation of technology.
It is possible to orient technology 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.

Published Date: 2020-12-23; Received Date: 2020-12-09