Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

To Mitigate or to Adapt : Is that the Question? Observations on an Appropriate Response to the Climate Change Challenge to Development Strategies

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dc.creator Shalizi, Zmarak
dc.creator Lecocq, Franck
dc.date 2012-03-30T07:12:35Z
dc.date 2012-03-30T07:12:35Z
dc.date 2010-08-02
dc.date.accessioned 2023-02-18T19:40:35Z
dc.date.available 2023-02-18T19:40:35Z
dc.identifier World Bank Research Observer
dc.identifier 1564-6971
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4442
dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/249927
dc.description Climate change is a new and important challenge to development strategies. In light of the current literature a framework for assessing responses to this challenge is provided. The presence of climate change makes it necessary to at least review development strategies—even in apparently nonclimate-sensitive and nonpolluting sectors. There is a need for an integrated portfolio of actions ranging from avoiding emissions (mitigation) to coping with impacts (adaptation) and to consciously accepting residual damages. Proactive (ex ante) adaptation is critical, but subject to risks of regrets when the magnitude or location of damages is uncertain. Uncertainty on location favors nonsite-specific actions, or reactive (ex post) adaptation. However, some irreversible losses cannot be compensated for. Thus, mitigation might be in many cases the cheapest long-term solution to climate change problems and the most important to avoid thresholds that may trigger truly catastrophic consequences. To limit the risks that budget constraints prevent developing countries from financing reactive adaptation—especially since climate shocks might erode the fiscal base—“rainy-day funds” may have to be developed within countries and at the global level for transfer purposes. Finally, more research is required on the impacts of climate change, on modeling the interrelations between mitigation and adaptation, and on operationalizing the framework.
dc.publisher World Bank
dc.rights CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO
dc.rights http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/
dc.rights World Bank
dc.subject allocation
dc.subject climate
dc.subject climate change
dc.subject climate change impacts
dc.subject climate damages
dc.subject climate-change
dc.subject coal
dc.subject damages
dc.subject economic behavior
dc.subject economic costs
dc.subject economic growth
dc.subject emission reduction
dc.subject emissions
dc.subject emissions targets
dc.subject impacts of climate change
dc.subject lower costs
dc.subject monetary fund
dc.subject portfolio
dc.subject power plants
dc.subject uncertainties
dc.title To Mitigate or to Adapt : Is that the Question? Observations on an Appropriate Response to the Climate Change Challenge to Development Strategies
dc.type Journal Article
dc.type Journal Article
dc.coverage Latin America & Caribbean
dc.coverage South Asia
dc.coverage Africa
dc.coverage East Asia and Pacific
dc.coverage France
dc.coverage Brazil
dc.coverage India


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