6 Strategies that Achieve Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Simultaneously

Climate actions generally fall into one of two strategies: mitigation efforts to lower or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the atmosphere, and adaptation efforts to help communities and ecosystems withstand the impacts of climate change.

While mitigation and adaptation are both critical to addressing the climate crisis, they are often viewed as conflicting priorities vying for scarce climate finance. Of the two, mitigation has historically received more attention and investment. Meanwhile, finance for adaptation has lagged dramatically, putting communities at increasing risk from storms, floods, fires and other climate threats.

But this divide between mitigation and adaptation actions doesn't always reflect the reality on the ground. In fact, methods and technologies that both curb climate change and cope with its impacts already exist — and the two overlap more than is commonly thought.

With the world dangerously close to reaching temperatures that will bring even more severe impacts on people, ecosystems and economies than what we've seen so far, investing in solutions that can curb emissions and build resilience simultaneously is crucial.

Studies Show Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Can Work Together

WRI recently analyzed more than 300 adaptation investments and found that over half of them are also expected to reduce GHG emissions in the long run; for example, by adopting climate-smart farming practices, bringing trees and green spaces to cities, or introducing more resilient renewable energy sources.

For some projects, the expected economic value of these emissions reductions met or even surpassed the projected resilience benefits. For example, the Resilient Landscapes Restoration Project in Uzbekistan was estimated to bring $350 million worth of emissions reductions, compared to $166.7 million in avoided losses and other social and developmental benefits. Similarly, the Heritage Colombia project, which focused on sustainable land management, was expected to yield over $1.5 billion in emissions reductions and $1.35 billion in other benefits.

However, most project designers did not fully assess the value of projected emissions reductions — meaning the returns on these investments were underestimated. Fully accounting for the mitigation benefits of adaptation projects can help crystallize their relationship and drive finance toward projects that achieve both.

6 Climate Solutions that Can Achieve both Mitigation and Adaptation

Below are six examples of actions that can curb emissions in high-polluting sectors of the global economy while also improving our ability to deal with the worsening climate impacts.

1) Expand Decentralized Renewable Energy

Energy usage and demand is mounting worldwide, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies where populations and development needs are rapidly growing. At the same time, record heat and unprecedented storms due to climate change are damaging energy infrastructure and causing demand surges, leading to more frequent blackouts.

The way electricity grids are designed contributes to this risk. Fossil fuels, which accounted for over 50% of global electricity production in 2024, dominate centralized grids that consist of infrastructure connected over long distances. A disruption at one point in such vast systems can affect the entire network. This exposes power systems to climate variability at a time when extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent.

By contrast, decentralized grids powered by renewables can reduce emissions and better withstand climate impacts. Given that renewable energy sources can be harnessed closer to their point of consumption and are affordable even at a small scale, they are particularly well suited to decentralized grids that have shorter transmission lines and smaller distribution areas. In the event of a disaster, a community with an independent energy supply built to be climate resilient isn't affected by power outages in other areas.

Smaller, more manageable power sources can also recover more rapidly from disasters. And solar panels or wind turbines that are not connected to any grid (such as rooftop solar and roof-mounted wind turbines) can provide reliable, clean energy to hospitals and other emergency services that are critical in the aftermath of floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events.

2) Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use

WRI research found that nearly 57% of adaptation investments in sustainable agriculture and forestry were expected to yield mitigation benefits. The sector is second only to energy, where this overlap between mitigation and adaptation is the highest.

Agriculture, forestry and land use currently account for up to 21% of the world's GHG emissions. But adopting better practices — such as agroforestry, rotational cropping, silvopasture and community-managed forests — can reduce land-use emissions while also strengthening farmers' resilience to climate change impacts.

Silvopasture, for example, integrates diverse trees or shrubs with crops and livestock. From an emissions perspective, pastures with trees can sequester 5-10 times more carbon than treeless areas of the same size. Trees and shrubs can also protect livestock from extreme heat, offer more nutritious forage, and ensure food supply even in hot, dry conditions when grasses typically fail to grow. This can enhance livestock productivity and help protect farmers' incomes and food security during extreme weather.

Diversifying crops and including trees on farmland also brings new sources of income. Expanding the use of silvopasture to around 770 million hectares globally, estimated to cost up to $273 billion, could help farmers realize financial gains of up to $2.36 trillion from revenue diversification.

3) Invest in Climate-Smart Buildings

The buildings and construction sector accounts for 37% of global GHG emissions. Much of this stems from the production of materials such as cement, steel and aluminum, as well as from the energy used in buildings. Reducing these emissions is critical. At the same time, buildings need to be able to withstand increasingly severe climate impacts. There are opportunities to tackle both at once.

For example, improved building design can help lower indoor temperatures and protect residents from extreme heat. This, in turn, reduces demand for air conditioning and cuts energy-related emissions — both of which are rising as the planet warms. Orienting windows north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere can keep buildings cool by reducing sun exposure. Painting rooftops white can reflect between 60% and 90% of sunlight, keeping temperatures down both inside and out. Making buildings more energy efficient also helps minimize energy use and related emissions.

Another opportunity is replacing emissions-intensive construction materials with lower-carbon alternatives. For example, elevated building foundations could be supported by treated wood. When harvested sustainably, wood may drive fewer emissions than materials like concrete while also minimizing flood damage and reducing losses.

4) Improve Mass Transit

The transport sector is a major driver of climate change, accounting for 24% of global CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, infrastructure like roads and bridges can be highly vulnerable to climate impacts like storms, urban flooding and excessive rainfall. Expanding climate-resilient mass transit addresses both challenges.

Research shows that, compared to private vehicles, buses and trains can reduce GHG emissions by up to two-thirds per passenger, per kilometer. Expanding the use of mass transit to 34% of all urban passenger trips can save over 15 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent, comparable to taking nearly 3.5 million gas-powered cars off the road each year.

In expanding public transit infrastructure, cities can also take steps to make it more resilient to extreme weather events. Retrofitting and designing mass transit to withstand climate risks such as natural disasters, sea level rise or extreme heat ensures that these transport options are safe and reliable in the long term. This can help minimize disruptions for low-income and other vulnerable residents, who are most reliant on public transit.

Resilience measures can also make public transit more attractive. For example, using heat-reflective coatings on buses and planting trees near bus stops can keep riders cool during heat waves. Cities like Buenos Aires have shown that measures like these can improve both reliability and ridership, helping to maximize mass transit's climate benefits.

5) Protect and Restore Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands, including tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses, are unique ecosystems that serve as natural water filtration systems and marine habitats. They defend coasts against floods and sea level rise by buffering storm surges and floodwaters. And they store between 10 and 24 billion metric tons (Mt) of carbon in their soil and vegetation — equivalent to the carbon sequestered by nearly 25 billion acres of forests in a year. The value of this sequestered carbon is estimated at up to $190 billion per year.

Restoring coastal wetlands and increasing protection of these ecosystems could sequester an additional 290 Mt of CO2 equivalent per year by 2050, while also enhancing their effectiveness as a shield against climate impacts. Efforts to maintain coastal wetlands must include local communities that rely on these ecosystems for their homes and livelihoods. Countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea have successful experiences around community-based conservation and education to manage these wetlands and support the development of surrounding communities.

6) Secure Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights

Indigenous Peoples and local communities manage almost 50% of land on the planet, including more than half of the world's remaining intact forests. These are critical ecosystems: In addition to storing 17% of all forest carbon, they provide habitat for biodiversity and resilience benefits for nearby communities, such as climate regulation and water security. Tree cover loss is often lower in lands managed by Indigenous communities, as seen in places Peru and Brazil.

Yet despite the vast amount of land they steward, Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' legal rights are recognized over only 14% of the world's forests. Recognizing Indigenous land rights and securing these groups' land tenure not only prevents emissions in the long run, but also empowers them to pursue and scale up nature-based solutions that manage climate risks and enhance resilience. It can also help promote their knowledge of sustainable land use practices, developed over generations, among other communities.

Prioritizing Climate Solutions that Multitask

These are just some examples of climate actions that address both adaptation and mitigation simultaneously. Many others exist and can accommodate different sectors, ecosystems, countries and communities. The climate crisis is massive and urgent. Given limited funding and capacity, policymakers need to prioritize integrated efforts like these to improve people's lives and protect the planet.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in February 2020. It was updated in September 2025 to incorporate new research and examples.

Thanks to Isabella Suarez, who authored the first version of this article.