Conceptually Distinguishing Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Loss & Damage

Abstract Loss & Damage involves the impacts of climate change that are beyond our ability to adapt. Losses and damages are those relevant impacts. That distinction is less commonly applied to adaptation and mitigation such that the impacts that are “adaptable” are beyond limits to mitigation. This article points out that these conceptual distinctions mean impacts should be indexed to (a) the time of evaluation (what is currently adaptable might not be in the future) and (b) the capacities of the society (abilities to adapt and mitigate are relative to capacities). Implications are drawn about responsibility based on these twin indices.