Climate change mitigation refers to actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or lower the concentration of e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This includes efforts to decrease emissions from energy production and consumption, such as by improving energy efficiency or transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, changes in land use, and enhancing carbon sinks, for example, by restoring forests. These measures are designed to slow, and ultimately halt, the rise in global average temperatures driving changes in Earth’s climate.
The overarching goal of climate change mitigation is to maintain a biosphere capable of supporting human civilization and the diverse ecosystem services that sustain it.