The climate change field is very complex, as it is being faced with a multitude of challenges and threats daily. While no specific single solution can be applied across the board to solve each of these issues, climate change collaboration is essential for a collective response to climate change. Climate change is an issue that can cause poverty, infrastructure failure, and even war. If the global community is going to address climate change, then climate change collaboration is key. There are four basic forms of climate change collaboration: national, regional, global, and intergovernmental.

• National climate change collaboration occurs when different countries work together to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not enough to limit carbon dioxide emissions but to do so in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. For example, developing countries need to be given financial support if they want to transition to cleaner energy. They also need assistance when it comes to installing new infrastructure to allow them to exploit more fossil fuels. For example, in developing countries, farmers who lose their lands to climate change adaptation projects may not be able to continue their businesses if they have to relocate.
• Regional climate change collaboration involves working with the federal government, state governments, and cities to improve climate change impacts in a given region. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Climate Change (IPCC) has produced numerous reports and action plans that should be reviewed regularly. The reports provide an assessment of current and future climate change risks and offer recommendations to prevent the worst effects from occurring. Some of these reports have been implemented by different levels of government. In other cases, the research is being done on a smaller scale.
  On a regional basis, climate change collaboration can involve adapting infrastructure to weather conditions, incorporating climate change adaptation into the design of new structures, or finding ways to reduce the impact of human activities on climate change. The adaptation usually refers to changing the design of buildings to improve their ability to absorb heat or moisture, or using efficient materials that do not waste energy or cause air pollution. Reducing the impact of human activities on climate change may require changing how we travel, how we live our lives, and what we produce. For example, some regions have banned the use of newfangled vehicles known as hydrofragoes.

• Global climate change collaboration refers to governmental agencies and non-government organizations involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This collaboration has helped many countries to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. On a national level, adaptation means adapting specific infrastructure or activities to climate change risks as well as improving the efficiency of the current system. Many developed countries have implemented a Green Economy initiative that aims to make green development a priority for its future.

Other Types

Another type of climate change collaboration involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One example is the creation of a “cap and trade” system that offers a fee to companies that develop or produce carbon-intensive goods or services and then pass on their costs to consumers or businesses who purchase those goods and services. Another possibility is to create a carbon offsetting program. In this case, one company compensates another through a fee based on the difference in output and consumption of a product. There are many voluntary climate change programs in various countries that encourage businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. Government climate change agencies provide funding and information on programs that governments and private organizations may both implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Another form of climate change collaboration occurs when different people or groups work together to solve a problem. For instance, organizations that deal with agricultural issues may develop guidelines for improving drought in certain areas of their operations. Businesses and local communities may decide to co-exist in resource-limited areas by planting trees that can offset the effect of a drought on their harvest. Also, governments and other groups may work together to strengthen environmental laws and regulations. These measures help to ensure that climate change mitigation is more effective, thus limiting its impact on society.

There are many avenues for climate change collaboration. From academic relationships to community engagement and individual action to governmental policy, there are many ways for the environment to be affected. When climate change is addressed effectively, it can reduce some of the most damaging effects of climate change. This can go a long way toward reducing the negative impact climate change has on the world and human health. As new technologies allow for more comprehensive climate change adaptation strategies, climate change collaboration is sure to continue to grow.