What is the critical difference between climate change 'mitigation' and 'adaptation' strategies?

The critical difference between climate change 'mitigation' and 'adaptation' strategies lies in their respective goals and approaches. Climate change mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thereby addressing the root causes of climate change. Mitigation strategies aim to limit the extent of future climate change by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Examples of mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, improving energy efficiency in buildings and transportation, implementing carbon capture and storage technologies, and reducing deforestation. Adaptation, on the other hand, involves adjusting to the current and expected effects of climate change. Adaptation strategies aim to reduce the vulnerability of human societies and natural ecosystems to the impacts of climate change that are already occurring or are projected to occur in the future. Examples of adaptation strategies include building seawalls to protect coastal communities from sea-level rise, developing drought-resistant crops to ensure food security in arid regions, implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events, and restoring coastal wetlands to provide natural flood protection. In essence, mitigation aims to prevent the problem from getting worse, while adaptation aims to cope with the consequences of the problem. Both mitigation and adaptation are necessary to address climate change effectively. Mitigation is essential to limit the long-term severity of climate change, while adaptation is crucial to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems from the unavoidable impacts of climate change that are already underway.