Integrating climate mitigation and adaptation: a new framework for achieving ‘climate resilient net zero’ in preparing for heat risk

Climate Policy Integration (CPI) is key to mainstreaming and harmonising mitigation and adaptation in policy responses to climate change worldwide. However, little is known about how CPI can be applied in practice, beyond single policy areas, particularly in the integration of adaptation and mitigation responses. We investigate this in the context of responding to climate impacts such as extreme heat, a climate risk growing in international importance. Using the 2022 UK heatwaves as a case study, our paper explores: (a) the extent to which key stakeholders consider the integration of adaptation and mitigation to be important; (b) perceptions of the feasibility of integration; and (c) main enablers and/or challenges with integration of adaptation and mitigation. To do this, interviews (N=38) and four focus groups (N=21) were conducted with policymakers, first responders, utilities providers, and civil society responsible for managing heat risks. Our findings reveal a tension that CPI is essential to achieving a “climate resilient net zero”, yet unrealised. To explain this, we present a new framework with international and multicontextual significance, highlighting the convergence of key elements integral to realising effective CPI: (1) ‘Challenges’ - that may hinder, undermine, or act as a barrier to the integration of mitigation and adaptation; (2) ‘Enablers’ - which support, or help to facilitate greater integration, or synergies, between mitigation and adaptation; (3) ‘Framings’ - different ways participants described, defined or interpreted the issue of integration; (4) ‘Importance’ – the extent to which participants thought that integrating mitigation and adaptation was important; and (5) ‘Feasibility’ – or how possible integration is. We conclude that unless all five factors are fully addressed by researchers and decision-makers when tackling and understanding heat risks, new problems may emerge.