Mitigation of STA is a difficult task because they are a complex process that cannot be directly controlled. One study noted that surface temperature anomalies will persist for much longer than anthropogenic CO2, indicating “the consequences of anthropogenic CO2 emissions will persist for many millennia” (Eby et al. 2501). Heating of the environment is increasing the frequency of surface temperature anomalies and is therefore shifting the dynamics of climate patterns on Earth. By mitigating our emissions, we can begin to reduce the frequency of anomalies and their harmful impacts.
Although there have been attempts to integrate environmental policies in the past, such as the failed Kyoto Protocol, I believe that stronger efforts need to be undertaken by governments to engage their populations in energy and waste conservation efforts. Without sufficient societal concern for the state of the environment, attempts to pass effective climate policies are hindered (Drews and van den Bergh 855). Pendleton et al. were studying the deterioration of the coral reefs, and they suggested “Mapping indicators … as a way of combining natural and social science data to identify policy actions” (2), this approach could be easily adapted and applied to STA. Another way that governments can help mitigate the negative effects of STA is to provide more funding for the research of effective prediction models. As Xi et al. demonstrated in their research, constructing models that can predict future extreme weather events will help scientists better understand these events, as well as help societies better anticipate the damage they will bring.