The Congo Basin forests in a changing climate: Policy discourses on adaptation and mitigation (REDD+)

► This study analyzes how different coalitions use competing frames to present adaptation and mitigation. ► Three discourses found on climate policy: mitigation only, adaptation and mitigation separated, and integrated. ► Despite being a vulnerable society to climate risks, the mitigation opportunity agenda is stronger than the adaptation priority in the Congo Basin. ► Government and private actors largely support mitigation either alone or separated from adaptation while IGOs, NGOs and research organizations prefer an integrated approach. ► In the struggle of dominance, the different frames articulated by the actors are not devoid of their interests and positions.