EU Conference on TransAtlantic Solutions to Sea Level Rise The Science, Politics, and Policy- Making...
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Transcript of EU Conference on TransAtlantic Solutions to Sea Level Rise The Science, Politics, and Policy- Making...
EU Conference on TransAtlantic EU Conference on TransAtlantic Solutions to Sea Level RiseSolutions to Sea Level Rise
The Science, Politics, and Policy-The Science, Politics, and Policy-Making of Climate ChangeMaking of Climate Change
Dr. Glen SussmanDr. Glen SussmanDepartment of Political Science and GeographyDepartment of Political Science and Geography
Old Dominion UniversityOld Dominion University
The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect
The Keeling CurveThe Keeling Curve
1919thth Century Century Greenhouse Effect PioneersGreenhouse Effect Pioneers
Joseph Fourier Jean Baptise, French Joseph Fourier Jean Baptise, French Mathematician, 1827Mathematician, 1827
John Tyndall, British Scientist, 1861John Tyndall, British Scientist, 1861 Svante Arrhenius, Swedish Chemist, 1896Svante Arrhenius, Swedish Chemist, 1896
Similar findings: warming of the Similar findings: warming of the earth is associated with a buildup earth is associated with a buildup
of of greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases
The Scientific Basis ofThe Scientific Basis ofClimate ChangeClimate Change
Modern Timeline: 20Modern Timeline: 20thth Century Century– G.S.Callendar, British engineer in the late 1930sG.S.Callendar, British engineer in the late 1930s– Roger Revelle and Hans Suess of Scripps Roger Revelle and Hans Suess of Scripps
Institution of Oceanography in the 1950sInstitution of Oceanography in the 1950s– James Hansen, Head of the Goddard Institute of James Hansen, Head of the Goddard Institute of
Space Studies at NASA in the 1980sSpace Studies at NASA in the 1980s
Added to existing knowledge about Added to existing knowledge about the relationship between the relationship between
greenhouse greenhouse gases, the warming gases, the warming of the planet, and of the planet, and climate changeclimate change
The Scientific Basis of Climate ChangeThe Scientific Basis of Climate Change
Recent Research: 21Recent Research: 21stst Century Century– The U.S. National Research Council in 2001The U.S. National Research Council in 2001– The U.S. EPA in 2006The U.S. EPA in 2006– The IPCC 4th Report in 2007The IPCC 4th Report in 2007– The U.S. Supreme Court in 2007The U.S. Supreme Court in 2007– James McCarthy, Harvard biologist and President of the American James McCarthy, Harvard biologist and President of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009– The EPA in 2009The EPA in 2009– The IPCC 5The IPCC 5thth Report in 2013 Report in 2013
Consensus about accumulations of Consensus about accumulations of COCO2 2 in the atmosphere and the in the atmosphere and the
warming warming of the planet and human of the planet and human activitiesactivities
as a major contributor of as a major contributor of greenhouse gases in the atmospheregreenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Politics of Global Warming and Politics of Global Warming and Climate ChangeClimate Change
The Problem and the PoliticsThe Problem and the Politics– Michael KraftMichael Kraft
Three generations of environmental problemsThree generations of environmental problems– First: Air and water qualityFirst: Air and water quality– Second: Toxic and hazardous wasteSecond: Toxic and hazardous waste– Third: Global in origin and effectsThird: Global in origin and effects
Included in third level problems are biodiversity, Included in third level problems are biodiversity, stratospheric ozone depletion, global stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming/climate changewarming/climate change
– Politically controversial and affected by entrenched Politically controversial and affected by entrenched economic interestseconomic interests
The Climate Change “Debate” The Climate Change “Debate”
Three Major CategoriesThree Major Categories– Those who have formulated their views based Those who have formulated their views based
on science that human activities are a major on science that human activities are a major contributor to climate changecontributor to climate change
– Those who acknowledge global climate change Those who acknowledge global climate change but believe that it is due primarily to natural but believe that it is due primarily to natural conditions rather than human activitiesconditions rather than human activities
– Those who argue that it is a hoaxThose who argue that it is a hoax
Politics and Adaption StrategiesPolitics and Adaption Strategies
Politics as a Fundamental Hurdle to Effective Politics as a Fundamental Hurdle to Effective Policy-Making (i.e., adaption strategies)Policy-Making (i.e., adaption strategies)– The significance of domestic politics in The significance of domestic politics in
responding to climate changeresponding to climate change– Sources of political conflict Sources of political conflict
Entrenched economic interests (fossil fuels, Entrenched economic interests (fossil fuels, manufacturing, electoral incentives, benefits for manufacturing, electoral incentives, benefits for selected states and provinces)selected states and provinces)
Environmental movementEnvironmental movement
Adaption Strategies Adaption Strategies
The need for effective multi-level action in response to The need for effective multi-level action in response to climate change effectsclimate change effects– Issues: sea level rise, public health, wildfires, ocean Issues: sea level rise, public health, wildfires, ocean
acidification, coral reefs, biodiversity among othersacidification, coral reefs, biodiversity among others– What is the probability that national governments can What is the probability that national governments can
craft effective adaption strategies? craft effective adaption strategies? – Hampton Roads and Sea Level RiseHampton Roads and Sea Level Rise
Collection of cities with a history of conflictCollection of cities with a history of conflict What is the probability that Hampton Roads can work What is the probability that Hampton Roads can work
together to achieve effective adaption strategies in together to achieve effective adaption strategies in response to sea level rise? response to sea level rise?
Adaption Strategies and Sea Level RiseAdaption Strategies and Sea Level Rise(Borrowing from James Lester)(Borrowing from James Lester)
CommitmentCommitment
HighHigh LowLow
1 2 1 2
HighHigh
CapacityCapacity
LowLow 3 3 4 4
Adaption Strategies and Sea Level RiseAdaption Strategies and Sea Level Rise
Capacity and CommitmentCapacity and Commitment
1: High Capacity / High Commitment = progress1: High Capacity / High Commitment = progress
2: High Capacity / Low Commitment = obstruction2: High Capacity / Low Commitment = obstruction
3: Low Capacity / High Commitment = constraints3: Low Capacity / High Commitment = constraints
4: Low Capacity / Low Commitment = status quo4: Low Capacity / Low Commitment = status quo