Climate Action Chat

The United States and other countries have well-developed programs in scientific and technical research and development - in many sectors, such as health care, security, and the environment. For years, climate scientists, policy makers, and proviate sector companies have been hopeful that new technologies could play a signifcant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs. Share your views about the importance of new technologies in this arena. Here are two articles that address this issue. Read in Bloomberg Businessweek: https://apple.news/AuKG_ygP5S46wrr8dM6RYMg Read in Scientific American: https://apple.news/A-3IMKW0tSFWRaesD5lNA5A

As you think about changes in the climate and related issues, look to the futre. Imagine 20 years from now - 2044. You might be 39 or 40 - pursuing a career and perhaps raising a family. How do you think climate change will have affected people's lives in 2044? Hoe will affect society culturally?" Economically? Politically? Environmentally? Will people and communities need to adapt, and if so, adapt to what and in one ways? Share your predictions. I have been a skier, both alpine and cross-country, since I was a teenager. Here is a link to an article about how skiing - and winter recreation - is affected by climate change. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/28/climate/italy-no-snow-skiing-climate-intl?cid=ios_app

I have been studying the climate change negotiations since the 1990s and been participating in UN climate change meetings since 2009. One thing is apparent - the climate crisis relates to many aspects of our lives. One important area is health. Here is an article that addresses that issue... The Hidden Health Costs of Climate Change Across the U.S., billion-dollar climate events are overwhelming emergency departments. Read in TIME: https://apple.news/AsSH2ZdrTSEilk8WTw3ysYg

An interesting article from the New York Times... The Headline: He Wants Oil Money Off Campus. She’s Funded by Exxon. They’re Friends. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/01/climate/young-climate-scientists-future.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

The Climate Action Network (CAN) is an umbrella organization for environmental groups that focus to a significant degree on the climate crisis. CAN is very visible and influentialin the United Nations Climate Change negotiations - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Explore the CAN webiste and share what you have learned - your questions, concerns, ideas... https://climatenetwork.org/

I will post information about - and links to - a number of organizations and websites that focus on the climate crisis. I encourage you to explore a site and comment on it. What is its value? What have you learned from it? Is it credible? Does it "argue" climate change issues well? Would you recommend it to others? Share your thoughts about the site. The first is "Climate Analytics." https://climateanalytics.org/

This article was published in The Guardian recently. It is one of many articles that report on the fossil fuel industry's awareness of climate change problems decades ago. Transitioning away from fossil fuels will not be easy, and there may always be a need for some fossil fuels, especially oil and natural gas. Should the fossil fuel instutry be held accountable and responsble? What should they contribute to the transition? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/30/fossil-fuel-industry-air-pollution-fund-research-caltech-climate-change-denial