Confused about climate change? (Or is it “global warming”?) Having trouble explaining to others why the threat of climate change is real? Check out the following for a clearer picture and compelling proof!
A recent conference titled “Land of Opportunity: The American Response to Climate Change” held in Tupper Lake, New York focused on generating solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. One solution involves policy development specifically for creating negative or no-cost abatement (GHG reduction) solutions for two leading emissions-producing sectors: buildings and appliances, and power generation. Participants also drew upon the highly regarded McKinsey & Company report “Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?” McKinsey served as a Knowledge Partner to the conference.
Participants enjoyed a variety of action-oriented presentations, including a very concerning, compelling, and entertaining presentation by John Holdren, Harvard University Professor of Environmental Policy at the Kennedy School of Government. In his presentation, “Solving the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Problem,” Holdren explains that the term “global warming” is actually a misnomer. The term implies that the problem at hand is gradual, when in truth it’s quite rapid; uniform when it is highly inconsistent across all of Earth; mainly about temperature, but it encompasses everything about climate; and potentially benign, although it is entirely harmful. “A more accurate term,” he explains, “would be ‘global climatic disruption.’ That’s a big mouthful, but at least it’s not wrong.” Perhaps most importantly, and contrary to what we so often hear, he states, “This is not a problem for our children and our grandchildren. It is a problem for us, right now, people living all around the world.” To view his full explanation of what “climate change” really means, click here to watch his provocative presentation in its entirety.
Thomas Lovejoy, president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, further elaborates on Holdren’s lecture with his presentation “The Science and Physical Implications of Climate Change.” Lovejoy gives a detailed account of what is taking place in the natural world (particularly the natural living world) due to climate change, what we can expect in the future, and what we can do about it. He rattles off such startling facts as “all tropical glaciers are retreating at a rate that they will be gone in 12 years,” and that if we continue to operate at GHG levels double that of the pre-industrial age, we are on course to lose 20-30% of all species on earth. He emphasizes, “This issue is even more urgent than most people appreciate.” Click here to watch his alarming lecture in full.
These are just two of many informative presentations from the conference. To access the entire list of video presentations, Power Points, and notable presenters, click here. If you find these presentations to be as gripping as we did, share them! We could all afford to gain some (more) perspective, and broaden our knowledge of global climate change (or “global climatic disruption”) and its severe implications.
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