Climate Change in Politics

While climate change is something that most scientists are well aware of and recognize. People with other backgrounds generally have a harder time understanding this topic. Since many policy makers do not have a background in science. It is important that scientists make their data easy to understand for those who come from different fields. This paper highlighted how the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had some controversy based on the differences in how economists and biologists think. First, economists conduct studies that are correlational and not experimental. Second, economists only see current strong drivers as important factors where biologists look at current strong drivers and currently weak drivers that are likely to persist. The paper then goes on to conduct a meta-analysis of biologists’ data that they then fit into an economic model in an attempt to enhance communication between the two groups. This data shows that 74-91% of the species that have changed in the meta-analysis have done so in accord with climate change predictions. This study did an excellent job of explaining things, and this needs to continue to be done with future research if we wants to have any effect on policy.

Since the above paper was published, the IPCC has come out with new assessment reports that can be found here.

Climate Change in US Politics

Although an old document, it is interesting to see what the US government proposed as the most important climate change impacts in 2009, and what if anything has been done since then to further stop the devastating effects of climate change and global warming.

According to the report, two general responses have been proposed. These include, implementing measures to limit climate change and reducing our vulnerability and increasing our resilience to ongoing climate change. The measures that are implemented must reduce the amount of greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and might include a growing reliance on clean energy and developing more energy efficient technologies.

The report in 2009 stressed some very important impacts:

1. More rain is already coming in very heavy events. This will have impacts on transportation, agriculture, water quality, health, and more

2. Heat Waves will become more frequent and intense, increasing threats to human health and quality of life.

3. Warming will decrease the demand for heating energy during the winter and increase the demand during the summer.

4. Water resources will be stressed in many regions.

a. Snowpack is declining in the west

5. Coastal Communities: sea-level rise and storm surge will increase threats to homes and infrastructure.

This video is slightly on the long side, but it is very interesting and informative. It includes many speakers addressing current issues about climate change that are very relevant to many of the different topics we have addressed in both the seminar and lecture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y88sgDM9HmA&feature=player_embedded

The link to the article concerning the 2009 US report and the information found above: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Streaming-Now-Climate-Change-Impacts-Across-America-Renewed-Focus-for-Decisions/

If you are interested, here is a link to the full report published: http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts

Climate change and any response to it is a very controversial political matter. The Republican Party has a stance that officially denies that climate change has anything to do with human activity and instead insist that the environment is better off than ever. This issue however is not easy to find on Republican National Committees website. Conversely, the Democratic Party is extremely open about their environment policies. Democrats favor a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and support federal legislation they hope will accomplish that. In addition to the two mainstream parties of the United States, the Green Party also plays a minor role in American politics. While having much in common with Democrats, Green Party candidates tend to be much more hawkish about pushing through environmental legislation. Even their name "Green Party" emphasizes so-called "Green" initiatives. The issue of of climate change, while extremely important to discuss, often is not a focus of the political debate in America, especially during election season.

In the recent election, both candidates seemed to avoid the topic of climate change. However, as Obama has been reelected, he has been put under pressure to deal with the issue at the upcoming United Nations' global warming summit in Doha. The recent Hurricane Sandy has caused a greater priority to be placed on global warming by the Obama administration (mentioned in his re-election speech which can be seen here). Many activists are hopeful he will continue his energy plan proposed in 2009, which is outlined above. However, a conservative House is attempting to block climate change legislation and the work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). His first major environmental decision will be concerning the creation of the Keystone XL pipeline which will be made in early 2013.

In 2009, the Obama Administration convened the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. The Task Force published a progress report in 2011 that can be found here.

Politics Outside of the US

The European Union currently has plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% of the 1990 level by 2020 and 80-90% by 2050. More can be found on their policies here.

Back to Introduction