Andrew Weaver explains the levels of greenhouse gas emissions needed to stabilize the climate and offers solutions and a path towards a sustainable future. Co-Sponsored by CIGI and the UW Bookstore and UW Faculty of Environment. This is a free public event. Free Parking.
Monster wildfires in Australia, January golfers in PEI, ruined fruit crops in California, snowless ski runs in Switzerland, starving polar bears in the North, devastated trees in Stanley Park. Climate change is no longer a vague threat.
The reality is that even if we dramatically cut fossil fuel emissions today, we have warming in store for centuries. The relevant question becomes what do we as a collective society deem to be an acceptable level of climate change?
Throughout the history of humans, weather and climate have influenced the growth and fall of civilizations and the livelihood and economic well being of their people, so what is difference between then and now? Technology.
The climate change we are in store for over the next few centuries will be larger and occur faster than at any time in the last 10,000 years. While our pace of technological advancement has historically been fast, it must remain faster than the pace at which climate will change in the future. We must also be prepared to undertake major behavioural change.
In an engaging and accessible way, Weaver explains the levels of greenhouse gas emissions needed to stabilize the climate and offers solutions and a path towards a sustainable future.