Adaptation and Its Social and Behavioural Limits

Irene Lorenzoni

Even considering that some mitigation target might be achievable, we need to deal with effects of climate change in the near future and in the longer term. This means that adaptation is necessary even if it is not easy to achieve. “In some cases it might be inexpensive, but in some cases it might be really costly” Dott. Irene Lorenzoni says in this video interview to Climate Science&Policy. In which way adaptation strategies could affect our societies? “There are different facets of adaptation goals” Dott. Lorenzoni explains: “As individuals we don’t necessarily have the freedom of choice to respond to climate change in any way that we might want to. We are constrained to a certain extent, by the societal structures in which we operate”

published March 23rd, 2010
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Climate Policy and World Sustainability

Carlo Carraro, Elisa Lanzi and Ramiro Parrado

Will the ambitious climate targets proposed at the G8 meeting in l’Aquila and discussed at COP15 in Copenhagen make the world more sustainable? In order to find an effective answer to this question, we should consider that a global climate policy may eventually lead to strong reductions of greenhouse gases, but it may also entail large costs and lower investments in education, wealth, or research and development. While the discussion on climate policy costs focus on GDP losses or monetary measures, authors introduce a new element in the discussion by combining economic, social, and environmental indicators onto a unique measure of sustainability, the FEEM Sustainability Index (FEEMSI), an innovative index which allows projecting sustainability indicators in the future. FEEMSI is able to summarize current and future sustainability performances for 40 countries up to the year 2020, and the effect of a stringent climate policy on sustainability is not straightforward

published March 22nd, 2010
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Discovering The Great Warming: Lessons from The Ancient Earth (video)

Brian Fagan

Looking at the past to understand what’s happening today. In this way you could summarize how Archaeology and Anthropology contribute to our comprehension of Climate Change and its impact on our societies.
Archeologist Brian Fagan, author of The Great Warming Climate Change and The Rise and Fall of Civilizations, explains how ancient Climate Change affected the Earth in the past and how some civilizations (such are the Pueblo Indian from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, in the 11th century, or the Egyptian civilization in 2180 BC) were able to adapt to the changed climate while other civilizations perished under the effect of a silent elephant walking across centuries

published March 2nd, 2010
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Microfinance and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change (video)

Shardul Agrawala

What do we mean when we talk about adaptation to climate change? And in which way could Microfinance play an effective role for strategies to face Global Warming impacts in developing countries?
Shardul Agrawala, OECD Environmental Directorate answers to Climate Science&Policy’s questions during the International Workshop “The Social Dimension of Adaptation to Climate Change” in Venice.
Microfinance – Mr. Agrawala explains – is essentially the provision of loans and other financial services to the poor sections of the society; its effectiveness in responding to Climate Change impact demands attention to small project with a focus on local programs, specially in Developing Countries. The way in which the international community will be able to deliver loans for this small project is a big challenge for our the future and our capability to face Climate Change impacts

published March 1st, 2010
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