“The first issue is that anything that results in foreign policy from any particular government whether it’s a developed country or a developing country is really based on the domestic policies of those countries. You can’t have foreign policy without a foundation of domestic policy”. To achieve a new climate agreement we need both domestic and global policy, Ray Kopp (Resources for the Future – RFF) says in this video interview to Climate Science&Policy
International structure affects the foreign policy issues and the domestic politics; you have to do both sequentially and simultaneously. Prof. Robert Keohane (Princeton University) talks about international relations, cap-and trade and a “dual-leadership world” where Usa and China have to take the lead. But how can we get action from people and leaders in climate negotiations? “May be the Economy of Esteem could help us”, Prof. Keohane argues in this interview to Climate Science&Policy
It could be described as the ability to shape the preferences of others and attract them so that they want what you want. It is Soft Power and it is crucial in order to create a narrative of climate change which is widely accepted. But soft power alone isn’t enough: we need smart power, a combination of soft power and hard power. Prof. Joseph S. Nye (Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government) talks about the role of transnationl institutions, the new american course on climate policy and “How could we get everybody into the act and still get action”. “We are going to have to use a variety of international institutions and focus the European phrase, Variable Geometry” –
We have learned great deal at Copenhagen: whatever agreement we will come to, it has to be about the quality of economic growth and the way that it goes forward.
Prof. Thomas Heller (Stanfors University and Executive Director at Climate Policy Initiative) explains why, after the Cop15, we have now a better sense of what the problem is and where the solutions lie.
“It’s the same for all policy – Prof. Heller says – no matter how well it is designed, no matter how well it is intended, there are always questions about how it is implemented or how effective will it be”
It is going to be more and more imperative that countries around the world and people everywhere (nobody is excluded from this) will need to learn to cope with the impacts of climate change. What is really needed is money to help strengthen the capacity and the ability of poorer people with lower livelihoods through education and intermediate levels of technology to strengthen their livelihoods and their economy. “We should be able to help strengthen the capacity and the ability of poorer people with lower livelihoods” Prof. Ian Burton says. Micro insurance would help people in the period of risk and it could be provided in a manner which would encourage people to take adaptive actions. “It is an idea both of spreading risks and of helping to promote the idea of adaptation” Prof. Burton explains.
Transforming the energy system, improving economy and reducing carbon emissions. These are the milestones of the Indian climate challenge. “We are working to become a more modern country and to build an economy where emissions would be significantly lower”, Prof. Shukla says. The solution requires a large portfolio of energy options and a different perception of the problem: “The conventional perception – Prof. Shukla explains – looks at energy related technologies and innovations from the supply side. Now, we are also looking for solutions that are coming from the demand side”. On the path toward a sustainable development, is the 2 degrees target achievable?
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”
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
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
In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change, with her team — one of thousands who contributed — taking a risky flight over the rainforest in pursuit of data on a key molecule.
Rachel Pike knows the intricacies of climate research — the laborious, exacting and subtle techniques behind findings that end up in IPCC reports and, later, news headlines.
