Climate change: Science and Solutions
Damon Matthews (Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University)
Abstract
In their recent 2007 assessment report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal" and additionally that there it is very likely that many of the observed climate changes that have occurred over the past century are due to human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In this seminar, I will review some of science behind these statements, showing where the certainties and uncertainties lie with respect to our current understanding of human influences on the climate system. Despite large uncertainties -- and in some cases because of the presence of large uncertainty -- the current scientific understanding of climate change demands a policy response, yet to date there has been very little progress with respect to reducing human emissions of greenhouse gases. This is the fundamental climate-energy crisis which human societies around the world must respond to -- how can we reduce our impact on global climate in enough time that potentially dangerous climate change impacts are avoided? I will conclude my seminar with a discussion of what it may take to stop human-induced climate change, and some of the strategies that have been proposed as solutions to the current climate-energy crisis.
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Time: 4:00 PM
Place: Concordia University, Loyola Campus, Science Pavilion (Building SP), 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, 3rd Floor
Room: SP 365.01
Contact: 514-848-2424 ext 2595
Note: There are regular shuttle buses traveling between Sir George Williams Campus (1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W.) and Loyola Campus; see Shuttle bus schedule.
