Responding to the Climate Crisis
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Philip Osgood lives in Brooksville. He is an active volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a grassroots organization dedicated to creating the political will for effective climate change legislation. Towards that end, he and other Maine volunteers regularly meet with Senators King and Collins, and Representatives Golden and Pingrey, and their Congressional staff members.
This colloquy will begin with the assumption that the earth is undergoing a period of acute climate change, and that the single major cause of climate disruption is due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily due to increased carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.
The colloquy will focus on the examination of and discussions about the challenges and potential responses to our looming climate crisis. We will primarily look at global and national responses but will also discuss local and personal responses as well.
In order to focus our discussion, we will look at the challenges faced and the possibilities for response in four major areas:
Mitigation –Limiting/stopping the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; developing alternative energy resources, etc.
Sequestration –Removing excess greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere or absorbed by the oceans—through methods such as reforestation and carbon capture.
Adaptation –Adjusting to the effects of climate change, such as: rising sea levels, ocean acidification, drought, extreme weather events, new migration patterns, etc.
Restoration—Repairing and recovering from damages already sustained by climate change.
Participants will be asked to review and respond to a variety of online materials that address the above subjects.
Syllabus/Reading
Readings:
Session One – April 20th
Introduction to climate change responses and solutions
Read the following wikipedia pages:
Look at the following web pages:
Union of Concerned Scientists: UCS Climate UCS Climate Solutions
NASA: NASA – Adaptation
World Widlife Fund: WWF Adaptation vs Mitigation
US Global Change Research Program: Climate Change Response Options
Review the 5 “Key Message” points at:
Adaptation: NCA Chapter 28
Mitigation: NCA – Chapter 29
US Geological Survey: What is carbon sequestration?
Become familiar with Project Drawdown : Project Drawdown
Session Two – April 27th
Evaluating the effectiveness of climate change solutions
We will use and explore the En-Roads Climate Change Solutions Simulator
En-Roads Climate Change Solutions Simulator
Watch one or more of the workshop videos at: En-Roads Climate Change Solutions Simulator – Video
You can access the simulator at: https://en-roads.climateinteractive.org/scenario.html?v=2.7.36
Look at the Green America website: Green America And their top 10 climate change solutions.
Look at Scientific American 10 solutions for climate change: Scientific American – Solutions
Session Three – NOTE Session Postposed until May 11 th
What is being done to effect climate change solutions?
[Note: Resources for current U.S. Federal responses will be updated, as the Biden Administration clarifies its climate response and the 117th Congress begins to introduce climate change legislation]
Become familiar with the UN and UNDP response:
Become familiar with the Paris Agreement: Paris Agreement
Become familiar with the European Union response: Paris Agreement – EU Response
Become familiar with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: Center for Climate Energy Solutions website
Become familiar with Maine Won’t Wait: Maine Won’t Wait
Read:
Council on Foreign Relations: Global Climate Agreements
Read: China claims aims of carbon neutrality by 2060: China claims aims of carbon neutrality by 2060
Session Four – Note Final session on May 18 th
What can WE do?
We will discuss the range and possibilities for our individual responses to the climate crisis, including political activism, community involvement, leading a low carbon footprint life, etc.
We will also discuss personal resources for hope, solace, and inspiration.
Become familiar with Citizens’ Climate Lobby and 350.org .
Watch: Katherine Hayhoe on “the most important thing you can do . . .”
Read: An example of 10 things you can do:
David Suzuki – 10 Ways to Stop Climate Change
Read: An example of “why spirituality matters in addressing climate change”:
PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS
From Judy McGeorge:
Article on prize awarded to Nova Scotia company injecting co2 into concrete and another that explains the product. Carboncure Technologies website.
Article on Germany phasing out coal and nuclear energy.
Commentary on Climate Summit – April 22 and April 23, 2021 – by Heather Cox Richardson.
Portland Press Article PDF on Confusion in Maine Community Solar Options.
Portland Press Article PDF on Million-dollar battery could help charge Casco Bay hybrid ferry
From George Borowsky:
Washington Post: The Giant Accounting Problem that could hamper the world’s push to cut emissions”
From Larry Flood:
Canada – Century Initiative Report
NYT Magazine – How Russia Wins the Climate Crisis
NYT Nov 27, 2015 – Canada Reverses Course on Climate Change
IEA (International Energy Agency) – presentation on minerals needed in the renewable energy sector.
From Tony Ferrara:
The Maine youth climate groups are listed below. They all emphasize ‘justice’ concerns and intersectionality:
Just Me for Justice Us
Coastal Youth Climate Coalition
Maine Youth for Climate Justice
Maine Climate Strikes
Maine Youth Action Network
Fridays for Future
UU Ministries for Earth
Maine Sunrise Movement
Maine Environmental Changemakers Network
In addition there are several climate/conservation organizations that have active youth programs: A Climate to Thrive, Center for Ecological Based Economics, 350 Maine, Shaw Institute, Island Institute, and our local Climate Action Net’s youth Climate Empowerment Project.
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