scholarly journals The Silent Killer: Consequences of Climate Change and How to Survive Past the Year 2050

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3757
Author(s):  
Anna Laura Huckelba ◽  
Paul A. M. Van Lange
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Social Dilemma ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The World

There is strong scientific consensus that the climate is drastically changing due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and that these changes are largely due to human behavior. Scientific estimates posit that by 2050, we will begin to experience some of the most damaging consequences of climate change, which will only worsen as the world becomes more populated and resources become scarcer. Considerable progress has been made to explore technological solutions, yet useful insights from a psychological perspective are still lacking. Understanding whether and how individuals and groups cope with environmental dilemmas is the first step to combatting climate change. The key challenge is how can we reduce a tendency to inaction and to understand the psychological obstacles for behavioral change that reduce climate change. We provide a social dilemma analysis of climate change, emphasizing three important ingredients: people need to recognize their own impact on the climate, there is conflict between self-interest and collective interests, and there is a temporal dilemma involving a conflict between short-term and longer-term interest. Acknowledging these features, we provide a comprehensive overview of psychological mechanisms that support inaction, and close by discussing potential solutions. In particular, we offer recommendations at the level of individuals, communities, and governments.

Introduction

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Berner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Quaternary Period ◽  
Geological Time Scale ◽  
The Earth

The cycle of carbon is essential to the maintenance of life, to climate, and to the composition of the atmosphere and oceans. What is normally thought of as the “carbon cycle” is the transfer of carbon between the atmosphere, the oceans, and life. This is not the subject of interest of this book. To understand this apparently confusing statement, it is necessary to separate the carbon cycle into two cycles: the short-term cycle and the long-term cycle. The “carbon cycle,” as most people understand it, is represented in figure 1.1. Carbon dioxide is taken up via photosynthesis by green plants on the continents or phytoplankton in the ocean. On land carbon is transferred to soils by the dropping of leaves, root growth, and respiration, the death of plants, and the development of soil biota. Land herbivores eat the plants, and carnivores eat the herbivores. In the oceans the phytoplankton are eaten by zooplankton that are in turn eaten by larger and larger organisms. The plants, plankton, and animals respire CO2. Upon death the plants and animals are decomposed by microorganisms with the ultimate production of CO2. Carbon dioxide is exchanged between the oceans and atmosphere, and dissolved organic matter is carried in solution by rivers from soils to the sea. This all constitutes the shortterm carbon cycle. The word “short-term” is used because the characteristic times for transferring carbon between reservoirs range from days to tens of thousands of years. Because the earth is more than four billion years old, this is short on a geological time scale. As the short-term cycle proceeds, concentrations of the two principal atmospheric gases, CO2 and CH4, can change as a result of perturbations of the cycle. Because these two are both greenhouse gases—in other words, they adsorb outgoing infrared radiation from the earth surface—changes in their concentrations can involve global warming and cooling over centuries and many millennia. Such changes have accompanied global climate change over the Quaternary period (past 2 million years), although other factors, such as variations in the receipt of solar radiation due to changes in characteristics of the earth’s orbit, have also contributed to climate change.

scholarly journals Past climates inform our future

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 370 (6517) ◽  
pp. eaay3701
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Tierney ◽  
Christopher J. Poulsen ◽  
Isabel P. Montañez ◽  
Tripti Bhattacharya ◽  
Ran Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Model Evaluation ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Earth System ◽  
High Carbon ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
Earth System Models ◽  
High Carbon Dioxide

As the world warms, there is a profound need to improve projections of climate change. Although the latest Earth system models offer an unprecedented number of features, fundamental uncertainties continue to cloud our view of the future. Past climates provide the only opportunity to observe how the Earth system responds to high carbon dioxide, underlining a fundamental role for paleoclimatology in constraining future climate change. Here, we review the relevancy of paleoclimate information for climate prediction and discuss the prospects for emerging methodologies to further insights gained from past climates. Advances in proxy methods and interpretations pave the way for the use of past climates for model evaluation—a practice that we argue should be widely adopted.

Beijing’s ambitions and assertiveness will grow

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Policy Agenda ◽  
Senior Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Belt And Road

Significance The senior leadership seeks to defend its position within China, first and foremost by preserving and strengthening the power of the Party through which it rules. China’s growing wealth and power create new opportunities for the Party to bolster its power -- and give rise to new threats that could undermine it. Impacts China’s ambitions centre on itself; they do not involve remaking the world in China’s image. China’s interests converge with other states' on climate change and economic cooperation; disputes concern how gains and costs are shared. China’s pursuit of its self-interest may sometimes have positive spill-overs, such as when it shares innovations, freely or otherwise. Despite controversies and setbacks, the Belt and Road will provide infrastructure critical for economic development globally. Beijing, long a practitioner of commercial espionage, is becoming bolder in its use of cyber operations to pursue its foreign policy agenda.

scholarly journals To Examine Coping Adaptive Strategies Used by Households and Make Policy Recommendations for Addressing Future Climate Change Impacts on Livelihoods in Kapsokwony Division, Mt. Elgon Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-269
Author(s):  
Sindani Bon Bonzemo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
The World ◽  
Social Economic Development

Long and short term changes in climate are disproportionately affecting all parts of the world in equal measure. The most impacted by vagaries of climate change are the most vulnerable and the poor who live in the developing world. Climate change and climate variability impacts the smallholder farmers though they continue to apply traditional technologies in order to cope with climate change vulnerability. In most of the parts the world over, coping strategies are lacking especially in the African States. Trans-disciplinary research approach was used to analyze the perception of community’s’ responses to climate change and climate variability at the household level. The purpose of this study was to build new transformation knowledge by integrating the traditional and the modern adaptive technologies in order to transform lives of the indigenous communities in the study area. This paper therefore explores and highlights the existing and modern technologies which can be employed by farmers to counteract the impacts of climate change and climate variability. Primary data was collected through in-depth and informant interviews together with Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) and a structured questionnaire administered to 384 household heads in twelve sub-locations in the study area (Kapsokwony Division) formed the basis of these policy recommendations. Secondary data constituting rainfall and temperature parameters was collected from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD). The long and short term integrated adaptive strategies and policy recommendations generated and developed by all the actors including those from the academia and the traditional communities during the research are meant to build climate resilience and adaptive capacity at local and national levels. A framework that has been developed by this research will help support policy decisions in conservation agriculture and livestock rearing systems, water resource management, change in social behavior, accessing early warning information, promotion of organic farming and human health systems. If fully implemented these policy recommendations will go a long way to bring a paradigm shift that will improve livelihoods and social economic development in the region. These recommendations can be replicated in any other region of the world to bring about desired changes to a people impacted by climate change. The research study achieved capacity building, resilience, adaptive learning, change in attitude and behavior, community empowerment, application of transformation knowledge as well as climate change awareness amongst area residents. The new societal knowledge was used to elucidate long term policies and adaptive strategies to enhance climate resilience, help eliminate poverty levels, improve livelihoods and sustain social economic development. The study recommends collaboration among stakeholders and integration of various sources of knowledge in addressing climate change and climate variability among residents in Kapsokwony Sub-county. Further research should be carried out in the future to corroborate these findings.

scholarly journals Effective Policy Applications of Psychological Science: Drawing Parallels between COVID-19 and Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrgol Tiv ◽  
David Livert ◽  
Trisha Dehrone ◽  
Maya Godbole ◽  
Laura López-Aybar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
The World ◽  
Effective Policy

In 2021, the world continues to face a serious, widespread challenge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments and civil society are grappling with unprecedented impacts on healthcare and the economy as well as restrictions of normal social interactions of millions. Still, the climate emergency has not rested. Unless addressed, carbon levels will continue to rise through this pandemic, the development and disbursements of vaccines, and the next pandemic. From a psychological perspective, there are many commonalities between the current COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis of climate change. This whitepaper begins by summarizing the broad similarities between these two crises. From there, we draw parallels between COVID-19 and climate change across four domains of psychological research. In doing this, we identify evidence-based approaches that policymakers and other key decision-makers can adopt to holistically respond to the two global crises of climate change and public health. We conclude with a broad discussion on the role of psychological science (and other social and behavioral sciences) in policy.

scholarly journals Development versus Adaptation? Facing Climate Change in Ca Mau, Vietnam

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1160
Author(s):  
Bruno Di Giusto ◽  
Thi Minh Nghi Le ◽  
Thanh Thao My Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thuy Hanh Nguyen ◽  
Nguyen Uyen My Vu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Global Markets ◽  
Groundwater Extraction ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
The World ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
Combined Impact ◽  
Underlying Processes

Climate change poses a dire threat to the Mekong River Delta, an important supplier of shrimp and rice to global markets. The southernmost province, Ca Mau, is threatened by sea level rise and land subsidence. Little is known of the expected combined impact of these processes, or of the perceptions of farmers towards these threats. This study first projected the combined effects using the most accurate extant elevation data. Next, to assess perceptions, we interviewed 53 farmers from six communes within the province. We found that 43% of the province could be at risk of submersion by 2030, and 75% by 2050. The interviews revealed that the farmers were largely unaware of the imminence of submersion and did not fully comprehend the nature and magnitude of the underlying processes. Constrained by the requirements of their developmental trajectory, they were focused on short term threats to their livelihood (weather, salinization, pollution). Consequently, far from adapting to the larger threats, they are engaged in practices, such as groundwater extraction for aquaculture, that are hastening the demise of the region. Their plight offers warnings to similar regions around the world. We hope that our findings can inform the development of future outreach programs.

scholarly journals Tourism and Climate Change: Interrelationships and Implications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Schott ◽  
Andy Reisinger ◽  
Taciano Milfont
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Climate Change Negotiations ◽  
Research Themes ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Shed Light

This chapter contextualizes the interrelationships between tourism and climate change and thus provides an introduction to this volume. It commences with a brief but comprehensive overview of the key issues identified by climate change research, including an update since the 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as well as a brief discussion of the latest rounds of climate change negotiations. The pursuing discussion is informed by these points and explores climate change’s indirect and induced impacts on tourism and possible ramifications. Both of these parts highlight behavioral change as a critical factor to both adaptation and mitigation thus motivating the psychological contribution in an effort to shed light on the obstacles to behavioral change. In the concluding section, the chapter synthesizes the discussion grounded in multiple disciplines into a set of research themes that the volume subsequently begins to address

Precautionary Politics: Principle and Practice in Confronting Environmental Risk. By Kerry Whiteside. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006. 198p. $50.00 cloth, $21.00 paper.

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-158
Author(s):  
Scott Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hadron Collider ◽  
The Earth ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
The World ◽  
Desert Regions ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change ◽  
Theoretical Risk

Here are two challenges that the world has had to face in 2008: 1) Construction of the Large Hadron Collider was recently completed. Experiments using this machine will yield new knowledge of a fundamental kind. There is also a theoretical risk, believed to be vanishingly small but not zero, that the machine could create a black hole capable of destroying the Earth. Should the machine be turned on? 2) Fertilizing “desert” regions of the oceans with iron is expected to stimulate phytoplankton growth, sucking carbon dioxide into the oceans and thus helping to mitigate climate change. It might also alter vital ocean ecosystems. To know the full consequences of ocean fertilization, large-scale experiments are needed. Should they be allowed?

scholarly journals CARBON TRADING AND CARBON CREDITS HELP IN CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM SOLVING

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9SE) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Diwakar Singh Tomar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Environmental Problem ◽  
Carbon Trading ◽  
The World ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Change Problem

Climate change remains the most burning environmental problem at the present time. Green houses are the most responsible for climate change. Green house gases include gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone. Carbon dioxide is the most dangerous in this. The more developed the country, the greater its participation in carbon emissions.According to a report by the World Resource Institute, India, despite being the fourth largest carbon emitting nation in the world, is far behind the top three carbon emission nations in per capita carbon emissions.Top 05 nations producing greenhouse gas emissions वर्तमान समय में जलवायु परिवर्तन सबसे ज्वलंत पर्यावरणीय समस्या बनी हुई है। जलवायु परिवर्तन के लिए सबसे अधिक जिम्मेदार ग्रीन हाऊस गैसें है। ग्रीन हाऊस गैसों के अन्तर्गत कार्बनडाई आक्साइड, मिथेन, नाइट्रस आक्साइड, ओजोन जैसी गैसें आती हैं। इसमें कार्बनडाईआक्साइड सबसे खतरनाक है। जो देष जितना ज्यादा विकसित है कार्बन उत्सर्जन में उसकी भागीदारी उतनी ही ज्यादा है।वल्र्ड रिसोर्सेृज इंस्टीट्यूट की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार भारत विष्व में चैथा सबसे बड़ा कार्बन उत्सर्जक राष्ट्र होने के बाबजूद प्रतिव्यक्ति कार्बन उत्सर्जन में भारत ष्षीर्ष तीन कार्बन उत्सर्जन राष्ट्रों से काफी पीछे है।ग्रीन हाऊस गैस उत्सर्जन करने वाली शीर्ष 05 राष्ट्र

scholarly journals Impact of Climate Change on Cereal Yield and Production in the Sahel: Case of Burkina Faso

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Shéïtan Sossou ◽  
Charlemagne Babatounde Igue ◽  
Moussa Diallo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
The World ◽  
Cereal Production ◽  
Agricultural Yield ◽  
The Impact

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. It affects all countries in the world, especially Sahelian countries in Africa. This paper aimed at evaluating the impact of climate change on cereal yield in Burkina Faso. The ordinary least squares (OLS) was applied to time-series data from 1991 to 2016 collected on the World Bank website. The results have shown that temperature adversely affects yield and cereal production, while precipitation has positive effect. An increase in rainfall of 1 millimetre would increase cereal production by 385 tons in the long term and 252 tons in the short term. In the same, an increase in rainfall of 1 millimetre would increase agricultural yield by 9 kg per hectare in the long term. However, in the short term, an increase in temperatures of 1ºC would result in a decrease in cereal production and agricultural yield of 134748 tons and 72 kg per hectare, respectively. However, in the long term, a rise in temperatures of 1ºC would result in a decrease in cereal production and cereal yield of 154 634 tons and 1074 kg per hectare, respectively. Besides, the results indicate that the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) has no significant effect on yield and cereal production. Implementing effective adaptation strategies, such as access to improved seed, introduce smart agriculture in the system of cereal in Burkina Faso and increasing irrigation infrastructure could reduce the cereal production's vulnerability to climate shocks.

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