scholarly journals Climate Literacy—Imperative Competencies for Tomorrow’s Engineers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9684
Author(s):  
Susan E. Powers ◽  
Jan E. DeWaters ◽  
Suresh Dhaniyala
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Climate Literacy ◽  
And Behavior

Engineers must take a leading role in addressing the challenges of mitigating climate change and adapting to the inevitable changes that our world is facing. To improve climate literacy, technical education must include problem formulation and solutions that consider complex interactions between engineered, Earth, and societal systems, including trade-offs among benefits, costs, and risks. Improving engineering students’ climate literacy must also inspire students’ motivation to work toward climate solutions. This paper highlights the content and pedagogical approach used in a class for engineering students that helped contribute to significant gains in engineering students’ climate literacy and critical thinking competencies. A total of 89 students fully participated in a pre/post climate literacy questionnaire over four years of study. As a whole, students demonstrated significant gains in climate-related content knowledge, affect, and behavior. Substantial differences were observed between students in different engineering disciplines and male vs. female students. Assessment of critical thinking showed that students did an excellent job formulating problem statements and solutions in a manner that incorporated a multidimensional systems perspective. These skills are critical for students to address climate change effectively in their eventual professions.

Canadian boreal forests and climate change mitigation

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.C. Lemprière ◽  
W.A. Kurz ◽  
E.H. Hogg ◽  
C. Schmoll ◽  
G.J. Rampley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Mitigation Potential ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Trade Offs

Quantitative assessment of Canada’s boreal forest mitigation potential is not yet possible, though the range of mitigation activities is known, requirements for sound analyses of options are increasingly understood, and there is emerging recognition that biogeophysical effects need greater attention. Use of a systems perspective highlights trade-offs between activities aimed at increasing carbon storage in the ecosystem, increasing carbon storage in harvested wood products (HWPs), or increasing the substitution benefits of using wood in place of fossil fuels or more emissions-intensive products. A systems perspective also suggests that erroneous conclusions about mitigation potential could result if analyses assume that HWP carbon is emitted at harvest, or bioenergy is carbon neutral. The greatest short-run boreal mitigation benefit generally would be achieved by avoiding greenhouse gas emissions; but over the longer run, there could be significant potential in activities that increase carbon removals. Mitigation activities could maximize landscape carbon uptake or maximize landscape carbon density, but not both simultaneously. The difference between the two is the rate at which HWPs are produced to meet society’s demands, and mitigation activities could seek to delay or reduce HWP emissions and increase substitution benefits. Use of forest biomass for bioenergy could also contribute though the point in time at which this produces a net mitigation benefit relative to a fossil fuel alternative will be situation-specific. Key knowledge gaps exist in understanding boreal mitigation strategies that are robust to climate change and how mitigation could be integrated with adaptation to climate change.

Water, Climate, Energy, Food: Inseparable & Indispensable

Daedalus ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Field ◽  
Anna M. Michalak
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Heavy Precipitation ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Integrated Approaches ◽  
Water Issues

Water issues are rarely simple. At the global scale, water is at the focus of a powerful multifaceted challenge. Demands for both consumptive and nonconsumptive uses are growing, while climate change is at the same time decreasing availability in some places and increasing risks of heavy precipitation in many others. Through diverse mechanisms that interact with natural processes, human activities impact not only the quantity of water available but also its quality. Here we explore the multiway interactions among water, climate, energy, and food through a number of case studies illustrating the interconnected web of competing drivers, demands, and trade-offs that frame humanity's decisions about water use. The net result of this complex mix of drivers and processes is that water issues need to be addressed with a systems perspective. While a systems framing can be daunting, integrated approaches are fundamental to identifying and evaluating options for sustainable solutions.

Developing the management models of life skills education in order to deal with climate change and disaster prevention for students in the ethnic minorities boarding high school in the current period - The status and solutions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Thi Nhu Quynh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
Current Period ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
Life Skills Education

Life skills education to deal with the climate change and management of natural disaster prevention for students in ethnic minorities boarding high schools are very necessary nowadays. Based on educational activities of life skills, we establish and develop the awareness, attitudes and behavior for students, help them to find the causes and consequences of climate change and the natural disaster so that they shape attitudes and behavior of themselves in adaptation and mitigation due to climate change and natural disasters, as well as conscious propaganda for everyone to perform, toward a better life, a civilized society, meet overall educational goals during the current period. So that, life skills education for the goals of meeting the needs of disaster prevention for students are concerned. However, we not only say doctrinairely but also pay attention to the results of the life skills education due to meet the needs of disaster prevention, by then we form perceptions, attitudes and behavior for students in schools and in society. So there must be coordination between the forces of education in schools with families and society. Therefore, life skills education for students acquire sustainably. Assay results consulted reviews of managers, teachers showed that life skills educational management measures meeting the needs of disaster prevention for the students are necessary and available, suitable with the practice of ethnic minorities boarding high schools.

MANAGING LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN ETHNIC MINORITIES BOARDING JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO COPE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER PREVENTION IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TODAY

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pham Van Truong ◽  
Ngo Quang Son
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
Junior Secondary Schools ◽  
Junior Secondary ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
Life Skills Education

Life skills education meet the needs of disaster prevention and management of life skills education meet the needs of disaster prevention for pupils in ethnic minorities boarding junior secondary schools to establish and develop the awareness, attitudes and behavior for pupils, help them to find the causes and consequences of climate change and the disaster so that they shape attitudes and behavior of ourselves in adaptation and mitigation due to climate change and natural disasters, as well as conscious propaganda for everyone to perform, toward a better life, a civilized society, meet educational goals overall during the current period. Life skills education meet the needs of disaster prevention for pupils of the schools are concerned, however, is not only to say doctrinaire but must essentially by the results of the life skills education meet the needs of disaster prevention is formed perceptions, attitudes and behavior of pupils in schools and in society so there must be coordination between the forces of education in schools with families and society. Like that, life skills education for pupils acquire a sustainable. Assay results consult reviews of managers, teachers showed that life skills educational management measures meet the needs of disaster prevention for the pupils proposed are necessary and available high performance, consistent with the practice of ethnic minorities boarding junior secondary schools.

Hormones and Behavior

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Maren N. Vitousek ◽  
Laura A. Schoenle
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
And Behavior

Hormones mediate the expression of life history traits—phenotypic traits that contribute to lifetime fitness (i.e., reproductive timing, growth rate, number and size of offspring). The endocrine system shapes phenotype by organizing tissues during developmental periods and by activating changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to varying physical and social environments. Because hormones can simultaneously regulate many traits (hormonal pleiotropy), they are important mediators of life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival. This chapter reviews the role of hormones in shaping life histories with an emphasis on developmental plasticity and reversible flexibility in endocrine and life history traits. It also discusses the advantages of studying hormone–behavior interactions from an evolutionary perspective. Recent research in evolutionary endocrinology has provided insight into the heritability of endocrine traits, how selection on hormone systems may influence the evolution of life histories, and the role of hormonal pleiotropy in driving or constraining evolution.

scholarly journals Fears for the future among Finnish adolescents in 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Lindfors ◽  
L Lahti ◽  
J Kinnunen ◽  
A Rimpelä
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Political Values ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Future ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Images Of The Future

Abstract Background Adolescents' images of the future emerge from knowledge built on experiences of the past and present and their age-related developmental tasks. Images of the future direct adolescents' decision-making, choices, and behavior. The images of the future can act as a mirror of our times, reflecting the political values and ethos of society. The aim of this study was to examine the fears for the future among Finnish adolescents in the era of climate change. Methods Data from a nationwide survey on the health and health behavior of 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-year-olds (n = 3520, the response rate 37 %) in 2019 in Finland. An open-ended question on fears for the future was employed as a final question on the survey. The data was analyzed first by inductive content analysis and then by statistical methods. Altogether 7829 fears were reported. These were constructed into 12 main categories. Results Fears for the social relationships and loneliness were the most common (35 %). Fears related to death (33 %), physical health and wellbeing (25 %), life management and success (19 %) and working life (17 %) were next common. Only 9 % of the adolescents reported climate and the environment related fears. In age group comparisons, 12-14-year-olds reported more global and social fears, while 16-18-year-olds reported more personal fears, such as study, working life and relationships. The most common fears among boys and girls were similar in all age groups. Conclusions The most common fears among Finnish adolescents are related to personal life and less to global issues. Against our hypothesis, climate and environmental related fears were not among the top fears, even these topics are figured prominently in media and other research has also reported high proportions of climate change related fears among adolescents. The inconsistencies might be explained by the differences in the research methodologies: whether open-ended questions or structured questions are used. Key messages Most common fears for the future are related to personal issues like relationships, health and work. Fears for climate change were not among the most common ones when open-ended questions were used.

scholarly journals A Deeper Union: From a Failed Project to the European Quality Lead

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-177
Author(s):  
Karl Aiginger
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New World ◽  
World Order ◽  
New World Order ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Spheres Of Influence ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
The Us ◽  
Previous State

AbstractAfter President Trump’s departure, many expected that the transatlantic partnership would return to its previous state with the US playing a leading role. This article challenges that view. Instead, a new world order is foreseen, with different partnerships and spheres of influence. Europe can decide whether it wants to remain small and homogeneous or a larger but also more heterogenous Union that leads in welfare indicators such as life expectancy, fighting poverty and limiting climate change. Expanding this lead and communicating its uniqueness can empower Europe to combine enlargement and deepening, which appears unlikely without changes in governance and self-confidence.

scholarly journals Identifying integrated options for agricultural climate change mitigation

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Tzilivakis ◽  
Kathleen Lewis ◽  
Andrew Green ◽  
Douglas Warner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mitigation Options ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Change Mitigation

Purpose – In order to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is essential that all industry sectors have the appropriate knowledge and tools to contribute. This includes agriculture, which is considered to contribute about a third of emissions globally. This paper reports on one such tool: IMPACCT: Integrated Management oPtions for Agricultural Climate Change miTigation. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – IMPACCT focuses on GHGs, carbon sequestration and associated mitigation options. However, it also attempts to include information on economic and other environmental impacts in order to provide a more holistic perspective. The model identifies mitigation options, likely economic impacts and any synergies and trade-offs with other environmental objectives. The model has been applied on 22 case study farms in seven Member States. Findings – The tool presents some useful concepts for developing carbon calculators in the future. It has highlighted that calculators need to evolve from simply calculating emissions to identifying cost-effective and integrated emissions reduction options. Practical implications – IMPACCT has potential to become an effective means of provided targeted guidance, as part of a broader knowledge transfer programme based on an integrated suite of guidance, tools and advice delivered via different media. Originality/value – IMPACCT is a new model that demonstrates how to take a more integrated approach to mitigating GHGs on farms across Europe. It is a holistic carbon calculator that presents mitigation options in the context other environmental and economic objectives in the search for more sustainable methods of food production.

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