climate cha

 CO­2 levels have reached a record high and could lead to disastrous climate change if left unchecked. Besides reducing emissions, it has now become necessary to remove the CO­2 already in the atmosphere. New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert gives an informative and cautionary look at two technologies for CO­2 removal, some of the major parties involved, and the challenges facing the technologies’ widespread application. 

 Professor and climate change activist Tim Flannery believes that massive farms of seaweed, a crop with enormous carbon sequestration capabilities, could potentially draw enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a short enough time frame to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change. Flannery acknowledges that his radical approach could raise some negative externalities, and sweeping carbon under the ocean isn’t a permanent solution. But for those who worry that the climate crisis is a lost cause, he offers reassurance that climate change is a soluble issue.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Climate Change offers a comprehensive overview of why the world must adapt to climate change. Providing valuable insight, the report suggests that societies can prevent as much as 65% of the projected losses from climate change through “adaptive investments.” This subject is vitally important, but the authors have cast the whole report in arms-length passive voice, thus their phrasing undercuts the urgency of their subject and their message – and yet, it is urgent. getAbstract recommends this thought-provoking study to decision makers in government and the private sector, as well as to activists, academicians and investors – in short, to everyone who bears the brunt of climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), a global, multidisciplinary scientific research study into the causes and impacts of climate change. More than 800 scientists and experts from around the world – working with updated models, new technologies and fresh data – contributed to the report, one in a series published every five years to showcase the latest research. The results are undeniable: Global warming exists; it’s getting worse and more evidence than ever before demonstrates that human beings are “the dominant cause.” Even more alarming is that the effects of climate change will last for centuries, despite any attempted remedies or responses. 

For the Bronze Badge, read the following:

Chapter 1: Introduction 

Chapter 2: Observations: Atmosphere and Surface 

The window of opportunity for preventing catastrophic climate change is narrowing fast, warns a newly released special report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report lays out stark differences between a 1.5°C temperature increase, which the world may reach by as early as 2030, and the 2°C limit set under the Paris Climate Accord. The authors believe that reaching the more ambitious 1.5°C target is feasible but will require urgent and far-reaching measures at the international, national, and sub-national levels

Climate change can leave people feeling helpless and hopeless. Yet public engagement is crucial to solving the problem. TED speaker Per Espen Stoknes creatively weaves together findings from psychology and economics to show how addressing people’s mental barriers to climate action will help overcome their inertia. Whether you’re already a climate change activist or have succumbed to some of the “inner defenses” Stoknes identifies, you’ll find his talk stimulating and relevant

Know about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (STGs)

Why SDGs are necessary

Who are responsible for the achievements of SDGs

 Even as former US vice president Al Gore catalogs the devastating effects of global climate change, he provides cause for hope. Installations of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are going up as costs go down. The investment community has taken notice, pouring money into this exciting opportunity. Yet curbing the tide requires cooperation among nations in support of Earth’s citizens

 Floods are shaping up to be the most dangerous natural disasters humanity faces in the future. Rising oceans combined with atmospheric events such as El Nino and sinking land masses are making “extreme sea level events” more common, and much more destructive. As correspondent Alexandra Witze writes in Nature, some regions may soon experience what is now termed a “100-year-flood” every other year

 Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg made international headlines when at age 15 she skipped school to protest against global warming outside the Swedish parliament. In this impassioned speech, she shares her disillusionment with climate apathy and offers a timely reminder of what is at stake. Thunberg’s thesis isn’t innovative, but her stark black-and-white worldview shines a startlingly bright spotlight on the climate crisis and prompts widespread action.

 Despite 50 years of warnings about global warming, humankind has yet to grasp the urgency for change. Meanwhile, Earth’s population is continuing to live beyond its means. Environmental activist Paul Gilding paints a bleak picture of the not-so-distant future that will befall each nation unless society can mobilize a rapid response.

As the planet’s environment changes, so do its effects on the business world. Environmental changes impact business practices. From natural resources to supply chains, to logistics, to energy sources, to customer behaviours and demographics, businesses must adapt or be left behind. Further, climate change requires business adopt sustainable practices in order to remain economically viable and environmentally responsible. In this course, you’ll learn about how the changing environment impacts businesses, economically, environmentally, and socially. You’ll learn about local regulations and global agreements that affect how businesses may operate, and the clean tech and steps toward sustainability that companies can take to create sustainable business practices.

Wildfires in Sweden. Snow in the Moroccan desert. These are just two of many extreme weather events the World Meteorological Organization documents in its 2018 report “The State of the Global Climate,” released ahead of the climate summit in Katowice, Poland. This report meticulously documents how steadily rising global temperatures negatively affect local ecosystems, and disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The data serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of curbing global warming before it is too late.

The course comprises an introduction to climate breakdown, providing

An explanation of climate breakdown

An outline of the consequences of climate breakdown for now and for future generations

A basic look at the science behind the causes of climate breakdown, including the greenhouse effect and tipping points

A short quiz to consolidate your learning

Who this course is for: 

Anyone who is confused by all the activity around climate breakdown in the media and wants a better understanding

Anyone who feels left behind by their children, grandchildren, friends or colleagues when talking about climate breakdown

Anyone who thinks climate breakdown is just an abstract concept that will not affect them

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Former president of Ireland and UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson confesses that she didn’t focus on climate change during her terms in office. In the ensuing years, however, solving climate change has become her passion. Robinson warmly shares the personal journey that led her on her quest for “climate justice” and emphasizes the importance of achieving zero emissions by 2050.