Sponge: Set up Cornell Notes on pg. 15 Topic: 4.4 The Precautionary Principle Essential Question: A “climate change denier” tells you that global warming has happened in the past, and this period of increasing temperature is no different. What is your response? (at least a paragraph) Top 1/2 of p. 60 BIOZONE: 185-188 4.4 The Precautionary Principle A “climate change denier” tells you that global warming has happened in the past, and this period of increasing temperature is no different. What is your response? (at least a paragraph) Top 1/2 of p. 60 Key Vocabulary: The Precautionary Principle

P. 14 EQ- At least 1 paragraph Precautionary Principle cartoon

P. 15 Responses from Climatologists Challenges from critics Precautionary Principle

Application Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change Nature of Science: Assessing claims– assessment of the claims that human activities are producing climate change

Are Humans causing climate change? Not everyone is convinced that climate change is happening, or that it is caused by human activity “Climate change deniers” Have a number of criticisms about IPCC’s findings

Are Humans causing climate change? Opinions of climatologists and their critics

Challenges from Critics Directions: For the next few slides read the challenges from critics as well as the responses from climatologists

an·thro·po·gen·ic ˌanTHrəpōˈjenik/ adjective (chiefly of environmental pollution and pollutants) originating in human activity. "anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide"

Are Humans causing climate change? In the end, climatologists make a clear distinction between what is politically controversial and what is scientifically controversial The political debate: Often driven by non-scientific arguments Look if the comments are motivated by economic arguments *especially if they are associated with industries that produce large quantities of CO₂

Theory of Knowledge The precautionary principle is meant to guide decision-making in conditions where a lack of certainty exists. Is certainty ever possible in the natural sciences?

The Precautionary Principle The Precautionary Principle: is an ethical theory which says that action should be taken to prevent harm even if there is not sufficient data to prove that the activity will have severe negative consequences It also stipulates that if people wish to engage in an activity that may cause changes in environment, they must first prove that it will not do harm

The Precautionary Principle Without the precautionary Principle, industries and consumers tend to proceed with their activities until it becomes clear that harm is being done When irrefutable proof is presented, usually action is taken to reduce the activity in question.

International-mindedness: Release of greenhouse gases occurs locally but has a global impact, so international cooperation to reduce emission is essential

The Precautionary Principle With regards to Global Warming, tenets of the precautionary principle say that preventative action should be taken NOW, before it is too late Preventative action must be taken WORLDWIDE to ensure that ecologically friendly industries are not less economically viable than polluting companies

Prevention is better than CURE…. It is often much less expensive to prevent a problem than to fix it “One of the most unjust results of human pollution is that many of those who suffer its consequences are not the ones creating and contributing to the problem” Innocent Animals/plants

Create-Your-Own Precautionary Principle Cartoon Create a cartoon about the Precautionary Principle on bottom of even pg It can be general or specific to a certain topic