1. Communicating and Learning About Global Climate Change: Opening Remarks
John P. Holdren
Director, The Woods Hole Research Center
Teresa & John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard University
President, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Global Climate Change Town Meeting Annual Meeting of the AAAS San Francisco, 17 February 2007

2. The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. Accumulating data from across the globe reveal a wide array of effects: rapidly melting glaciers, destabilization of major ice sheets, increases in extreme weather, rising sea level, shifts in species ranges, and more. The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions is now.
from the Climate Change Statement of the AAAS Board, released

3. Global climate change is the most dangerous environmental problem humans have ever created.
It is also the most difficult environmental problem humans have ever created.
But there is much that individuals, firms, & governments can do to reduce the danger.

4. Climate change: complex & interdisciplinary
SCIENCE
what climate is and how it works;
how global climate has been changing and why;
how it’s likely to change in the decades ahead;
what the impacts are likely to be on farms, forests, fisheries, health, property, ecosystems…
TECHNOLOGY
the role of humans & their technology in causing climate change;
technological options for mitigating climate change;
technological options for adapting to it.

5. Complex & interdisciplinary (continued)
ECONOMICS
population growth & economic growth as climate-change drivers
costs of abatement, adaptation, and impacts
consequences of alternative regimes of action & inaction for economic growth, employment, trade
POLITICS & POLICY
policy options and their impact on outcomes
actors and interests in the climate debate…and the evolution of perceptions & interests over time
finding a global climate-policy framework that is adequate, equitable, and attainable
uncertainty and prudence in public policy on climate

6. The physics & geometry of Earth’s orientation to the sun
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
The physics & geometry of Earth’s orientation to the sun

7. PHYSICS: Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
PHYSICS:
Interaction of
electromagnetic
radiation with
matter

8. Physics: energy flows in the atmosphere
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Physics: energy flows in the atmosphere

9. Physics: water, ice, and sea-level rise
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Physics: water, ice, and sea-level rise

10. Climate change as a teaching opportunity
CHEMISTRY
carbon in fossil fuels and combustion
coal ≈ CH
oil ≈ CH2
natural gas ≈ CH4 + a bit more
so, e.g., burning oil entails…
CH2 + 3/2 O2  CO2 + H2O

11. Climate change as a teaching opportunity
BIOCHEMISTRY
photosynthesis
6 CO H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2
(Trees are made of CO2 and water!)
respiration
C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O
anaerobic decomposition
C6H12O6  3 CO2 + 3 CH4

12. Earth science: the carbon cycle
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Earth science: the carbon cycle

13. Geography: remote sensing
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
True color MODIS composite image – late March 2000
Geography: remote sensing

14. Geography: land-use & deforestation
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Geography: land-use & deforestation
Mato Grosso State, Brazil, 2004

15. Earth science: winds & jet streams
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Earth science: winds & jet streams

16. Earth science: ocean currents
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Earth science: ocean currents

17. Earth science: how hurricanes work
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Earth science: how hurricanes work

18. Earth science: climate & life over geologic time
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Earth science: climate & life over geologic time

19. Probability and statistics of climate & weather
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Probability and statistics of climate & weather

20. Ecology: interaction of organisms with a changing environment
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Ecology: interaction of organisms with a changing environment

21. Geography: climate-related health impacts
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Geography: climate-related health impacts
World Health Organization estimates of climate-change-related increases in mortality for the year 2000

22. Engineering: technology for CO2 capture
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Engineering: technology for CO2 capture

23. Geology: formations that can store CO2
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Geology: formations that can store CO2

24. Systems analysis / integrated assessment
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Systems analysis / integrated assessment

25. Sociology: public-opinion polling
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Sociology: public-opinion polling
Source: National Science Board, Science & Engineering Indicators 2004, Ch 7.

26. Political science: leadership
Climate change as a teaching opportunity
Political science: leadership