The IPCC is an organization that works under the UN to establish policies that benefit the world in the areas of climate research. The organization’s current project is to work with government and business leaders to reduce global warming to 1.5°C as compared to 2°C. Regarding raising ocean levels, the IPCC wrote in their press statement on October 8th, 2018 that, “For instance, by 2100, the global sea level rise would be 10cm lower with global warming 1.5°C compared with 2°C.” In the headline statements, the IPCC wrote about how to reduce the temperature to 1.5°C. They wrote, “Pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot would require rapid and far-reaching transition in energy, land, urban and infrastructure of systems.” The IPCC is suggesting a technological fix to this problem. Some examples could include cars that produce fewer emissions or production of more electric cars, producing resources by methods that have fewer emissions, and using more sustainable energy such as windmills, solar panels or nuclear energy. Socio-technological fixes are individual governmental programs that encourage businesses to follow the practices and standards set by the IPCC through the UN. An example of this is the Paris Accord where governments should tax or penalize businesses and other industries that over-pollute by emissions, through emissions limits. If a common goal among all countries is to be agreed there needs to be more consensus found among world leaders as to the truth of climate change. For example, the US pulled out of the Paris Accords because many of our leaders find climate change to be a hoax.
Multidisciplinary research could be used to help educate the public and leaders about climate change to bring more consensus. For example, social scientists and historians could be very useful in this campaign. One method where historians could be useful is to teach the public that climate change is not a new idea in infancy. As Dr. Reidy mentioned in The Strange Death, Varied Lives and Ultimate Resurrection of Professor Tyndall, John Tyndall described the greenhouse effect of global climate change back in Victorian Era England. Information like this shared to the masses and politicians could bring about support to lower the global temperature to 1.5°C.
Great post. You did a great job synthesizing the IPCC’s report into simple language that would be understandable to the average person. I honestly think that might be a simple way to get the word out about the dangerous trend we are seeing. You mentioned education and how great of an effect this might have on seeing positive change. I also agree with your point about the great use of historians towards educating our public about climate change. When reflecting on present issues, we often only view our situation in a very limited perspective. However, when viewed through a historical perspective we truly see the reality of our situation from the consequences of our past. This too would be a great way to educate our public.
Very well written piece. I agree with your overall opinion that a common goal among the world’s leaders should be found so that the environment will remain in as stable of a state as we can keep it for as long as we are able to. As an American citizen that understands the facts that climate scientists are publishing, it feels like we as a country are letting others down by not moving forward with cleaner solutions to help do our part by trying to be greener. I agree with you that better education on that matter and other people bringing open minds to discussions about climate change would be very beneficial to possibly changing some of our current ways to help move forward with attempting to fix the problem.