About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Barbara Brooks published on October 23, 2009 11:15 AM.

Professor finds that Britain did not gas Iraq in 1920s was the previous entry in this blog.

Two degrees possible via pre-engineering program is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Story Tools


Click for a printer-friendly version

Link With Us!


Faculty, students offer unique views of climate change

By Barbara Brooks on October 23, 2009 11:15 AM | Comments (2)

350logo.gifClimate change can be looked at from many perspectives: as a moral call to action, a matter of public policy, or a blip in geologic time.

Students and faculty considered these angles and many others at a panel discussion on Thursday that was part of a national teach-in to draw attention to the International Day of Climate Change, sponsored by 350.org.

At Colgate and hundreds of locations worldwide on Saturday, participants hope to focus attention on the number 350, as in parts per million. That is the level that some scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The present level is 380ppm.

The panel discussion featured eight faculty members from disciplines including economics, philosophy, geology, environmental studies, biology, and geography.

Two students leaders who are committed to environmental awareness and action also served as panelists: Shae Frydenlund '10 and Michael Michonski '12.

Much of the discussion centered on the chicken-and-egg phenomenon: do people's values need to change before their behavior changes, or is it the other way around?

"The 350 goal provides a convenient topic," said climatologist Adam Burnett. "It's a good start, but ultimately we need to address the way we behave."

Bob Turner of the Economics Department suggested a possible outcome of behavior change. "In principle, it may be that if you change people's behavior you could also change their values."

Consider lunch at the event as a case in point, which brought values and behavior in line.

Sodexo delivered a simple, delicious meal of quesadillas and tacos, made from locally grown beans and vegetables, with cheese from local dairy farms. There was a basket of fresh local apples, no bottled water, and no wasted food.

When the event was over, students composted their leftovers and paper napkins in a new bin that will be moved from event to event around campus.

"Grassroots activism is important to creating momentum," said Frydenlund, who in six months will be entrusting many of the green initiatives she started to younger students. "In four years, behavior and values have changed at Colgate."

2 Comments

October 27, 2009 7:10 PM
John Robinson said:

Fact: Global climate change is happening and it has been since the big bang. I know it’s hard to believe if you’ve been watching the thermometer lately but I know this by looking out my window at the valleys and hills left behind by a huge glacier. It’s probably not going to stop until the planet is either sterile or gone. Finger pointing, grandiose solutions and doomsday forecasters often only alienate so many of those who could assist in minimizing the human caused negative effects on our environment.

Most working class Americans do not have extra money to buy carbon offsets, ZEV’s, Solar Panels, Windmills or high efficiency anything, they are way too focused on trying to feed, care for and educate their families. The current green message leaves the lower crust feeling like the problem, not the solution.

Different demographics respond completely differently to messages based on how they receive and perceive them. It’s easy to inspire believers with highly refined yet confusing scientific data, but to build a base beyond; one must be more creative, try speaking the same language as your audience instead of yelling at them. We need to hear how real people can and are making a difference and how everyone can benefit in their own lifetime from green practices economic, health, environment and sustainability wise.

There really are so many ways John and Jane Q. can participate in the solution without going broke, actually they can save and even make money if given the right guidance and encouragement. Most people really want to part of a winning team so you must convince the unconvinced, dissenters and Poo-Pooers that the green team is the big winner for all of us.

Go Green (and Gate)!

October 23, 2009 12:52 PM
Anders Mikkelsen said:

Climate change rests on at least five assumptions all of which must be correct.

The climate is getting hotter
The climate getting hotter will be noticeable
The climate changes will be negative not positive for people
The cause is C02 levels (and C02 levels aren't generated by climate change.)
People are the cause of changes in C02 levels.

Yet there's significant evidence they're not all correct.

Of course regardless of the science of climate change, economic science stays the same. It is odd to see an Orwellian phrase attributed to an economist "In principal, it may be that if you change people's behavior you could also change their values." Who is the you and how exactly is it changing them?

I'll remember to be more supportive of Mises.org this year. Peace, Liberty, and Property.


Leave a comment



Type the characters you see in the picture above.

Categories

Alumni , Sciences

Tags

, ,