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5. Climate Change: How the World Is Responding
- The MIT Press
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5 Climate Change: How the World Is Responding Joseph F. C. DiMento and Pamela Doughman Scientists warn that it is too late to avoid climate change, but we can act now to ease the problem for our children and grandchildren. A large part of the United States population has come to this understanding. A 2006 Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey found that almost half of Americans think global warming is caused more by human activities than by natural changes in the climate and that 56 percent believe the government could do more to address the problem (Boxall 2006). A poll conducted by Stanford University in 2013 found that more than 80 percent of adults in the United States favor preparing for climate change through measures such as stronger building codes and preventing new construction in vulnerable coastal areas (USA Today 2013). They are basing their opinions on the evidence presented by an army of climate scientists and an almost equally large group of policy analysts, politicians, and other government leaders. We can ease the impact of climate change by mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and taking steps to adapt to climate change effects. Efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are underway at the international, regional, national, and local levels. 150 Joseph F. C. DiMento and Pamela Doughman Recognition that meaningful actions to protect our climate are possible has come in different forms across the globe, through modest binding commitments by the developed world to reduce GHG emissions, voluntary efforts, and efforts limited to the major sources of emissions. Most countries have concluded that it makes sense to meet regularly to review current science, policies, and programs to decrease GHG emissions and increase resiliency to climate change. Perhaps meetings are not the most efficient way to address a global environmental challenge, but they are one of the few options that countries have to face the problem, because greenhouse emissions in one place impact climate change globally. A lack of resiliency to the effects of climate change can have international ramifications as well. Nonetheless, there is no need to rely solely on international initiatives to reduce the impacts of climate change. National, subnational, and local GHG emission reductions can lead the way for others to take action while reducing pollution, improving infrastructure, and promoting economic growth closer to home. Similarly, reducing vulnerability to climate change can start with local and state governments. Disaster planning and preparedness , infrastructure reinforcement and upgrades, and changes in land use planning can reduce the costs of extreme weather events where they are expected to become more frequent with climate change. Information on expected changes in precipitation patterns can be used to modify agricultural practices , forestry management, and water management to adapt to new conditions. Fisheries management and cultivation of seagrass beds can help reduce losses from changing ocean acidity levels by utilizing information on patterns and variability of local acidity indices. International cooperation improves the [18.208.172.3] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:27 GMT) Climate Change: How the World Is Responding 151 availability of information on changes expected from climate change and best practices for adaptation. In their official positions, countries have moved with varying senses of urgency. Some are fearful that their land mass and resource base are threatened in the near future. Others have concluded that economic growth and other environmental challenges are more important than climate change. Several nations have gone beyond the official international requirements and have taken steps to make significant reductions in their contributions to climate change. The link between climate policy and other national policies (such as energy independence, technological leadership, and other green goals) has been recognized , so climate-change policy might achieve several important national objectives. States and provinces have recognized the benefits of some climate-change policies, as have utilities, high-tech companies, and even some energy giants. These conclusions have come in fits and starts, with significant shifts in the positions of important countries, including the United States, and disagreements within countries and within states and businesses about how many changes they should make. The costs of change are important, and internationally they have been calculated and balanced against the benefits of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and against the benefits of moving slowly in different ways. Some calls for mitigation of climate change focus on climate justice and climate refugees (Garnier and Faimali 2010, 175), while practitioners in the field call for focusing on developmental priorities in the design and...