It is clear that the discourse on environmental change is increasingly prevalent in today's society. Conducting a search on Google's search engine about 'global environmental change' would return more than 130 million results. Not a day goes by without a mention of climate change in the news. Just today, BBC News reported that food prices are set to rise due to the second wettest British summer since records began (BBC, 10 Oct 2012). As such, environmental change is no longer an issue bound within academia but one that resonates closely with how we lead our lives.
Although it is argued that Earth is currently experiencing the longest warm 'stable' climate where we have not experienced many abrupt climatic changes on a global scale, it is still possible to identify smaller scale changes in regional climates (IPCC Third Assessment Report). It is interesting to discuss how these regional changes in climate have affected human development and how it might have led to the rise/ fall of civilisations (i.e. the Mayan Civilization). More importantly, a study of such abrupt changes will help us formulate policies to manage such changes in the future and minimise their impact on humanity.
Current studies in climate change predict that the Earth system will experience an increase of 5-6ºC in mean global temperatures by the end of the century. Although there are many uncertainties involved in making such climate change projections, two things are becoming increasingly clear to us; 1) such an increase in global temperatures will have significant impacts to humanity and 2) we can do something to avert such a future. In other words, deciding what to do about climate change today plays a large part in determining the state of the Earth for future generations. This is the line that we are treading.
Although it is argued that Earth is currently experiencing the longest warm 'stable' climate where we have not experienced many abrupt climatic changes on a global scale, it is still possible to identify smaller scale changes in regional climates (IPCC Third Assessment Report). It is interesting to discuss how these regional changes in climate have affected human development and how it might have led to the rise/ fall of civilisations (i.e. the Mayan Civilization). More importantly, a study of such abrupt changes will help us formulate policies to manage such changes in the future and minimise their impact on humanity.
Current studies in climate change predict that the Earth system will experience an increase of 5-6ºC in mean global temperatures by the end of the century. Although there are many uncertainties involved in making such climate change projections, two things are becoming increasingly clear to us; 1) such an increase in global temperatures will have significant impacts to humanity and 2) we can do something to avert such a future. In other words, deciding what to do about climate change today plays a large part in determining the state of the Earth for future generations. This is the line that we are treading.
Over the course of this blog, I would like to discuss environmental topics in relation to abrupt changes in regional climates. This blog will also seek to discuss the role of economic analysis in the management of environmental change and how environmental change affects economic development.
Feel free to leave a comment if you disagree with anything that is said on the blog or if you have a different perspective =)
Feel free to leave a comment if you disagree with anything that is said on the blog or if you have a different perspective =)
Great start to what I am sure will be a very interesting blog from an economic perspective
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