Climate Change Morphing into an Existential Problem
With unchecked emissions of climate pollutants, there is a 50% probability for the planetary warming to cross the so-called dangerous threshold of 2C by 2050; and there is at least a 5% probability the warming can exceed a catastrophic 6C in about 80+ years.
For the bottom three billion in rural areas, 2C would be enough to pose existential threats. With a 6C warming accompanied by 10 billion population, loss of bio diversity and species extinction, we should ask: whether civilization as we know it can be extended beyond this century? Is there still time to avoid such catastrophes? The answer is Yes. But, we need to reinforce the technological and the market-based solutions with societal transformation. An alliance between scientists, policy makers, religious institutions and health care providers has a good chance to bring the needed transformation.
Date: 10 March 2017, 16:00 (Friday, 8th week, Hilary 2017)
Venue: Venue to be announced
Speaker: Veerabhadran (Ram) Ramanathan (Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California at San Diego)
Organising department: Oxford University Climate Research Network
Organiser: Peter Walton
Organiser contact email address: peter.walton@ouce.ox.ac.uk
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/event/2439
Cost: Free
Audience: All attendees are welcome
Editor: Peter Walton