Climate Change

From Bertelsmann Future Challenges

Climate change presents a new challenge for mankind. It is one of the first truly global issues that we face, it cannot be changed in the short term, and it threatens our very existence. Climate change, economic growth and demographic change are intimately intertwined, and influence one another in significant ways. For instance, economic growth, if we define it as the growing wealth of societies, increases our demands on the planet. It also helps to finance an aging society. Our efforts to deal with each of these trends will have an enormous impact on the course that climate change takes in the long-range future. Research suggests that if per-capita carbon dioxide emissions in the developed world were to be reduced by 40 percent between 2000 and 2050, this gain would be outweighed by demographic growth in other countries, resulting in no change in global average per-capita emissions. [I feel like this might need a citation.] If economic development leads to a doubling of emissions in developing regions, worldwide emissions would increase by 66 percent (Dyson, 2005). Both factors – more people and more needs – will result in conflict if the world’s inhabitants use natural resources without an efficient pricing and allocation system.

Climate change is a much more challenging topic than most, first, because it is a multiplier for all other global megatrends (Global Overview of Environmental Conflicts 1980-2005) and, second, because it has the power to imperil mankind all over the world. But at the individual level, although there may be awareness of this challenge, there is little action taken. There are three reasons for this inaction. First, it is costly to change attitudes and behaviors as an adult. Second, the results of a change in attitude are unlikely to benefit the individual during his or her own lifetime. Third, climate change is not currently painful enough to galvanize people to act.

Correlations/Crosslinks

• Correlations/Crosslinks - Climate Change

Climate Change Sessions at the Global Economic Symposium 2011

The first link of each session will take you GES Policy Wiki on FutureChallenges.org to propose concrete solutions, the second link leads you to the GES website with more information on this topic.

• Managing Adaptation to Climate Change in the Developing World Solutions on the GES website
• Strategies for Climate Engineering Solutions on the GES website
• Rethinking Energy PolicyGES 2011 Round Table Information

Experts and Institutions

• Experts and Institutions - Climate Change

Other helpful links

See content package "Big and Clever" on FC_org

Climate, food and the connectivity paradox

Peter Burnell on how climate change correlates with democracy

Jeremy Rifkin on climate change, global issues and the future of our planet