G20 ends with pledge on trade and promise to fight protectionism

euronews (in English)

Published on Sep 5, 2016

The balance sheet from the latest G20 meeting, President Barack Obama’s last, appears to be a thin one.

Few areas of agreement emerged with major differences remaining over Syria, and there was little in the way of solid proposals to tackle the growing challenges to globalisation and free trade.

For China the meeting has been a great chance to capture the world’s centre stage.

“We agreed to improve G20 trade and investment mechanisms, endorse the G20 strategy for global trade growth and move …

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Earth’s Changing Climate: What is Causing It? What Will It Mean for You? – Beacon Hill Seminars (2016)

As a dynamic system with many changing components, Earth’s climate has been changing over the four billion years that life has existed on the planet. In recent centuries, however, the pace and severity of change have become unsettling, because the relative stability that had characterized roughly the last ten thousand years now appears to be changing in patterned and potentially catastrophic directions.

This course will review the major scientific understanding of the dynamics of climate change and then examine the implications of these changes for the future of communities, nation-states and the global human community. Particular attention will be given to droughts, floods, and the impact of climate change on agriculture. The course will then touch on how climate changes are likely to affect public health both locally and globally. Further attention will be given to the collapse of polar and glacial ice systems and the rise of sea levels around the world.

Strategies for adapting to climate change will be examined, with particular attention given to understanding which strategies are being proposed by which human communities and how likely they are to succeed in the foreseeable future.

Through assigned readings, video, documentaries, and films, students will be encouraged to reflect on what the changing climate will mean for them and to explore possible transitions to a sustainable future on this planet.  Participants will be given access to readings, news clips and further online resources to pursue any particular aspects of this problem which interest them.  Those who have questions may contact the instructor, Tim Weiskel at <tim@ecoethics.net>  or keep current with the succession of Seminar meetings through this online course at:  http://wp.me/p2iDSG-iSH

Tim Weiskel

Participants can obtain links to introductory and background material at:

Where Can We Turn to Learn?
and
Some Recent CCRA Videoblogs

Lecture Slides for Seminar Sessions (in reverse order – most recent first)

• Session 8 – Where can we go from here?
  • Citizens, Science and Climate Action:“If you see something, say something”
  • Noam Chomsky: Trump’s Climate Change Denialism Will Accelerate Global Race to Destruction
  • From Climate Change to Nuclear War, Noam Chomsky Warns of Literal Threats to Our Survival

 

• Session 7– Climate Change, the “News” Media and Information Flow in a “Free” Society? Why have Americans been so “blindsided” by climate change?

 

• Session 6 – Climate Change, International “Flashpoints” and National Security
  • The Predictable Environmental, Public Health and Climate Impacts of the Globally Resurgent Military-Industrial-Prison Complex 
    and
  • Deputy Under Secretary Wormuth Previews the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review
    • Pentagon Declares Climate Change A “Threat Multiplier”
    • Pentagon Calls Climate Change Impacts “Threat Multipliers,” Could Enable Terrorism
    • Why Climate Change Is the Biggest Threat to National Security | Alternet
    • Defense Department to Congress: Global warming is a ‘present security threat’
  •  See subsequently:
  • Age of Consequences The Center for Climate and Security
  • Briefing Book for a New Administration, CSAG, The Center for Climate and Security
  • Sea Level Rise and the US Military’s Mission, The Center for Climate and Security
  • The Center for Climate and Security
  • Special Report: Quadrennial Defense Review – Defense.gov
  • Will ‘Climate Change’ Forever Alter U.S. Military Policy?
  • The Pentagon & Climate Change
  • Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change: Forum on National Security Impacts of Climate Change
  • Pentagon Calls Climate Change Impacts “Threat Multipliers,” Could Enable Terrorism
  • The U.S. National Security Risks of a Changing Climate | Rear Admiral David W. Titley, USN (ret.)
  • Admiral David Titley on Climate and the Military
  • TEDxPentagon – Rear Admiral David Titley, USN – Climate Change and National Security
  • What Good Is a Naval Base That’s Underwater? – The Takeaway – WNYC
    and particularly:
  • Larence Wilkerson Climate Change 2016
    

 

• Session 5 – Climate Change, Food Strategies And our Global Water Circumstance
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been suggested as  necessary technology for the human community to adopt to meet the expected food scarcity emanating from climate change in the coming years and decades.
    Nevertheless, there are many problems with the GMO strategy for global food production, particularly since it requires ever more consumption of fossil fuels and fresh water, and it does not seem to produce the increase in food supplies that its advocates claim.   See, for example:
    • Doubts About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops – The New York Times
      and
    • A Deep Dig On GMO And Crop Yields | On Point
  • See also the major U.N. Report that was published on the Thursday that we meet this week.
    • Emissions Gap Report
  • In addition the “food dimension” of climate change is now being widely discussed around the world.  See for example, the announcement of the forthcoming talk in Oxford.
    • Climate Change and Global Food Production – Oxford Talks

 

• Session 4 – Climate Change, Agriculture and The “Food Problem”
  • For a brief video summary of many of the topics we mentioned, see:
    • “Climate Change and the Structure of the Global Food System: The Transition Toward a Sustainable Agriculture” from Cambridge Community Television.
  • Further supplementary material:
    Consider the following reference material on agriculture and climate issues including the publication in the last week by the UN Food a and Agricultural Organization of:
    • The State of Food and Agriculture 2016 (SOFA)   This important and timely publication — entitled, “Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security”  is specifically devoted to climate change and agriculture.
              [No doubt in Rome at the FAO headquarters they heard that we would be discussing this issue in the Beacon Hill Seminars, and they very graciously decided to devote their annual report to this topic just for us — and the rest of the world at the same time.]
  • For reports that document the full breath of the post-War agricultural moment and the evolution of the “Green Revolution” as it unfolded see:
    • Directory to The State of Food and Agriculture, FAO’s major annual flagship publication.
  • For an assessment of the most recent SOFA (2016) report see:
    • The Industrial Agricultural System is Limiting Food Access and Driving Climate Change
  • To follow general food and agricultural developments see:
    • Food-Matters

 

• Session 3 –Sea Level Change (Part 2) + Climate Change and Food Security
  • Supplementary Material:
    • Cambridge Climate Congress (currently underway)
    • 2016 Cambridge Climate Congress: Building a Community of Response
    • Climate Ready Boston Report (now available for download)
    • An Ethics for the Coming Storm (forthcoming lecture before we next meet).
    • Bruce Friedrich: The Future of Protein: Blending Markets and Food Technology to Solve Some of the World’s Biggest Problems (forthcoming lecture — before we next meet)

 

• Session 2 – 13 October 2016 – “Climate and Sea Level Change”
  • • Adapting to Climate Change Now: Climate Experts, Civic Society & Plans for the Transition to a Sustainable BostonSupplementary material on sea-level change:
    • “Time and Tide Wait for No Man…” Rethinking Boston by the Sea

 

• Session 1 – 6 October 2016 – “Introduction & Overview”

 

 * * *

State of Emergency After Oklahoma Earthquake

Associated Press

Published on Sep 5, 2016

Oklahoma’s Governor declared a state of emergnency in Pawnee County, after Saturday’s earthquake. 37 wastewater disposal wells used by oil and gas producers are being shut down. (Sept. 5)

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

How China has helped in alleviating humanitarian crises in Africa

CCTV Africa

Published on Sep 3, 2016

And in our Fruits of cooperation series, we look at how China has helped alleviate humanitarian crises in Africa through providing aid and capacity to the areas affected.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

G20 Summit opens in Hangzhou amid weak global economy

CCTV Africa

Published on Sep 4, 2016

The G20 Summit in Hangzhou has brought together leaders of the world’s major economies, tasked with finding ways to boost global economic growth. On the discussion table is a recommendation from the business community… for policymakers to remove barriers to free trade. Han Peng reports

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

WBCSD Council Meeting 2016 – Mr Nadir Godrej; Managing Director, Godrej Industries

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Published on Sep 5, 2016

Mr. Nadij Godrej, Managing Director of Godrej Industries, believes that India’s hardships have introduced great opportunities for green energy opportunities in India. http://bit.ly/29tlxNX

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

2016 Mercator Climate Lecture: Prof Jeffrey Sachs (June 2016)

Understanding Climate Change

Published on Aug 18, 2016

Fair Use: Educational (June 2016 Lecture)

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Past, Future and Fantasy Climate Change: Prof Dan Lunt (2015 Lecture)

Understanding Climate Change

Published on Sep 5, 2016

Fair Use: Educational (2015 Lecture)

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Dinosaurs, Syria & Dada: Dr Thomas Wagner (March 2016)

Understanding Climate Change

Published on Sep 5, 2016

Fair Use: Educational (March 2016)

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice

Spain: Wildfires

euronews (in English)

Published on Sep 5, 2016

3 separate wildfires have been raging along Spain’s Costa Blanca since Sunday.
The fires, which authorities say were started deliberately, have been aggravated by soaring forty-two-degree temperatures and strong winds. Buildings in the town of Javea and large areas of vegetation near the holiday destination of Benidorm were destroyed.
Authorities almost had the first fire under control when the others began.

Global Climate Change
Environment Ethics
Environment Justice