Focused Discussions
Songs of Northern California: Sound-Ecology and the Music of Nature
Focused Discussion Nicholas Virzi
In a world where technological advancements and the “manifest destiny” approach to societal expansion dominate, moments of undisturbed nature have become truly rare, even in preserves like Yosemite National Park – a location of particular interest in my work as a field recording artist and environmental activist. To experience the beauty of untouched nature, one must often travel far abound in search of the few places which still remain to us, and even these are fast disappearing. In order to understand humanity’s impact on the environment, visual means are simply not enough. Sound often tells us more about how ecological systems are impacted than sight alone, allowing us the ability to perceive the differences in the behavior of species caused by human intervention even when visually it might appear as if nothing has changed at all. My focused discussion would feature original natural soundscape recordings from my ongoing research, as guided aural exercises intended to endow participants with essential perspectives and techniques for listening to, analyzing, and appreciating natural sound, and to illustrate the ecological significance of both scenes of undisturbed nature and those in which species have reacted and adapted to an evermore invasive human presence. Passing through idyllic locations such as Yosemite Valley and Russian River, and suburban environments such as Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto, participants learn to unravel auditory illusions and discern complex acoustic phenomena, identify oscines through musical and spectral analysis of birdsong, and note adaptations in species’ behavior in response to changes in acoustic environments.
Empathetic Openness, the Role of Youth and Women in the Climate Crisis: Building a People’s Movement in an Era of Human Rights
Focused Discussion Dr. Carol L. Simpson
With the climate change crises underway, extreme weather events, raising sea levels, and the impact on agricultural production, it is the most vulnerable members of society who will ultimately bear the brunt. Global warming’s ravaging effects are already the cause of untold suffering to masses of people throughout the globe. The optimism of the Paris Agreement has been recently replaced by the consensus that a much more rapid shift than previously understood is imminent. The world is way off target and the challenge much greater than previously understood, with the potential for catastrophic human consequences if the world's emissions don't decisively decline by 2020. But it is not just targets that must be reached if genuine international cooperation is to succeed. Less tangible yet no less important will be an understanding of the need for a much deeper empathetic openness to the suffering of others, one whose focus is the common interest of humanity. This empathetic openness is the most vital element for successfully halting global warming and it is the inspiration and involvement of grass roots individuals, especially youth and women, who must assume the vanguard.
Global Climate Change and World Politics: A Challenge to International Security
Focused Discussion Tooba Ahmad
Today, climate change has become a crucial global priority as it affects national and global security of the nation states. The non-traditional nature of these threats has altered the conventional security paradigm. Incidents like a melting Arctic, rising sea level, unprecedented precipitation or exceptional droughts, extra ordinary flooding, intense wildfires are just a few examples that how this climate phenomenon will threaten societies. Climate change security implications in the form of: water scarcity, food shortage, natural resources depletion can not only cause war, but also accelerate instability and make scenarios worse. Politics of resentment will increase between different regions. The Arab Spring, Pakistan-India water conflict, competition over resources in Middle East, situation of conflict and fragility in South China Sea, Russian-American tussle over Arctic’s energy reserves are some prime examples to predict what future may look like. The states’ interests and security is shared and not independent any longer, therefore, the responses of the world governments to increased instability will define whether wars and military conflicts will happen or not. The only way to address this issue is by dialogue and negotiation on reducing carbon emissions by mankind. There is a long list of ineffective climate protocols and treaties latest of which is The Paris Agreement, but what this world needs is a binding and highly effective climate treaty to mitigate international climate change threats. If the world governments fail to combat this challenge, they will be unable to get through any other security challenge of this century.
Disaster Mitigation, Deaf Leadership, Adaptation and Resilience: Deaf People’s Climate Change Preparedness and Community-based Action
Focused Discussion Caroline Solomon, Audrey Cooper
Natural disasters are becoming both more frequent and severe around the world, necessitating short- and long-term mitigation planning and preparedness. Often this planning process does not take in account of people with disabilities (PWD). There is an estimated 1 billion people (15% of the world’s population) with disabilities and within this group are deaf and hard of hearing people. Deaf people’s information access and participation in disaster mitigation and preparedness is limited due to attitudinal, communication, and educational barriers warranting research into Deaf people’s disaster adaptation and resilience. Preliminary research indicates that Deaf organizations are at the forefront of disaster response and recovery, leveraged via established organizational and social media networks. We will present case studies from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Việt Nam to guide discussion on how deaf communities are empowering themselves to undertake disaster mitigation efforts. Drawing insights from the ways these cases might inform community-based advocacy, capacity-building, research and training activities around the world, discussion will focus on best practices for mitigation planning, preparedness, and advocacy.
Analysis of The Market Choice Act: A Republican Bill Pricing GHG Emissions
Focused Discussion Ross Astoria
In July of 2018, Representative Curbelo (R-FL), introduced a carbon tax bill (The MARKET CHOICE Act). This is the first carbon pricing bill from a Republican member of Congress since 2009 and represents a significant breakthrough on the path towards passing effective climate legislation in the U.S.. The Market Choice Act places a Pigouvan Price on greenhouse gases in exchange for eliminating the federal excise tax on gasoline. It also includes a border carbon adjustment on emission-intensive trade-exposed products, a streamlining of Clean Air Act regulations, and a partial carve out for existing state-level greenhouse gas pricing policies. The Market Choice Act also funds various research programs and invests in the resiliency of coastal infrastructure. The proposed presentation will provide the details of the Market ChoiceAct, such as the details of CAA regulatory streamlining, and evaluate those details from the perspective of effective mitigation and economic fairness
The Impact of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Sectors on Climate Change: How to Minimize Direct and Indirect Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Focused Discussion Fabio Polonara
The refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sectors are responsible for almost 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. One third of such are the so called “direct emissions,” linked to the venting into the atmosphere of the working fluid, or refrigerant, used in vapor compression equipment, which is the most extensively used refrigeration technology. Two third of such are the so called “indirect emissions,” linked to the energy consumed to run the equipment. To minimize the impact on climate change of the sector, both causes have to be addressed. To reduce the impact caused by refrigerants, the Kigali Amendment of Montreal Protocol, adopted in 2016, will progressively phase-down the HFCs (HydroFluoroCarbons), the refrigerants adopted after the phase-out of CFCs (ChloroFluoroCarbons) and HCFCs (HydroChloroFluoroCarbons) due to the fact that they deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. To reduce indirect emissions the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry are strongly committed to enhance the energy efficiency of the equipment they produce.
