Critical Climate Concerns
Paris Climate Accord Sans the United States: The Role of Local Governments in Addressing Climate Change and Increasing Resilience
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Haris Alibašić
President Trump's decision to withdraw from a multinational climate agreement, commonly known as the Paris Climate Accord created a tsunami of reactions worldwide. World leaders and business CEOs almost universally decried the decision. The US absence from a leadership position in the fight against the threats and consequences of climate change is a negative development. The need for action is immediate and will need to include all levels of government, and the private sector stakeholders. The US cities after the US President's decision to remove the country from the Paris Accord stepped up their efforts to address climate change threats. While it may be that these efforts are a result of altruistic desires of the mayors and other elected officials representing their constituents at a local level, cities and communities have a moral and ethical obligation to address concerns and prepare for the climate change-related impacts.
Climate Change as Critical Security Threat
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Margaret Gonzalez-Perez, Kent Neuerburg
Climate change presents a critical threat to human security on multiple levels. Over one billion people live in low-lying areas and coastal cities where populations and vital infrastructure are at catastrophic risk of rising sea levels. Sixty percent of the chronically hungry already live in at-risk areas and salination of fresh water and loss of agricultural land to marsh are expected to dramatically decrease food security. The loss of territory and conflict over scarce resources is expected to incite regional wars as well, adding to the large unregulated movements of displaced populations. In addition, rising seas and monsoons are expected to contribute to increases in infectious diseases, especially among vulnerable populations. Much of the world’s hydrocarbon and fossil fuels also lie in at-risk regions, threatening global energy resources. This study examines the existential threat of climate change and offers a predictive model to anticipate the impact of climate change across three geo-political regions.
The Brink: International Climate Legislation and Its Relevance to the Interest of Human Continuity
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Anthony Godlewski
From the toxic cityscapes of India to the collapsing topography of Antarctica, humanity is rapidly coming face-to-face with the apocalyptic consequences of its environmentally inconsiderate legacy. For much of its history, humankind has undersold or altogether ignored the indelible mark it has left on the Earth. From the crossroads we stand at today, our future options are limited, but clear, sustainability or extinction. The continuity of the human race is contingent on our ability to adopt environmental responsibility and promote a sustainable agenda in politics, business, and individual action. From Rio to Kyoto to Paris, national governments are making landmark legislative strides together on behalf of the entire biosphere. Is it too little too late, or will environmental practices evolve in time to evade the apoplectic wrath of our home planet? This paper examines the evolution of international climate legislation, as well as its challenges and catalysts in the corporate and political worlds. It will go on to analyze the practical implementation of cleaner, greener technologies and practices in the United States, Germany, and China, then contrast the relative success of the ecopolitical movement in the developed world with the consequences of its sluggishness in Australia, Vanuatu, and Greenland. Ultimately, it will reflect on the future of the global response to climate change and its implications for the Earth and humanity.
