Contributions from students

Communicating Climate

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Critical thinking about issues of climate, in particular the intersection of climate science and climate policy, is an essential skill that students learn as part of the broader mission of Emory Climate Talks. Through coursework or real-life experience, students gain experience in presenting climate policy through different mediums. Examples of policy memos, videos and papers that clearly and concisely state the issues, foster understanding and accessibilty to those who may be unfamiliar with the issues.

White Papers & Policy Memos


Atlanta Heat Action Plan: Combatting the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat with a Justice Lens

By Clare McCarthy 23C, 24PH, Environmental Sciences and Community Building & Social Change

Rising global temperatures due to climate change will disproportionately impact cities, like Atlanta, Georgia, because of an exacerbated urban heat island effect. Increasing heat in cities poses an inequitable burden on the health of vulnerable groups, like low-income populations. City and county stakeholders across the world have developed heat preparedness initiatives to protect the health of their populations, but Atlanta does not have any heat action plan in place. Given the health threat of rising heat in Atlanta, what is the heat action plan that can best protect the health of low-income residents from heat? 

Atlanta skyline courtesy of Creative Commons
Atlanta skyline courtesy of Creative Commons

The Looming Threat to Food Security

By Lauren Balotin 19C, Environmental Sciences and  Media Studies

The adverse effects of climate change on food security and malnutrition are growing. Millions of individuals could face physical, emotional, and cognitive hardships due to undernutrition, or deficiency of energy, protein, or essential vitamins and minerals. As the effects of climate change become increasingly clear, the search for appropriate methods of mitigation and adaptation is reaching a critical stage.

UNFCCC
UNFCCC

More Voice for Indigenous Communities

By Claire Barnes 19C, Religion

Although the United Nations created a platform for indigenous peoples and local communities to get involved in climate change negotiation, the UN has had a history of acting slowly on decisions regarding these communities that only have observer status. If the platform is not broadened, climate policy will lag behind indigenous knowledge, and the UN will create culturally irrelevant policies regarding these communities. Indigenous peoples are often the first to be affected by climate change, but they remain excluded within the highest levels of negotiations.

UNFCCC Indigenous Voices
UNFCCC Indigenous Voices

Negotiating in an English-dominated World

By Orli Hendler 18C, Linguistics and Sustainability

The English language dominates world climate negotiations and creates issues of comfort, fluency and power balance among delegates speaking other languages. Those communicating in a second language may be unable to negotiate effectively or achieve a higher status generally. For those who speak English as a second language, communication in their native languages may find themselves constricted by a limited vocabulary, additional time and effort to write proposals, and frustrations in expressing themselves fully.

UNFCCC Negotiations
UNFCCC Negotiations

Climate Story Maps


Climate & Indigenous Fisheries in the Pacific Northwest
 

Policy Videos


Understanding Article 6
A top agenda item at COP25 to finalize the rules on how countries can reduce their emissions using international carbon markets.

Remote video URL

Policy Diffusion of Renewable Energy Targets
Candelaria Bergero 19G, an MS graduate student in Environmental Sciences, interviewed activists involved in renewable energy initiatives and produced a video from her COP conversations. She discussed renewable goals with Bärbel Hön, a member of the German Green Party who was involved in the German transition to renewables, and Duncan Gibb, who produces the Renewables Global Status Report for REN21, an organization that has been tracking targets and regulatory policies since 2005.

Remote video URL

Oceans at COP24
Shirley Ma and Lauren Balotin heard from researchers and policymakers at COP24 who discussed the impact of climate change on oceans, ocean acidification, and sea level rise. In this video, they share ideas and perspectives from COP24 on the impact of these issues and ideas for how to address them.

Remote video URL

Climate Adaptation in the Pacific Islands (Final Project ENVS 326)
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns.

Remote video URL

Rotterdam: A Case Study of Adaptation Infrastructure

Remote video URL

Journal Articles


Plastic waste generation and emissions from the domestic open burning of plastic waste in Guatemala - Royal Society of Chemistry

By Michelle Bardales Cruz 21C, Eri Saikawa, Mayari Hengstermann, Alexander Ramirez, John P. McCracken and Lisa M. Thompson

Domestic, or household-level, open burning of plastic waste is a source of air pollutants and greenhouse gases that are often neglected in emission inventories. Domestic open burning is a considerable concern in Guatemala due to the lack of access to waste collection services, particularly in rural areas. This paper offers the first attempt to estimate emissions from the domestic open burning of waste at the city and departmental levels in Guatemala.

Plastic Waste by Tanvi Sharma - Unsplash
Plastic Waste by Tanvi Sharma - Unsplash

All roads lead to Paris: The eight pathways to renewable energy target adoption - Journal of Energy Research and Social Science

By Candelaria Bergero 19G, MS in ENVS, and Professors Michael Rich and Eri Saikawa, Emory

About 78% of global greenhouse gas emissions between 1970 and 2010 were due to fossil fuel combustion, increasing the atmospheric mixing ratio of carbon dioxide to around 419 ppm by June 2021. During a similar period, between 1975 and 2017, 162 countries adopted renewable energy targets – official national commitments to increase the share of renewable energies. What induced the diffusion of these renewable energy targets? What are the patterns of their diffusion?

Renewable solar energy
Renewable solar energy

Effectiveness of state climate and energy policies in reducing power-sector CO₂ emissions -  Nature Climate Change

By Geoff Martin 17G, MS in ENVS, and Eri Saikawa, PhD

States have historically been the primary drivers of climate change policy in the US, particularly with regard to emissions from power plants. States have implemented policies designed either to directly curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants, or to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy growth. With the federal government withdrawing from the global climate agreement, understanding which state-level policies have successfully mitigated power-plant emissions is urgent. 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plant
Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plant