On the many facets of global warming
- Univ. of Vienna (Austria). Inst. for Experimental Physics
The idea that man might change the climate of Earth has sparked a lot of thoughts. Large fractions of the science community believe that if greenhouse gas concentrations double, there will be a climate change of the order of 2 to 5 centigrades of Earth's average surface temperature. Such a change is believed to have negative impacts on many regions of the world. First: hard facts; greenhouse gas concentrations grow constantly, up to now equivalent CO[sub 2] concentration has increased about 1.5 times half of which is a real CO[sub 2] concentration rise, the other half comprises all other greenhouse gases. Second: scenarios of global climate development show uncertainties and ambiguities. Third: fears of the public at large and political pressure to act. Fourth: economic consequences like carbon taxes etc., even very crude estimates indicate serious effects. Fifth: political consequences and the ensuing profound interests of states, governments, industries, interest groups with all their interactions and feedbacks. Fears of the public could be manipulated by interest groups. Sixth: the psychology of global change; experts as well as laypersons have due to their specific background--influenced by their set of values--contradicting ideas how to act; there is a philosophical component of global change: Survival of Man'' must become the prime value for everybody. Seventh: all facts must be made know to everyone on earth; this is the great challenge for education at all levels.
- OSTI ID:
- 6912521
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930415-; CODEN: WRRVE5
- Journal Information:
- World Resource Review; (United States), Vol. 5:2; Conference: 4. international conference on global warming science and policy, Chicago, IL (United States), 5-8 Apr 1993; ISSN 1042-8011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Keeping cool on global warming
Social responses to climate change: Political cultures and social plasticity