Environment

In addition, the climate-change problem is complex and deeply rooted in multiple sectors, including the economy and its push for consumption along with population growth, according to one climate scientist, who also thinks human nature and our love of material goods could need a fix.

“We need to change our mind frame – our values,” said Rasmus Benestad of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. “Perhaps quality time, love, family values, friendship and respect are preferable to material goods and status? Or maybe we humans are too vain. In this problem, I think we are seeing the worst of ourselves in the mirror. We see power struggle and corruption.”

Four day work week anyone

“I think that in principle there are technological and infrastructure fixes to the problem,” Benestad said, citing one example as TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday). Four-day workweeks have been shown to result in less energy use. “But the problem is deeply rooted in how our economy works, based on ever-increasing consumption (an irrational concept), he said. “It’s also closely related to the human population growth on Earth, and common justice.”

“The solution to the problem is greatly retarded by the lack of scientific and technological awareness in certain societies, notably the U.S, where superstitions and political passions often trump sound reasoning,” Emanuel said. “For example, we could make great strides toward energy independence and reduction of greenhouse emissions by undertaking a serious program of nuclear energy, which can easily supply our energy needs for 100 years. This, coupled with innovation in electric vehicles, would solve much of the problem.”

But even if we were to stop emitting greenhouse gases all together, many of their effects would still emerge, say many scientists. And for that, adapting to such an environment is necessary.

“I am also pleased to see the increased attention being paid to adaptation,” Backlund said. “Commitments to help developing countries with adaptation funding would be very helpful, as would commitments by developed nations to increase funding for the research that is needed to support effective adaptation.”

via Scientists: Dim Outlook for Climate Summit – Yahoo! News.

Adaptation is very important, precisely because it effects Developing countries the most and even if we fixed all the causes today problems would still linger due to the build of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

Check the Center for Global Development’s CARMA site for more informaiton about Carbon emissions, as well as, the effects of climate change on Developing countries.