Faculty, students offer unique views of climate change

Climate change can be looked at from many perspectives: as a moral call to action, a matter of public policy, or a blip in geologic time.

Students and faculty considered these angles and many others at a panel discussion on Thursday that was part of a national teach-in to draw attention to the International Day of Climate Change, sponsored by .

At 91�鶹��Ʒ and hundreds of locations worldwide on Saturday, participants hope to focus attention on the number 350, as in parts per million. That is the level that some scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The present level is 380ppm.

The panel discussion featured eight faculty members from disciplines including economics, philosophy, geology, environmental studies, biology, and geography.

Two students leaders who are committed to environmental awareness and action also served as panelists: Shae Frydenlund ’10 and Michael Michonski ’12.

Much of the discussion centered on the chicken-and-egg phenomenon: do people’s values need to change before their behavior changes, or is it the other way around?

“The 350 goal provides a convenient topic,” said climatologist Adam Burnett. “It’s a good start, but ultimately we need to address the way we behave.”

Bob Turner of the Economics Department suggested a possible outcome of behavior change. “In principle, it may be that if you change people’s behavior you could also change their values.”

Consider lunch at the event as a case in point, which brought values and behavior in line.

Sodexo delivered a simple, delicious meal of quesadillas and tacos, made from locally grown beans and vegetables, with cheese from local dairy farms. There was a basket of fresh local apples, no bottled water, and no wasted food.

When the event was over, students composted their leftovers and paper napkins in a new bin that will be moved from event to event around campus.

“Grassroots activism is important to creating momentum,” said Frydenlund, who in six months will be entrusting many of the green initiatives she started to younger students.
“In four years, behavior and values have changed at 91�鶹��Ʒ.”