Climate Webinar Series Offered Nov. 18
Environmental scholars at Fullerton College have committed to helping the campus community understand the discussions that took place at Conference of the Parties (COP-26) with Part 2 of a Climate Webinar Series to be held Nov. 18 at 12 – 1 p.m.
The bi-annual international climate change Conference of the Parties (COP-26) met in Glasgow, Scotland last week where nations and delegates discussed and pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to avoid catastrophic climate change. The plan builds upon the 2015 Paris Agreement which sought to stabilize global temperatures below +1.5oC (2.7oF). Since the Industrial Revolution, average global temperature has risen 1.1oC (2.0oF) with current projections to be +3oC (5.4oF) by the end of the century if little is done to eliminate GHG emissions.
Last month, environmental scholars presented the first of four Climate Webinars with a focus on the most recent IPCC report which read “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” The webinar focused on the physical science of climate change and projection models for climate scenarios through the end of the century.
“There are still many unanswered questions about how quickly the world will address Earth’s changing climate,” said Earth Sciences professor Roman de Jesus. “Not only does the climate future threaten natural ecosystems but also human systems and infrastructure. Many areas of the world are already facing consequences from the changing climate and warming planet as forecasted by previous reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”
“Over the past decade in California, extreme weather, intense wildfires, and prolonged drought are all impacts of Earth’s changing climate and will continue to affect the state well into the future,” he said. “One reason to be optimistic is that the world’s two largest emitters, China and the U.S., have agreed to work together in tackling climate change. However, climate activists remain skeptical that COP-26 will be enough to address Earth’s climate future.”
In the upcoming webinar on Nov. 18, de Jesus and colleagues will discuss and assess the outcomes from COP-26. In addition, audience participation will be encouraged through a Q&A session. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff. Register for the discussion here.
