Guest essay by Eric Worrall
“We worry that overemphasis on science may hamper the design of effective climate solutions.”
Why science needs the humanities to solve climate change
August 1, 2019 10.33pm AEST
Steven D. Allison Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine
Tyrus Miller Dean, School of Humanities, University of California, Irvine…
Many people view climate change as a scientific issue – a matter of physical, biological and technical systems. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s most recent assessment report, for example, is a vast compendium of climate science, threats and potential solutions.
Yet modern climate change is also a human problem caused by the collective behaviors of people – mostly the wealthy – around the world. Japanese economist Yoichi Kayasummarizes this viewpoint in an elegant equation known as the Kaya Identity: Global greenhouse gas emissions are the product not just of energy use and technology, but also human population size and economic activity.
Of course, science is essential for understanding climate change, and technology is critical for solving the problem. But the IPCC report spends little more than 10 pages on climate ethics, social justice and human values. We worry that overemphasis on science may hamper the design of effective climate solutions.
In our view, solving the world’s climate problems will require tapping into brainpower beyond science. That’s why the two of us – an ecologist and a humanities dean – are teaming up to rethink climate solutions. Recently we developed a program to embed humanities graduate students in science teams, an idea that climate research centers are also exploring.
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So far, scientific facts have not motivated Americans to support the huge societal transformations needed to stop climate change. Some reject the scientific consensus on global warming because it makes them feel bad or clashes with their personal experience of the weather.
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By tapping into what moves people, the emerging field of environmental humanities can help spur climate action. Scholars of history, philosophy, religious studies, literature and media are exploring many aspects of humans’ relationship with the Earth. An entire literary genre of climate fiction, or “Cli-Fi,” depicts often-apocalyptic visions of climate impacts on humanity. Social scientists have worked out how civilizations like the ancient Maya and medieval Icelanders dealt with climate shocks.
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Read more: https://theconversation.com/why-science-needs-the-humanities-to-solve-climate-change-113832
Frankly I think they’re onto something. Imagine if IPCC conferences gave more attention to the humanities.
IPCC conferences could become a new global version of the Eurovision song contest, with continuous mainstream media coverage of performers. Artists from all around the world could compete to express their climate angst through song, dance and showers of green confetti.
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I wondered about the joint appointment (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Earth System Science) of Professor Allison, which could be important, sediments came to mind.
Research Interests —-“Microbial ecology, ecosystem processes, and climate change” Sediments still came to mind.
Research Abstract—-“We aim to provide a sound scientific basis for solving environmental problems, including climate change, at local to global scales. The Allison Lab promotes diversity and inclusivity in all of these efforts. ”
Political correctness came to mind. Regardless of how good he is, a sign of the times. Inclusiveness n. Inclusivity?
“2019 SIGMA XI STEM ART AND FILM FESTIVAL”
https://www.sigmaxi.org/meetings-events/annual-meeting-and-student-research-conference/stem-art-and-film-festival/stem-art-and-film-festival-call-for-submissions
Wow, nothing adds credibility to “science” like a parallel path in Humanities.
After all, who doesn’t remember the times they’ve said “I need a dance professor, stat!”?
Climate control dances were popular in early pagan religious cultures. ‘Climate Science’, daily, looks more and more like some sort of strange pagan religion.
“Social scientists have worked out how civilizations like the ancient Maya and medieval Icelanders dealt with climate shocks.”
Largely by dying it would seem. But you don’t really need social scientists for that.
Nowadays it seems that most of Mesoamerica is en route to the USA.
For some reason, my summary of Maya region demography then and now has failed to post.
Dunno why my replies are moderated and censored. Nothing offensive, simply informative.
Open letter to Prof. Allison and Dean Miller of UC-Irvine.
Hey, this is a climate CRISIS. We need to build continental sea walls within 10 years.
All artists, dancers, musicians and mimes must now report IMMEDIATELY to martial law work camps being established around the world to build the walls. Manual labor only, no fossil fuels.
All funding for humanities around the world must be diverted to build the sea walls. Walls must be made of granite stones with height of at least 20 meters. As a precaution, these walls must also be able to withstand Kaiju attack.
Both of you are hereby declared to be chief rock diggers, report to your nearest work camp within 24 hours. Failure to report will not be tolerated.
YOU have been WARNED.
sea walls? wouldn’t it be cheaper to just move to higher ground?
How’s that for a non-sequitur?
When the sh*t gets piled so high that it begins to topple over, you know we’ve reached the tippling point. Time for a nice cold beer.
I can contribute a poem!
There was a young lefty from France.
who though he could change weather with a dance.
yadda yadda yadda
In his pants.
(It’s a work in progress)
Way too gender specific to qualify as an IPCC contribution…
There was a young lefty from France
who thought he could change weather with a dance
Yet no matter how hard he tried
He just cried and he cried as
The only climate he changed was
In his pants.
That works.
Like, totally!
If you didn’t laugh you’d cry.
There is a long history of the human tendency to assert blame for any misfortune, from failure to produce offspring to failed crops and, of course, bad weather. Usually because people have been having too much fun – also known as “sin” in most religions. There is likely a useful function for this, otherwise it would have bred out, but like sexual violence, war and general abusive behaviour, it gets results and so is still part of the human condition. Climate change ticks all the boxes: we have been bad and created too much pleasure and stolen the knowledge of the gods so must be punished. Self-flagellation is a long-running format in this area of human behaviour. The cardinals of the inquisition are reborn and having a rebirth – confess and you might just be forgiven – more likely burned at the stake. So history repeats. Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy this fine wine – the wages of sin!
Translation: hey, can we get on the climate change money train, too?
Off topic – I saw excerpts from Democratic presidential hopeful debates. Any mention that Republicans are racists was rewarded by applause. Any criticism of Senator Kamala (above the law) Harris was rewarded by silence. Does anybody know how they select their audience?
BTW, Jim Crow’s party calling their opponents racist is a real chutzpah.
Can they do laundry? Make coffee? Bail water for hours on end? Dig trenches for latrines? By all means! Bring them along! They can wear red shirts. (if I have to explain a StarTrek reference, well, all is lost)
Became Dean at UC-Irvine last year. Then this happened earlier in 2019…
https://www.thecollegefix.com/uc-irvine-criticized-for-screening-film-that-demonizes-and-delegitimizes-israel-and-jews/
Wouldn’t a dance to combat drought caused by climate change be considered cultural appropriation?
I believe there is one dance particularly appropriate to the subject at hand.
It’s just a jump to the left…
https://youtu.be/umj0gu5nEGs?t=51
I thought it was more of a Right Hand In sorta thing
This cannot be serious, can it?
There is stupid, and then there is serious stupid. These two are definitely of the latter category.
Sadly, I do understand they just want their voice (and ego) heard too.
I still think that a way more effective strategy would be suicide bombing Chinese and Indian coal power plants. Professors could show example. Sacrifice for the greater good. For the Planet!
If these people actually cared.
Interpretative Retardation
I spent many years participating (as a dancer) in the university dance world, and I can say, with firm conviction, that this is so much crap that I couldn’t find boots high enough to wade through it all.
The shallowness of thinking, the inability to link ethical causes to physical justifications, the disconnect between idealistic reasoning and practical action … are all amazing here.
I suggest a special popular dance called “the climate hustle” — it gets you all hot and worked up, and it also symbolizes the scam of CO2 climate change. Now for the musical accompaniment:
https://youtu.be/V3kE0rvAJhM
… best watched while eating corn bread.