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CIC Vancouver: Climate Change: Is there help for the losers?

September 22, 2016 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm EDT

 

 

Climate change in the next century could be extremely disruptive, posing a wide range of threats globally. Coastal cities flooded, agricultural lands scorched, the oceans disrupted, tropical disease spreading, glaciers melting–an increased and artificial global warming could induce horrific effects on the environment. It could also invoke sudden economic transition. As socio-economic systems adapt to combat climate change, some people, businesses, and nations will “lose”. Is there a guide to how we may mitigate these losses? And what is currently being done through international efforts in the midst of these challenges?

Is there help for the losers?

The Paris Agreement was a turning point for the planet, representing unprecedented accord on the need to take action to combat climate change through innovation and low-carbon solutions. Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion, has made it clear that he aims to make Canada a leader in international efforts to combat climate change. In June of 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau signed the North American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership with President Obama of the U.S. and President Nieto of Mexico in an effort to promote a “common commitment to a competitive, low-carbon and sustainable North American economy and society”. In the midst of these large proposals, questions still remain for the next century:

What does the “collapse of the oceans” mean?

How will industries such as agriculture, fishing, industrial farming, and livestock production need to change?

What will its effects on economic stability, trade and political interaction be?

How may Canada mitigate social, economic, and political fallout in its aim to become a global leader to combat climate change?

What role can and should policy play to help the losers?

Speaker’s Biography

Dr. Simon Donner
Simon Donner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, as well as an associate in UBC’s Liu Institute for Global Issues, The Biodiversity Research Centre, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), the Atmospheric Sciences Program, among others. He is also the director of UBC’s new “Ocean Leaders” program, which provides young researchers with the skills to address tomorrow’s interdisciplinary ocean and climate challenges. Current areas of research include climate change and coral reefs; ocean warming and El Nino; climate change adaptation in the developing world; Canadian and international climate policy; public engagement on climate change.

Dr. Peter Robinson
Dr. Peter Robinson is the Chief Executive Officer at the David Suzuki Foundation. Dr. Robinson’s commitment to the environment is reflected in his academic achievements: he holds a Doctor of Social Sciences, a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management, a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, as well as diplomas in Community Economic Development and Fish & Wildlife Management. Robinson began his career as a park ranger throughout British Columbia, and before becoming the CEO of the Suzuki Foundation he was appointed CEO of BC Housing and, later, Mountain Equipment Co-op. He has served as the Chair of the Board of Governors and the Chancellor of Royal Roads University in Victoria, with the Board of Governors of the Canadian Red Cross Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Imagine Canada, an organization that supports charities across the country.
 
Dr. Michael Byers
Dr. Michael Byers is a professor at the University of British Columbia specializing in Arctic sovereignty, climate change, the law of the sea, and Canadian foreign and defence policy. He holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Global Politics and International Law and holds major research grants from ArcticNet and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. His most recent book, International Law and the Arctic, was published by the Cambridge University Press in 2013 and he is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail, National Post and Toronto Star. Apart from teaching at UBC Dr. Byers has been a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, and a Professor of Law at Duke University. He has also taught as a visiting professor at the universities of Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Nord (Norway) and Novosibirsk (Russia).

Event Partner
British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association

Date and Time
Thursday September 22, 2016
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Venue
St. Regis Bar and Grill
602 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC  V6B 1Y6

Registration
Please register online before Wednesday September 21, 2016. Contact Terralynn Forsyth at vancouver@thecic.org if you have any questions.
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Details

Date:
September 22, 2016
Time:
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm EDT

Venue