Here is a response for you, Alex...
Climate change is definitely an urgent problem facing people in all countries. The ramifications of the potential impacts reach far and wide of one single country's borders. However, as an issue, the people in different countries all face climate change in a different light. To the western countries, the issue of climate change is one that taps into our conscience, because not only does it have the potential to disrupt our societies and way of life, but we also don’t have the more immediate problems and challenges that face developing countries. However, developing countries, while still facing potential ramifications of climate change, have other issues of greater priority for its citizens (for example reaching a higher quality of life for its citizens, growing wealth).
I have complete trust in the global scientific community's ability to have accurate data and reasonable predictions. I’m a firm believer that the only doubt surrounding global climate change in the scientific community is the extent of certain scenarios, climate patterns etc. I don’t believe there is any doubt among most scientists about whether this phenomenon is actually occurring. I think a lot of doubt is created in the community about climate change through the utilization of the fact that there are a variety of potential scenarios. So some parties, through mass media, try and use this as a reason for doing nothing about climate change, rather than even initiating preliminary measures to combat it.
I don’t think it is easy to label all ecosystems/countries in a rank of vulnerability as such. However, I do think that ecosystems that perform certain functions or services that humanity cannot possibly imitate require some preliminary attention. For example, deforestation interrupts multiple ecosystems services such as the carbon cycle (movement of carbon through the global environment in and out of sinks and sources), as well as damaging catchment water purifying mechanisms (where forests act as purifiers of water). I think we would be wise to pay attention to some of these ecosystem services relatively early on, before it becomes too late.
I would (will) very willingly change the way I live and work to try and make a difference to climate change. I think it would be a reasonable request, especially if we can initiate such changes at a society level. That way there would be no alienation, and less cause to fall back into old habits. I feel that the hardest thing for making a change at the moment is feeling like you are an isolated effort.
I think at this stage, the most effective way of us getting other people to change is awareness and knowledge building in general. I think this conference will be a great foundation building process for us, so that we can gain the skills and knowledge to be ambassadors for climate change.
I hope to gain a lot of knowledge and meet heaps of cool people from around the world at this years’ summer school. Looking forward to it guys.
Cheers
Anthony
