Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes

This report presents results from a national study of what Americans understand about how the climate system works, and the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to global warming. Among other findings, the study identifies a number of important gaps in public knowledge and common misconceptions about climate change. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Undergraduate upper division, Undergraduate lower division, General public

The SmartAG partner: CCAFS East Africa Bi-Annual Newsletter, July - December 2019

We are pleased to share with you our SmartAg Partner bi-annual newsletter, highlighting policy engagement, ongoing research, field updates and activities with partners from the second half of 2019

Counteracting the climate effects of volcanic eruptions using short-lived greenhouse gases

A large volcanic eruption might constitute a climate emergency, significantly altering global temperature and precipitation for several years. Major future eruptions will occur, but their size or timing cannot be predicted. We show, for the first time, that it may be possible to counteract these climate effects through deliberate emissions of short-lived greenhouse gases, dampening the abrupt impact of an eruption. We estimate an emission pathway countering a hypothetical eruption 3 times the size of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. We use a global climate model to evaluate global and regional responses to the eruption, with and without counteremissions. We then raise practical, financial, and ethical questions related to such a strategy. Unlike the more commonly discussed geoengineering to mitigate warming from long-lived greenhouse gases, designed emissions to counter temporary cooling would not have the disadvantage of needing to be sustained over long periods. Nevertheless, implementation would still face significant challenges

National climate, agriculture and socio-economic development policies and plans formulated with the use of scenarios across six global regions

Climate change impacts bring great uncertainty, raising the need to plan for the future. As the impacts of climate change are complex and far-reaching, it can be extremely difficult to foresee exactly what the consequences will be, and how they will affect different regions and sectors. However, by bringing together relevant stakeholders and brainstorming "what if" ideas of possible future scenarios, policy makers can prepare themselves for a variety of potential challenges. Including stakeholders from diverse backgrounds can avoid blindspots focused on a single vision of the future

5th Annual Progress Reporting and Coordination Meeting on CCAFS Projects and Regional Activities in Southeast Asia

The proceedings document the results of the 5th Annual Progress Reporting and Coordination Meeting on CCAFS Projects and Regional Activities in Southeast Asia. The report tackles the progress of activities in the CSV sites and on CCAFS project implementation in 2019; the significant outputs and outcomes of FP/CSV implementation; and the knowledge, learning, and experiences across projects

Overview of working fluids and sustainable heating, cooling and power generation technologies

Dependency on energy is much higher than the past and it is clear that energy is vital for a sustainable and safer future. Therefore, urgent solutions are required not only to increase share of renewable resources but also more efficient usage of fossil fuels. This could be achieved with innovative power, air conditioning and refrigeration cycles utilising ‘long-term sustainable’ (LTS) fluids, especially air, water and CO2. In the article we provide a rational approach to the future use of working fluids based on our interpretation of the available technical evidence. We consider it self-evident that volatile fluids will continue to play major roles in cooling and power generation, however, new technologies will be needed that optimise energy efficiency and safety with minimum environmental impact. Concordantly we discuss the past and current situation of volatile fluids and present four innovative technologies using air/water cycles. Study results showed that there is a rapid development in heating, cooling and power generation technologies those use water/air as working fluid. These technologies demonstrate a potential to replace conventional systems, thereby to contribute to global sustainability in near future. However, further development on LTS fluids and materials also process intensification and cost reduction are vital parameters for future advancement of these technologies

Uncertainty and climate change policy

The paper consists of a summary of the main sources of uncertainty about climate change, and a discussion of the major implications for economic analysis and the formulation of climate policy. Uncertainty typically implies that the optimal policy is more risk-averse than otherwise, and therefore enhances the case for action to mitigate climate change

Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) in Ethiopia: A participatory demonstration workshop for Key National and International Development Partners

Ethiopia’s National Meteorological Agency’s (NMA) Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) is a collaborative tool developed by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), The Earth Institute at Columbia University, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) which is supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and international and national partners including the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)