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Sceptical Questions and the Scientific Answers
Scientists have developed a vast body of knowledge about the processes, causes and consequences of global warming and the more general issue of climate change through time. In addition, social scientists and economists have modelled its possible impact on the economy and our everyday lives.
Yet a strong current of doubt persists in our society about whether recent global warming is real, if it is all really as bad as people make out, whether we can or should do something about it. As our window of opportunity to choose to respond effectively to climate change narrows, the inaction caused by such doubt is increasingly perilous to future generations.
In this series of six free lectures designed for the general public, Professor Barry Brook, the Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change at the University of Adelaide, provided a balanced assessment of the scientific answers to a host of commonly-raised sceptical questions that are slowing the world's response to this critically important issue.
Each lecture included a talk by an expert in the specific area being discussed.
Related Content:
Commentary and RSS feed related to the Climate Change Q & A seminars available at Professor Barry Brook's blog: bravenewclimate.com
Seminar program
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Date |
Seminar Topic |
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1 |
8 August |
"It's so cold! How can the earth really be warming?" Statements such as these get in the way of climate action as they call into question whether there’s a problem to address. We might hear that surface temperature is an unreliable method of tracking temperatures or that temps are actually dropping in places. We may even hear that we're heading into an ice age or that the hottest year on record was 1934 or 1998. In this first Climate Q&A seminar, Prof Brook helps us sort through what's true and false regarding this most basic component of the climate change problem. Guest Speaker: Mr Andrew Watson, Regional Director (SA), Bureau of Meteorology Materials for download:
Notes: The last of the recordings above contains silent periods because of questions asked without a microphone. Efforts have been made to provide the sources for all the information in the slide presentations. If you believe copyrighted work is available on this site in such a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please let us know. |
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2 |
22 August |
Can we distinguish between natural and human- induced climate change? It's true there are lots of factors that can contribute to a warming planet, and it's also true that the earth's climates have been all over the map (literally!) during its 4.6 billion year existence. We hear about solar cycles, volcanoes, aerosols, even cosmic rays causing or offsetting the warming that's been documented during the last century. But the most plausible culprit is also the one that speaks best in its own defence. That's right. Us. Humans are amazing creatures, capable of incredible feats, one of which has been shown by scientists to be altering the climate of a planet. In this seminar, Prof Brook explains how we know this to be true. Guest Speaker: Prof Bob Hill, Executive Dean, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide
Notes: The last of the recordings above contains silent periods because of questions asked without a microphone. If you believe copyrighted work is available on this site in such a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please let us know. |
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3 |
5 September |
What future climate change scenarios are possible? "Scientists can't forecast what my local weather will do this weekend, how can they know what climates around the world will do in 50 years?" The earth is a complex system, as are the computer models scientists use to understand the effects of greenhouse gases in that system. Those models are attacked for being unreliable. They are said to exaggerate the effects of CO2 or neglect the robustness and history of the earth's climate. This seminar takes a close look at the models--how they work, what they can tell us and why it's important we take them seriously. Guest Speaker: Dr Peter Hayman, Principal Scientist in Climate Applications at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Notes: The last of the recordings above contains brief silent periods because of questions asked without a microphone. Please continue listening. In general, the presenters repeat the questions before answering. If you believe copyrighted work is available on this site in such a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please let us know. |
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4 |
19 September |
Are the impacts of climate change being overstated? "Global warming is good, agriculture will flourish!" Such statements represent the tip of an iceberg of arguments suggesting that global warming isn't going to have catastrophic impacts. Some of these are based on pseudo science regarding the effects of global warming on severe weather, sea level rise, or the loss of glaciers. Others focus on the possibility of a few winners in our gamble with the climate—those who find the changes favorable or who are better positioned to adapt—while neglecting the fact there will be a far greater number of people, plants and animals who will suffer as a result of the unnaturally rapid changes that are to come. So what does 2°, 3° or even 6°C of global warming really mean? Find out in the fourth seminar of this series. Guest Speaker: Dr Corey Bradshaw, Research Director of Marine Impacts, Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability, University of Adelaide
Notes: This recording has some silent periods because of questions asked without a microphone. Efforts have been made reduce this effect and enhance ease of listening. If you believe copyrighted work is available on this site in such a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please let us know. |
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22-30 September |
Mid-Semester Break |
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5 |
10 October |
Will it cost the earth to avoid climate change? "Mitigating carbon emissions will ruin the economy." A host of wait-and-see stalling techniques have arisen out of fear that taking decisive action now to reduce emissions will throw us into an economic depression or back to the stone age. We point the finger, asking why we should take action when other countries aren't. We also imagine that fossil fuel supplies are so vast that we will never run out of them, at least not for many centuries. Viable solutions remain under-developed in lieu of debates about population being the "real" problem, carbon offsets being unfeasible, renewable energy being too limited, carbon capture-and-storage being unworkable, and peak oil or other resource crunches being a myth. We look to some future technology or geo-engineering solution saving the day. This seminar looks at what approaches are available to us now, what energy futures are possible, and how much they will really cost us to implement. Guest Speakers: Mr Gavan Fox, Director of Audit and Advisory Services, Carbon Planet and Dr Davide Ross, Senior Research Auditor, Carbon Planet.
Notes: Additional audio recordings and slide presentations from this series may be posted at a later date. If you believe copyrighted work is available on this site in such a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or a breach of an agreed licence or contract, please let us know. |
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6 |
24 October |
Greenhouse denial versus good science: The ‘pretend debate” "Even the scientists don't agree." Perfect agreement is hard to achieve, particularly on subjects as complex and expansive as climate change. However, a vast majority of scientists do agree that human activity is causing global climate change, that the consequences will be negative and far reaching and that urgent action must be taken. Yet, there are those who claim there is no evidence, no consensus, no proof. Others say scientists are 'alarmist,' or that there is a scientific conspiracy. This final seminar focuses on the claim of discord in the scientific community, and whether climate change denial really represents a coherent alternative theory to mainstream science. An extended question-and-answer period will be included in this final seminar of the series. Guest Speaker: Dr Michael Lardelli, Senior Lecturer in Genetics and peak oil expert, University of Adelaide
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