Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 13:00 to 15:00

Part of the PWIAS Catalyst Program

Advancing Climate Solutions in a Politically Polarizing World
with Dr. Andrew Weaver, Professor in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria

Over the last century, scientific understanding of the causes and consequences of global warming has evolved to the point that it is, for all intents and purposes, an extremely well understood problem. The fundamental question facing society is whether the present generation has a moral and/or ethical obligation to future generations in terms of the type of world we leave behind as our legacy. Science alone cannot, and will not, ever answer this question.

In this talk Dr. Weaver will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with curbing the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases, with particular emphasis on the complexities arising from the ongoing political polarization of society. Emphasis will be on the need for more evidence-based decision-making within the political establishment if we collectively wish to reverse the disturbing trend towards decision-based evidence-making in the formation of provincial and national policy.