David Morrow - Values in Climate Policy
Event Information
About this Event
Dr. David Morrow is a Faculty Fellow at the School of International Service at American University. He serves as the Director of Research with the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, where he also works with the Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy (ICRLP). His new book Values in Climate Policy (Rowman & Littlefield International) considers the ethical and moral implications of climate change and the policy which seeks to stem it, and discusses how we can be part of the change.
Children born today in the Maldives may someday have to abandon their homeland. Rising seas, caused by climate change, could swallow most of their tiny island nation within their lifetime. Their fate symbolizes the double inequity at the heart of climate change: those who have contributed the least to climate change will suffer the most from it. All is not lost, however. The scale and impact of climate change depends on the policies that people choose. How quickly will we eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions? How will we do it? Who will pay for it? What will we protect through adaptation? How will we weigh the fortunes of future generations and the natural world against our own? Answers to questions like these reflect a constellation of value judgments that deserve close scrutiny. In addition to providing essential background on the science, economics, and politics of climate change, this book explores the values at stake in climate policy with the aim of shrinking the gap between climate ethics and climate policy.
Join us in The Abramson Family Founders Room - Terrace Level - SIS Building
Panel:
Moderated by:
Simon Nicholson, Ph.D. - Co-founder of the School of International Service's (SIS) Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment and Co-founder of SIS' Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy, Professor Nicholson's research and teaching focus on the politics of food and agriculture, global environmental and energy politics, the political and social implications of geoengineering, and issues to do with emerging technologies.
With:
Shuchi Talati, Ph.D. - Fellow, Solar Geoengineering Research, Governance and Public Engagement; Climate & Energy Program - Union of Concerned Scientists
Dr. Talati works to guide sound governance and public engagement on research into proposed solar geoengineering approaches to limit global warming. Prior to joining UCS, Dr. Talati completed a Congressional Science Fellowship where she helped lead responses to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and also worked on legislation on carbon capture, utilization, and storage, including direct air capture technology. Before that, she was a post-doctoral fellow in science policy at the American Meteorological Society, where she worked on geoengineering risk and governance. She also served as a graduate intern at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where she focused on the Clean Power Plan.
Dr. Talati earned a BS in environmental engineering from Northwestern University, an MA in climate and society from Columbia University, and PhD from Carnegie Mellon in engineering and public policy. Her doctoral research focused on the climate-energy-water nexus looking specifically at the impacts of domestic climate regulations and carbon capture and storage technology.
Olufemi Taiwo, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Philosophy ,Georgetown University)
Professor Taiwo's theoretical work draws liberally from German transcendental philosophy, contemporary philosophy of language, contemporary social science, histories of activism and activist thinkers, and the Black radical tradition. He is currently writing a book entitled Reconsidering Reparations that considers a novel philosophical argument for reparations and explores links with environmental justice. He also writes public philosophy, including articles exploring intersections of climate justice and colonialism.
Joseph Majkut, Ph.D. - Director, Climate Policy, Niskanen Center
Joseph Majkut is director of climate policy at the Niskanen Center. He is an expert in climate science, climate policy, and risk and uncertainty analysis for decision making.
Before joining the Niskanen Center Dr. Majkut worked on climate change policy in Congress as a congressional science fellow, supported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He holds a PhD from Princeton University in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the Delft University of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College.
Reviews of Values in Climate Policy:
An excellent introduction to the field, which should suit and engage a wide audience. At a time where the world as a whole urgently needs to get engaged with the ethics of climate change, this is a great place to start. Suitable for all interested people, across disciplines, institutions and in the public at large. - Stephen Gardiner, Professor of Philosophy, University of Washington
Morrow's book is the clearest and most compelling introduction available to the ethical challenges of climate change. It is morally serious, beautifully written, and brings vital philosophical insights to climate policy choices. This is a book for anyone seeking ideas for the best futures in the face of our climate crisis. - Catriona McKinnon, Centre for Climate and Justice, University of Reading
Co-Sponsored by the Institute for Carbon Removal Policy and Law at American University's School of International Service.
American University is committed to accessible programming and services. For accommodations, please contact asac@amrican.edu.