"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Author: Isaac Gendler
Misadaptation
05/16/20
“How can climate adaptation be appropriated for nefarious purposes?”
Discussion of climate adaptation and resilience is becoming more apparent in the world. However, just like greenwashing takes place in mitigation, misadaptation can exacerbate climate vulnerabilities for marginalized populations while benefiting privileged ones. For example, building a levee that causing flooding down a river only shifts the climate risks, not mollifies it.
Computational Migration Analysis
05/15/20
“How can we analyze how migration occurs using computational technology?”
Migrations are one of the key themes of human existence. Whether it on a grand scale like the original movement out of Africa and the upcoming mass climate displacement or smaller such as the Great Migration of African Americans from the American South to the North and modern-day international immigration. However, analyzing this can be very complicated, requiring researchers to keep track of a variety of tables, notes, and diagrams. Taking inspiration from computational demographic techniques, Computational Migration Analysis can be done to see how movement occurs. This is usually accomplished with tools such as census data, life tables, and statistical distributions.
The Energy Efficiency Coverage Gap
05/14/20
“Why is it that lower-income households have difficulty in obtaining the energy-efficient devices that they need?”
Energy-efficient appliances can save households a large amount on their utility bills. However, according to research done by the University of Michigan, the upfront investment required can be out of reach for lower-income households who would benefit the most from it. This Energy Efficiency Coverage Gap is an active problem that needs to be solved by society.
How Climate Change Will Affect Hydropower Production
05/13/20
“How will climate change affect hydropower production?”
With the advent of climate change, precipitation levels will drastically increase in some areas and decrease in others. The former can cause water body flooding while the latter would lead to drought. These events could destroy the hydropower plant parts and diminish the energy source respectively. This is How Climate Change Will Affect Hydropower Production.
Image credit student-energy.s3.amazonaws.com
Stagnant Air
05/12/20
“What happens when air remains static in an area for a long period of time?”
Air usually becomes fresher through precipitation and movement from one area to another. However, if air is stuck in a certain region for a long amount of time, it turns into Stagnant Air. This often leads to air pollution due to the fact that pollutants become trapped.
Image credit assets.climatecentral.org
Why It Would Be Good for Pest Control to Become More Knowledgable About Climate Change
05/11/20
“Why would it be a good idea for pest control to learn more about climate change?”
The pest control profession is often thought up as being static in nature. Not changing, only using time-proven methods. However, with the advent of climate change, vermin infestations are going to become more and more out of control. Because of this, pest control professionals should learn about how the changing weather and precipitation levels will affect their work. This is Why It Would Be Good for Pest Control to Become More Knowledgable About Climate Change.
Why Income Redistribution Can Build Climate Resilience
05/10/20
“How could income redistribution help build climate resilience?”
An individual and community’s resilience to climate change can be highly dependent on their assets and income. Since some have much more than they need to survive and many more much less, redistributing some of those can help the latter group better adapt to climate change. This could come in the form of creating funds for more public and mixed-market housing in climate safe-zones or universal basic income. This is Why Income Redistribution Can Build Climate Resilience.
Why Income Will Have a Large Effect on Personal Climate Resilience
05/09/20
“Why will someone’s income level have a large effect on their personal climate resilience?”
Having more income allows people to withstand shocks to their lives more. And with the advent of Climate Change, many more shocks will be coming, whether it be through managed retreats or wildfire disasters. By logical induction, the amount of disposable income that one has will influence what they can do to cope. This is Why Income Will Have a Large Effect on Personal Climate Resilience.
Why Global Warming Will Lead to More Vermin Infestations
05/08/20
“Why will global warming lead to more vermin infestations?”
Vermin infestations are the worst. Whether it’s roaches in a house or rats in a workplace, these pesty creatures always seem to bring trouble along with them. Usually, when colder weather arrives, these species die off and their breeding process slows down. However, with the advent of Global Warming, temperatures are expected to rise (on average) and rain is on track to explode throughout the year. This will give pests more time to breed and less time to die, leading towards more outbreaks. This is Why Global Warming Will Lead to More Vermin Infestations.
