"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Policy
Climate Xenophobia
05/21/20
“How can xenophobia be aroused by climate change?”
Xenophobia is present in all societies. However, with the advent of climate change, fear of climate migrants are only going to become worse and worse. This Climate Xenophobia will become a hot topic in the future.
Image credit compote.slate.com
Waste Treatment Centers and Inequity
05/19/20
“Why are waste treatment centers usually located closer to less-privileged communities?”
Although useful and necessary, waste treatment centers can be a burden on communities. They create volatile outputs, emit noxious smells, and are generally unpleasant. For this reason, communities with social and economic influence push to keep them away, often into areas with less clout. This means that more communities with less privilege have to take the burden of hosting these facilities. Scientific research has confirmed these findings, showing that there is a long history of discrimination in terms of environmental justice. This is why there is a connection between Waste Treatment Centers and Inequity.
Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience
05/17/20
“Why would building more affordable housing in wealthy areas lead to greater climate resilience?”
Due to historic and ongoing structural discrimination, wealthier neighborhoods not only have greater opportunities but are located disproportionately in areas more resilient to climate change. Due to the steep costs of living in these places, climate refugees will have a difficult time finding shelter in them, leaving their options for a new community more limited. But if more affordable housing was developed in these wealthier places, then this barrier can be lifted and a greater range of people can find safe habitation for the rest of their lives. This is Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience.
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.
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.
