This lecture discusses “framing” in my approach to climate change problem solving.

First, I introduce what I mean by structured problem solving.

I, then, motivate the need to take some control over the fact that we will be living in a strongly warming climate for upcoming decades.  The framing starts with the introduction of what do we mean by “rapid” and “dangerous.”

This is followed by placing climate change in context with many other issues that we face in society, including many environmental and sustainability challenges.  As framing, I pose that short-term economic and energy security issues will usually overwhelm climate change as a priority. Climate change needs a priority amplifier to get attention.

Then, I discuss the need to search for problems that we have the opportunity to solve.  That by taking mindful individual and organizational actions we explore the many paths that will be required to address climate change. We need to have confidence that these mindful actions will accumulate into global outcomes.

I conclude with the unique opportunity that climate models provide because of their vision of the future. It is, perhaps, our most certain knowledge of the future, and if we gain some control over what we can do, then it will be less frightening.

The lecture was given on May 14, 2020 as part of the University of Michigan Biological Station Summer Lecture Series.

This is a live capture of the lecture:

Link to lecture live capture (~1 hour, 28 minutes, (Introduction ~5 minute, lecture ~ 50 minutes, Q&A ~ 30 minutes)

This is a rehearsal recording:

Rehearsal Lecture (more concise) (~42 minutes)

Slides:

Link to power point slide show (Best way to view slides, but you have to download):

Link to power point slides (Please attribute if you use them)

Link to PDF for slides

Addition Resources:

Framing Article in Climate Blue

Choosing Paths in Climate Blue

Using Models in Society in Climate Blue

Collection of What to Do

 

Extra Credit: How do the pictures in the slide show represent Michigan, the Biostation, and climate change?

 

Image: Karner Blue butterfly. An endangered species with a narrow habitat. If we want Karner Blues, then we need to think about migrating their habitat as the climate warms. From: https://endangeredanimalscp.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/1/5/26158263/2908418.jpg