Thread by @qwertnewto

.@MIT climate symposium #1, on the state of the science, live-streaming now @ClimateMIT

https://twitter.com/mitenergy/status/1179442244987707393

Opening remarks from Prof. Kerry Emanuel and President Rafael Reif

Prof. Susan Solomon: overview of climate science and some key challenges

Have to mention, Eunice Foote discovery of CO2 GHG atmospheric effects 3 yrs before that guy John Tyndall.

“Just saying [applause]...Couldn’t help myself” #WomenInSTEM

Even after emissions stabilize, CO2 forced warming continues to build to be 100% more over 1000+ years that that seen in the initial decades-long transient

Hmmm. In today’s climate of powerful disinformation and downright lying, I’m wondering if this “job of the climate scientist” needs to include more engaged advocacy for truth. Facts aren’t speaking for themselves in these complex decisions right now

Glad for Prof Solomon ending with clear charge to take in climate justice and ethics

If a climate science panel is 5 men speaking and answering the Qs, with a female moderator, is it a #manel?

What are the biggest sources of uncertainty in today’s climate science? “Divergent and net effects of clouds”

Could the earth have runaway greenhouse resulting in a Venus type situation? @ClimateBook probably not, but plenty of many many bad things will happen along the way. eg mass regional extinctions of mammals at 6-8 C warming

So: do we have a realistic chance of meeting 2C? Physically possible, but don’t think realistic...5-6% decarbonization rate unprecedented, awfully difficult- so we need to expect emissions overshoot and reliance on sequestration

But: @ClimateBook despair is not an option, “it’s humanity’s final exam.” There’s still enough coal in the ground and FF co reserves to raise to catastrophic 10C, so keep working

About the #manel- “How do we ensure future climate science is an inviting community?” Generation shifts. Current grad students are over 50% female

Part 2: panel on Climate Risk

Sea level rise: all impacts are local. Climate gentrification as wealthy retreat from flooding coasts; monthly sunny day floods shift the school bus routes

Jerry Mitrovica: Sea level rise will disproportionately impact indigenous and low-income communities, those least responsible for causing it.

.@GoodmanSherri unpacking how climate change is a national security threat multiplier

Philip Duffy @WoodsHoleResCtr makes the case for #OpenData and #OpenResearch, esp on physical risks of climate change, being essential for policy making and society adaptation

How does uncertainty of climate projections influence our risk response? John Reilly @MITGlobalChange cites Weitzman’s “Dismal Theorem” about tail risk

Philip Duffy: The need is for global cooperation, but the experience of climate impacts will drive society toward “everyone for themselves.”

How can we ensure that govt and financial systems don’t perpetuate indigenous oppression? Document their “title to their land” with research; carbon tax revenues directed to justice investments; provide health care etc; train them to use new tools...

Can the US military reduce its carbon footprint? Absolutely. Happening fast enough? No

Climate risks in Boston, besides sea level rise? Heat (no AC in many homes esp low-income) severe storms, expanding diseases

Takeaways from last week’s #climatestrike and global mass mobilization? Increased activism gives us hope. @MIT students please apply your skills. And... VOTE!

“We must work harder on this- we can’t afford to wait”

that’s all, folks!

Well not quite all. At the reception after, treated to some great poster presentations by MIT students like @henrifdrake “How accurate have climate model forecasts been so far?”

@henrifdrake @threadreaderapp unroll