ES4 intro sec
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The document outlines the activities and discussions from the 2007 Quest Earth System Science Summer School at the University of Bristol, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to earth system science, sustainability, and the complexities of socio-ecological systems. It introduces concepts such as post-normal science and the challenges of providing effective responses to environmental issues while considering multiple stakeholder perspectives. Additionally, it discusses frameworks for understanding sustainability, adaptation, and risk in the context of climate change.
ES4 intro sec
- 1. Welcome to the 2007 QUEST Earth System Science Summer School University of Bristol 10 - 21 September
- 2. QUEST ES4 people: Sarah Cornell - ES4 convenor Cat Downy - ES4 organiser QUEST office: Colin Prentice, Leader of QUEST Pru Foster Jo House Julie Shackleford
- 3. Colin Prentice - An introduction to Earth system science and QUEST Sociable time - coffee break Sarah Cornell - Thoughts on interdisciplinary Earth system science Karen Morgan, OBE - discussion Sociable time - tipples and nibbles
- 4. Interdisciplinarity: Learning by Doing Physical/hydrological systems Biogeochemistry Ecosystems Socio-ecological systems … all dynamic
- 6. Risk of Change in Freshwater Supply by 2100 ΔT<2°C 2°C<ΔT<3°C ΔT>3°C
- 7. The already committed risk of climate-induced biome shifts
- 8. Interdisciplinarity: Two frontiers to explore Natural & Social Sciences Science & Policy theory practice
- 9. My worldview is not subjective or arbitrary - just partial “Post-Normal science” - carries an awareness of the limitations of a single viewpoint in understanding complex systems
- 10. Previously men could be divided simply into the learned and the ignorant… But your specialist cannot be brought in under either of these two categories. He is not learned, for he is formally ignorant of all that does not enter into his specialty; but neither is he ignorant, because he is “a scientist” and “knows” very well his own tiny portion of the universe. We shall have to say that he is a learned ignoramus, which is a very serious matter, as it implies that he is a person who is ignorant, not in the fashion of the ignorant man, but with all the petulance of one who is learned is his own special line. (Ortega e Gassett, 1932)
- 11. Sustainability requires …new tools …new roles …new discourse
- 12. Sustainability requires …new tools …new roles …new discourse Post-Normal Science - when: • facts are uncertain, • values are in dispute, • stakes are high, and • decisions are urgent Funtowicz and Ravetz, 1991, 1999
- 13. Providing arguments View of role of expert pure issue scientist advocate View of role of science Linear Stakeholder science arbiter honest broker Providing alternatives
- 14. Sustainability requires …new tools “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
- 15. Sustainability requires ciria …new tools “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". copeland district council u mass
- 16. Socio-ecological system or socio-environmental system Image © Gordon Charlton 2004 Image © Shawn Miller 2004 …complex adaptive systems where social and biophysical agents are interacting at multiple temporal and spatial scales! (Janssen and Ostrom, 2004)
- 17. How can we explore Society Nature the interconnections of nature and society? { Environmental impact assessment - Unidirectional frameworks, Fixed scale people cause damage to environment Hazard/risk assessment - Environmental processes cause damage to individuals/communities
- 18. ? Three Pillars
- 19. What’s missing? Participation (legitimacy) Precaution Equity (not just efficiency & effectiveness)
- 20. Securing our Future - UK SD Strategy 2005
- 22. PSR (or DSR or DPSIR) Framework - Many configurations - OECD, EEA, Defra, academic • Allows for conceptual links in both directions • Can be applied to multiple scales • Can deal with processes - not just snapshot But it doesn’t point society along the right or ‘good’ direction - It is a framework for tackling problems
- 23. Pressure-State-Response Framework D P S I Driving Forces State Change in Impacts on Pressures in Society Environment Society Agriculture Land and Environmental Industry Physical, Resource Use goods & Energy chemical and services Emissions ecological Transport state Human Technological Services risks Society Households Sector Policy Environmental Statement of Social Policy Objectives Prioritisation Response
- 24. Pressure-State-Response Framework D P S I Human Environment Society Human Society Environment Response
- 25. Impacts are often: Displaced Aggregated Uncertain Inequitable - somebody benefits, and somebody loses out, but there is often no link between these groups
- 26. The projects browse read web present it! discuss
- 27. Embedded themes • Using science • Communicating science • Risks and hazards • Decision-making processes • Measures and indicators
- 28. some definitions…
- 29. Adaptation - Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to or expected climatic stimuli… which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities Anticipatory Autonomous/spontaneous Planned Private Public Reactive adaptive capacity, adaptability, coping…
- 30. Vulnerability - The degree to which a system is susceptible to - or unable to cope with - adverse effects of climate change, including variability and extremes Function of magnitude of exposure, sensitivity and adaptability risk, threat, danger… risk = hazard x outrage
- 31. Resilience - The amount of change a system can undergo without changing state robustness, transformability, stability…
- 32. e.g.: The price of fertilizer does not include the cost of water Externalities - remediation Costs (or benefits) that are external to the market A consequence of the fact that nobody owns the natural environment can be that it is valued at zero… … but environmental costs can (Pearce, Markandya and Barbier) be very significant What might shape the value of environmental ‘resources’? Scarcity, Substitutability …and Society itself
- 33. Indicators that may be useful - Palmer Drought Severity Index Crop Moisture Index Climate Vulnerability Index Quality of Life indicators