Grist blogger David Roberts on the "Politics and Policy of Climate Change"
April 28, 2012 by Jessica Bradish
David Roberts is one of the nation's leading environmental authors, and a staff writer for Grist. He spoke on the Politics and Policy of Climate Change as part of the Spring 2012 Sustainability Speaker Series.
In his first powerpoint ever, Roberts presents 12 points of basic information on climate change are simultaneously hilarious and heart rending. His scientifically accurate yet culturally accessible exploration of the science and politics around anthropogenic climate change is a must-watch.
Roberts tells the audience that as a mere blogger he can speak openly when scientists won't tread for fear of being labeled alarmist or self-serving. His frank overview of current climate change science, in conjunction with the political atmosphere regarding mitigation, leaves the viewer with little doubt that "2°C is in the rearview mirror" in terms of an end to global temperature rise. Yet little climate modeling has been done for warming beyond that 2°C – possibly because scientists couldn't believe humans would continue emitting green house gases after the science was conclusive? Roberts explores the sociological phenomena shaping America's attitude towards climate change with conviction and humor.
– Recorded Wednesday, April 4, 2012.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Environmental Speakers Series | Leave a comment
The Power of Productivity: A Comparison of Russia and India
April 27, 2012 by Ashley Barry
Bill Lewis spoke at the Global Problems and Solutions Colloquium on Emerging Markets on April 19, 2012 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The title of his speech was "The Power of Productivity: A Comparison of Russia and India."
Stream the talk:
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Bill Lewis recently retired as a Senior Partner in McKinsey & Co. Inc. after 20 years with the firm. His responsibilities at McKinsey included being the Founding Director of the McKinsey Global Institute. Prior to McKinsey, he was Acting United States Secretary Of Energy and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Earlier he served as Associate Provost at Princeton University and as Senior Financial Officer at the World Bank. He holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is a member of the Boards of the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Committee for Economic Development, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and the Santa Lucia Conservancy. He is the author of the book The Power of Productivity, University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Emerging Markets Colloquium, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
The role of Brazil in the global transition to a low carbon economy: transformations and paradoxes
Professor Viola spoke at the Global Problems and Solutions Colloquium on Emerging Markets on April 5, 2012 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The title of his speech was "The role of Brazil in the global transition to a low carbon economy: transformations and paradoxes."
Professor Eduardo Viola is Full Professor at the Institute of International
Relations, University of Brasilia. He has published extensively on
issues of Globalization and Governance, Democracy and Democratization
in South America and, International Political Economy of Climate
Change. Dr. Viola has been visiting professor in several international
universities, among them: Stanford, Colorado, Notre Dame and
Amsterdam. The most important Brazilian TV channels, news radios and
newspapers interview Dr. Viola frequently.
Photo from http://www.cadal.org.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Emerging Markets Colloquium | Leave a comment
Awakening Giants, Feet of Clay: Assessing the Economic Rise of China and India
Professor Bardhan spoke at the Global Problems and Solutions Colloquium on Emerging Markets on March 29, 2012 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The title of his speech was "Awakening Giants, Feet of Clay: Assessing the Economic Rise of China and India."
Professor Pranab Bardhan is Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He was educated at Presidency College, Kolkata and Cambridge University, England. He had been at the faculty of MIT, Indian Statistical Institute and Delhi School of Economics before joining Berkeley. He has been Visiting Professor/Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, St. Catherine's College, Oxford, and London School of Economics. He held the Distinguished Fulbright Siena Chair at the University of Siena, Italy in 2008-9. He is the BP Centennial Professor at London School of Economics for 2010 and 2011.
Biography and photo from UC Berkeley website.
South-South Migration: Patterns, Impacts, and Challenges
Professor Martin spoke at the Global Problems and Solutions Colloquium on Emerging Markets on March 15, 2012 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The title of his speech was "South-South Migration: Patterns, Impacts, and Challenges."
Professor Philip Martin is a professor at the University of California, Davis; chair of the UC Comparative Immigration & Integration Program; and editor of the Migration News and the Rural Migration News. He has consulted on migration issues with US and international organizations and has authored many books and articles on migration policy.
Photo from UC Davis website.
Financial liberalization in emerging markets: do the benefits justify the risks?
Professor Aizenman spoke at the Global Problems and Solutions Colloquium on Emerging Markets on March 8, 2012 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. The title of his speech was "Financial liberalization in emerging markets: do the benefits justify the risks?"
Professor Joshua Aizenman joined the faculty at UCSC in 2001 following eleven years at Dartmouth College, where he served as the Champion Professor of International Economics. His research covers a range of issues in open economy including commercial and financial policies, crises in emerging markets, foreign direct investment, capital controls, and exchange rate regimes. He also serves as a Research Associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Other affiliations have included teaching and research positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Consulting relationships include the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Biography excerpted from UC Santa Cruz website.