Great Decisions Lecture Series: Climate Change and the Global Order
Event Date:
February 17, 2020 – 6:30 PM to February 18, 2020 – 7:59 PM
Location:
UNC Charlotte Center City Building, 320 E. 9th Street.
Climate Change and the Global Order
Dr. Deborah Thomas, Chair and Professor,
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, UNC Charlotte
The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, in collaboration with Charlotte Country Day School, International House of Charlotte, and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, annually coordinate the Great Decisions Lecture Series. The lecture series is an opportunity for citizens to meet, discuss and learn about some of the issues facing our world. Each week a local expert from nearby colleges and universities provide additional perspective on the topic of interest and answers questions regarding the information presented in the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Briefing Book and through the lecture.
Climate change captivates our attention and challenges our understanding and assumptions about human-environment interactions. As increasing global temperatures pose risks to our well-being, we must consider approaches to mitigation and adaptation with the ingenuity of human spirit. But, who is the “we?” In reality, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity vary by place and community, revealing environmental inequities, climate injustices, and social vulnerability that can lead to instability, conflicts, and security concerns. Using a place-based perspective, this presentation will explore social vulnerability reduction as foundational to climate change solutions.
Dr. Deborah Thomas, Chair and Professor in the Department of Geography and Earth Science at UNC Charlotte will discuss both her research and speak to Ronald Bee’s article “Climate Change and the Global Order” proposing that “Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. As much of the world bands together to come up with a plan, the U.S. remains the notable holdout. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?”
For more information on the series, including online registration, parking, and venue information, please visit the Great Decisions webpage and or contact the Office of Global Education and Engagement at globaleducation@uncc.edu or 704-687-7755.