Will our grandchildren face a world drastically altered by climate change?   The world is increasingly experiencing the effects of changes in climate patterns from historic norms as we see greater frequency and severity of extreme heat episodes, droughts, fires, storms, and flooding which threaten societal and political stability. There is, however, optimism that a mix of the many technical and societal remedies being pursued will mitigate these life-altering effects.  We will examine the causes of these changes related to the sources and effects of greenhouse gas in the continuing rise of air and ocean temperatures and how our lives are being affected now and will be in the future. We will look at how feedback loops caused by climatic disruptions are making the impacts worse and whether we are in danger of reaching tipping points where the impacts are not reversible. Much of our focus on impacts and solutions will relate to the US and particularly here in Massachusetts.

We’ll discuss the status of promising developments in alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, including renewables and other clean energy sources, and emerging technologies for removal of CO2 from the environment, and consider what has worked and what hasn’t. And of course we will examine the commitments made in the Paris Accords and the follow up COP conferences and whether the parties are trying to meet them. The politics, societal pressures, and economics will be considered.

The class will be in person and will be a combination of lectures and class discussion.  There will be up to one hour per week of preparation.