POLI 362 Study Guide - Final Guide: West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Collegehumor
22 Dec 2012
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Document Summary
Greenhouse mechanism is both well understood and uncontroversial (557) Global warming only highlights one aspect of the greater problem: climate change existing species are unlikely to adapt quickly and easily. Models indicate that stabilisation of atmospheric co2 concentrations at. Antarctic ice sheet, or the disruption of the ocean conveyor there isn"t scientific uncertainty, but rather, risk. Doing something vs doing nothing: costs argument. Argues that prevention is more expensive than adaptation (bjorn lomborg). However, some models come to the different conclusion. Furthermore, economic analyses fails to capture the full dimension of the problem; costs are sustained now, while full benefits are extended to future generations. Hence, a time-slice analysis doesn"t do the issue justice: adaptation argument. Note: we are already commit to some climate change, so adaptation is necessity. Real question is whether adaptation can be our only strategy. With adaptation, costs are randomly (unequally) distributed, and unpredictable: no harm/precautionary principle.
