Climate and peopleClimate and people

Takuro KobashiTakuro Kobashi

Scripps Institution of OceanographyScripps Institution of Oceanography

-A conceptual framework for a sustainable future-A conceptual framework for a sustainable future

SustainabilitySustainability

You have to return as much as you get!

Issues surrounding climate changesIssues surrounding climate changes

Increasing greenhouse gasses by burning fossil Increasing greenhouse gasses by burning fossil fuel warm atmosphere = Need to reduce fuel warm atmosphere = Need to reduce emissionemission

Large part of human society still needs to use Large part of human society still needs to use much more energymuch more energy

Fossil fuel is a major driver of current human Fossil fuel is a major driver of current human society society

Sustainable society asks us for a major change Sustainable society asks us for a major change

How?

World still suffers in inequality World still suffers in inequality

Recent rises of China and India (1/3 of human Recent rises of China and India (1/3 of human population) significantly improved the situationpopulation) significantly improved the situation

However, still many people in the world live without However, still many people in the world live without the basic needsthe basic needs

Future climate changes likely impact those with less Future climate changes likely impact those with less capacity or less energy intense life (positively, capacity or less energy intense life (positively, negatively)negatively)

Sustainability will impact all of us, but likely more Sustainability will impact all of us, but likely more people with intense energy usepeople with intense energy use

Energy distribution in the worldEnergy distribution in the world

Basic needs

Now FutureGeographical variation

Qua

lity

of

life

World energy use in timeWorld energy use in time

Sustainability threshold

TimePresent

Energy intensive

Key to future sustainabilityKey to future sustainability

The changes in world value system needs to The changes in world value system needs to happenhappen

China and India may hold the key for the China and India may hold the key for the change with their sheer sizechange with their sheer size

From like-USA (energy intensive life) to like-From like-USA (energy intensive life) to like-China or India (less energy intensive life) or China or India (less energy intensive life) or like-somewhere else like-somewhere else

Key for the sustainable futureKey for the sustainable future

The key for sustainability lives in nature and in The key for sustainability lives in nature and in our mind our mind

The sense of equity need to be extended The sense of equity need to be extended beyond human societybeyond human society

Other parts of natural system are as important Other parts of natural system are as important as human societyas human society

Sustainable human society = sustainable Sustainable human society = sustainable natural system natural system

Our perception of nature and Our perception of nature and human societyhuman society

Human society Nature

Current distorted view Reality and sustainable future

Nature

Human society

ConclusionConclusion

Climate change issues are intricately related Climate change issues are intricately related with sustainability issueswith sustainability issues

First, we need to accomplish equality in First, we need to accomplish equality in human societyhuman society

Second, we need to extend the sense of Second, we need to extend the sense of equality toward natureequality toward nature

I believe that human society will make this I believe that human society will make this changechange