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Dickinson to Durban » Environmental Politics

Durban’s Challenge

Durban’s Challenge

By Timothy Damon ’12 With a population of more than 3.5 million people and an area of more than 2,300 km2, Durban is one of the most significant urban and economic centers in South Africa. A port city, it is on the front lines of climate change – at risk from storm surge and sea-level rise in addition to heat waves and air pollution. The local government has initiated some steps to address these hazards, but … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics

A Balancing Act That Is Considerably Less Fun Than a Circus

A Balancing Act That Is Considerably Less Fun Than a Circus

By Sam Pollan, ‘14 Balance is important. Finding a way to spend adequate resources across several fields is a necessary, but difficult, task. This is doubly true for climate change. The debate about where to allocate funds or establish green infrastructure is full of head shaking and face palms. Just as Dr. Mike MacCracken warned about how people need to utilize all mitigation solutions before seeking climate remediation, the world needs to prioritize which venture will … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics

Local Government Takes Action!!

Local Government Takes Action!!

By: Christine Burns ’14 The debate between the role local versus federal governments can and should play in climate change legislation is a factor once again in Debra Roberts’ article, “Thinking Globally, Acting locally-institutionalizing climate change at the local government level in Durban, South Africa.”  In this article Roberts discusses the importance of the local municipal government of Durban in initiating climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.  Generally speaking, Durban is more focused on local development … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics

Can local action combat a global issue?

Can local action combat a global issue?

By: Anna McGinn ’14 In her article, “Thinking globally, acting locally—institutionalizing climate change at the local government level in Durban, South Africa,” Debra Roberts discusses Durban’s recent initiative to develop as well as address climate change.  This reading reminded me of our discussion in Washington DC with Dallas Burtraw from Resources for the Future.  Both Roberts and Burtraw emphasize that action at a local level is required to adequately mitigate and adapt to climate change.  However, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics, Key COP17 Issues