September 17, 2015
Room 1900

The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars: The Battle Continues

Dr. Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Meteorology and Director, Earth System Science Center, Pennsylvania State University, USA. Building on the findings in his book “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars”, Dr. Mann will discuss the basics of climate science and reveal the tactics which opponents of climate change use to distort the science and attack the reputations of scientists. He will describe both the hockey stick controversy and the broader context of skepticism in science and contrarians rejecting evidence of human influence on climate.

September 24, 2015

How Large Is the Bill for Global Climate Change?

Dr. Chris Hope, Reader in Policy Modelling, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK. This lecture will focus on climate change policies in developed and developing countries with an emphasis on the economic and social costs of carbon. Dr. Hope’s research involves numerical information in public policy and the integrated assessment modelling of climate change. An economist, Dr. Hope was an advisor to the Stern review on the Economics of Climate Change and was the special advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs Inquiry into aspects of the economics of climate change.

October 15, 2015

The Optimistic Environmentalist: Planning for a 100% Renewable Future

Dr. David R. Boyd, Adjunct Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University; Environmental Lawyer and Author. Dr. Boyd will discuss the remarkable renewable energy revolution that is underway globally, with the rate of growth in wind and solar repeatedly surpassing expert projections. Canada’s progress will be evaluated, and the city of Vancouver’s plan for becoming fossil fuel free by 2050 will be introduced.
As seating is limited, reservations are recommended: http://davidboyd.eventbrite.com

October 29, 2015

A World of Climate Extremes

Dr. Jana Sillmann, Center for International Climate and Environmental Research, Oslo (CICERO), Norway. Earth is characterized by a diversity of climates, including extremes. Life has adapted to these extremes, but extreme heatwaves, droughts, and floods are events that rarely happen and cause severe disruption to the environment or society. This talk will provide insight into the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and focus on observed and future changes in climate extremes on a global scale. The talk will go beyond the physical approach to assessing change and highlight the importance of including societal aspects such as vulnerability and exposure to assess the complex nature of the associated risks of change in the extreme. As seating is limited, reservations are recommended: http:// janasillmann.eventbrite.com

Location: All lectures take place at 7:00 pm in Room 1900 at Simon Fraser University Vancouver at Harbour Centre, 515 W Hastings, Vancouver, BC.

Sponsors

Simon Fraser University
Centre for Coastal Science and Management
David and Cecilia Ting Endowment
Faculty of Environment
Faculty of Science

Cost: Lectures are free and open to the public.