Iowa NSF EPSCoR Energy Policy Seminar Series
| Date/Time: | Tuesday, 21 Apr 2015 from 3:40 pm to 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 1306 Elings Hall |
| Cost: | Free |
| URL: | http://iowaepscor.org/energypolicyseminars |
| Contact: | |
| Phone: | 515-294-6998 |
| Channel: | Research |
| Categories: | Lectures Live Green |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Abstract
Climate change is evident in Iowa, throughout the United States, and around the world. Assessing its impacts on agriculture, water, and the economy is essential to setting sound national and global targets that minimize the costs and maximize the benefits of both adaptation and mitigation. Conventional wisdom, first codified in the UNFCCC's 1992 agreement to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations, suggests impacts are expected to scale with atmospheric concentrations. Here, I explore the relationship between global temperature targets -- typically expressed in degrees Celsius, from +2 to +4--and projected future changes in a series of regional impact-relevant metrics, from drought to energy demand, to answer the question: To what extent do differences in global targets translate into differences in impacts on the Midwest?
Bio
Katharine Hayhoe is an Associate Professor in the Public Administration program at Texas Tech University and Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech, part of the South-Central Climate Science Center. Her research focuses on developing and applying high-resolution climate projections to evaluate the future impacts of climate change on human society and the natural environment.