SOURCE:Thomson Reuters Sustainability
DESCRIPTION:
With cataclysmic changes in the financial sector in recent years and a vast swing in government policy to readdress economic wellbeing, climate policies have taken a back seat. In hushed and reverent tones in corridors of academia the question of whether we can keep anthropogenic climate warming in check given these present-day economic imperatives have been circulated in light of the public and policy shift in priorities. This question however is perplexing as with a truly massive investment in science, technology and mitigation, tackling climate change could be achieved; the issue is more about the political priorities in designating such funds and balancing short term economic profits against long term climate gains.
We are frequently reminded that anthropogenic climate change is one of the most pressing issues of the day which threatens to make the world we live on increasingly inhospitable, Sir David King notably remarked that the issue poses a much greater global threat than terrorism owing to potential climate casualties. Despite predictions of climate catastrophes action, to stem emissions is far less dramatic with few initiatives in place to tackle the global issue.
The global financial crisis has disrupted the steady progression of climate initiatives in policy, green business initiatives, individual savings and the future of energy generation. Counter to claims that the climate has taken a back seat during the global financial crisis is the fact that emissions have fallen due to the inextricable links between energy consumption and economics. The impact of an economic downturn is therefore not a straightforward one relating to carbon emissions and by extension climate warming. I therefore researched and have commented on the likelihood of keeping climate warming in check within the mindset of a society which has economic priorities at its centre.
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KEYWORDS: climate change, sustainability, youth perspective, Thomson Reuters, Thomson Reuters Sustainability, csr, Economy
