Energy, Resource Efficiency and the Climate Connection
Climate Change, From Adaptation to Mitigation: Planning to Adapt to the Worst Outcomes While Using Life Cycle Thinking and Materials/Waste Policy to See that the Worst Never Happens
This session will open with a presentation on an adaptation methodology implemented in five Latin American countries aimed at increasing the options for excluded communities through building coalitions with entities at the municipal, regional, national and international level to reach common goals. Excluded by ethnicity, class, or location, communities that are and will be most impacted by climate change are also least able to form collective strategies to adapt. This and many other adaptation planning efforts are underway, but there are a number of other opportunities to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change before they even take place. Materials management represents 42% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. However, traditional inventories do not adequately account for the full life cycle impacts from materials. A life cycle view is necessary to fully recognize the sources of materials-related emissions so that meaningful progress be made in reducing these impacts. A second presentation will be made on efforts underway in the Northeast U.S. and elsewhere to bring more life cycle thinking to materials and waste policy as a way of minimizing the climate impacts of materials use. This will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience about how to further advance this work.
Moderator: Andy Bray, Project Manager, NEWMOA
-
Cornelia Flora, Distinguished Professor, Sociology, Iowa State University
"Action Coalitions for Vulnerable Communities' Adaptation to Climate Change in Latin America"
-
Andy Bray, Project Manager, NEWMOA
; Terri Goldberg, Deputy Director, NEWMOA
"Climate Change: Making the Materials Use and Waste Connection Through Life Cycle Thinking"
