Transcript Climate change

Tufts Environmental Literacy Institute
TELI - 2013
One Health
Climate Change
An Overview of the
Patterns, Trends and Prospects for
Global Health
Tim Weiskel
Harvard University Extension School
Monday, 20 May 2013
Tufts Institute for the Environment
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Important to note that
I am not a climate
scientist …. nor a
medical or public health
specialist…
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
In fact, you are all
anthropologists and
historians…
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
In fact, you are all
anthropologists and
historians…
Tim Weiskel
That is, you all have
implicit theories of the
human enterprise and
you are all aware of at
least some part of the
past and your role in a
continuum.
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Think of yourselves as
…trained to take the
long view and large
perspective on the
human “experiment” in
its evolutionary context.
Tim Weiskel
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Think of yourselves as
…trained to take the
long view and large
perspective on the
human “experiment” in
its evolutionary context.
First observation:
Humans are one of a
successive series of
species in a complex,
interdependent and
evolving ecosystem.
Tim Weiskel
…social anthropologist
and an historian.
Think of yourselves as
…trained to take the
long view and large
perspective on the
human “experiment” in
its evolutionary context.
First observation:
Humans are one of a
successive series of
species in a complex,
interdependent and
evolving ecosystem.
How is the ecosystem
evolving?
(…comments here are drawn from 10
years of the online Harvard course….)
How is the ecosystem evolving?
(…comments here are drawn from 10
years of the online Harvard course….)
How is the ecosystem evolving?
Is this really true? No.
Is this really true? No.
In opposition to a mechanical
and technology-driven approach
to the world, scientists are
turning to an alternative
scientific understanding of life
systems on Earth.
James Lovelock has
labeled this the concept of :
“Geophysiology”
as a new way of
understanding Earth and
the human role within it.
“Geophysiology sees the organisms of the
Earth evolving by Darwinian natural
selection in an environment that is the
product of their ancestors and not simply a
consequence of the Earth’s geological
history.”
James Lovelock
“By assuming that the climate is mainly a
physical property of the Earth’s surface
environment we leave out the important
consideration of living organisms, including
humans and their dependent species of crops
and livestock, as an integral and interactive
part of the climate system.”
James Lovelock
Planetary Physiology: Integrative Thinking
About Human and Planet Health
A Memorial Tribute to
Paul R. Epstein, M.D., M.P.H.
1943-2011
1996
2001
Grassroots Global
Grassroots Leadership + Global Vision:
Dr. Paul R. Epstein
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2012/climate_atlas_201
21029/en/index.html
Infections
Infections
Infections
Infections
Emergencies
Emergencies
Emergencies
Emerging Environmental Challenges
Emerging Environmental Challenges
Emerging Environmental Challenges
Emerging Environmental Challenges
Climate-Health Interactions
Climate-Health Interactions
(Crisis for Major Post-Columbian Cities)
Climate-Health Interactions
Climate-Health Interactions
Miami Beach - 2010
Tim Weiskel - 75
Limassol Beach – 12 January 2012
Tim Weiskel - 76
Cyprus: Laboratory and Vital Indicator of
Mediterranean Climate Change
Limassol Beach – 12 January 2012
Tim Weiskel - 78
Cyprus Limassol Beach – 12 January 2012
Tim Weiskel - 79
Cyprus Limassol Beach – 12 January 2012
Tim Weiskel - 80
http://cyprus-institute.us/2009-Cyprus-ClimateAssessment-home.htm
Tim Weiskel - 88
Tornado over Nicosia Cyprus |Part-2|
In addition to wider
extremes in weather
events and a greater
frequency in the
occurrence of these
events, what else is
happening in the region?
Tim Weiskel - 90
http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2010/01/20100107_atc_11.mp3
http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2010/01/20100107_atc_11.mp3
http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2010/01/20100108_atc_15.mp3
"Water shortage threatens Malta - 17 Nov 08," YouTube - AlJazeeraEnglish, (17
November 2008).
Increased desertification of Turkey's arable land -22 Aug 08
"Water crisis in Israel," YouTube - ChoiceJJ, (27 January 2009).
Cyprus running out of water 2008
Never before….and never again.
http://yale-68.net/video/Peak-moment-Loop.wmv
Tim Weiskel 101
Culturally, we need to move from sectoral thinking to systems thinking.
We need to keep clearly in mind more than just one problem and
specifically how different problems amplify and interact with each other.
Further, we need to understand that growth is inherently destabilizing.
Where are the “authoritative sources” for
this nexus of problems…?
Where are the “authoritative sources” for
this nexus of problems…?
Climate Change – Social Stress
Climate Change – Social Stress
Climate Change – Social Stress
Climate Change – Social Stress
VS
Beyond Crisis Mode
Default Crisis Mode
One Health
You must now take the lead to move beyond
“sector-specific thinking.”
You will need to see Earth’s ecosystem as a
complex, interacting and evolving entity.
One Health
You must now take the lead to move beyond
“sector-specific thinking.”
You will need to see Earth’s ecosystem as a
complex, interacting and evolving entity.
One Health
You must now take the lead to move beyond
“sector-specific thinking.”
You will need to see Earth’s ecosystem as a
complex, interacting and evolving entity.
You must now learn – and learn to teach others –
that there is only - ONE HEALTH
We only have one Earth.
We only get one chance.
Tufts Environmental Literacy Institute
TELI - 2013
One Health
Climate Change
An Overview of the
Patterns, Trends and Prospects for
Global Health
Tim Weiskel
Harvard University Extension School
Monday, 20 May 2013
Tufts Institute for the Environment