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Climate Change: A Call for Action, Leadership and Collaboration
The Environmental Law & Policy Center recently hosted Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for a special visit to Chicago to meet with political, business and civic leaders. The IPCC was the co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, with Al Gore, for its instrumental work in documenting the real risks of climate change.
The scientific consensus on the causes and perils of climate change has produced an important and positive shift in public opinion. ELPC and Dr. Pachauri highlighted the necessary policy changes that are now needed to solve our global warming problems and protect our legacy for the future.
Dr. Pachauri’s visit was a whirlwind tour to help persuade decisionmakers that rapid policy changes are needed today:
- ELPC co-hosted a dinner event for Dr. Pachauri with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and civic leaders, co-hosted a luncheon event with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for business leaders and co-hosted an afternoon reception with the Chicago Community Trust for philanthropic and environmental group leaders.
- Dr. Pachauri and ELPC’s Executive Director Howard Learner briefed reporters, the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board and taped an appearance for Chicago Public Radio’s Worldview show. You can listen to Dr. Pachauri in his interview with Jerome McDonald of WBEZ’s Worldview. Click here to listen.
According to Dr. Pachauri and the IPCC, we need to act quickly to help mitigate the effects of global warming. “Climate change is not something that is going to be smooth and linear. (I)f we don’t do something about the problem, things will get much worse” (Reuters, 7/1/08).
But there is promising news – ELPC and our colleagues are advancing solutions that can make a real difference:
- Accelerating clean renewable energy development and energy efficiency programs in the pivotal Midwest region, which is responsible for more global warming pollution than any country other than China, India and Russia.
- Seizing strategic opportunities to grow the rapidly growing green economy in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.
- Advocating for strong climate change and clean energy policies in the Midwest and Great Plains states, whose senators are the pivotal, key swing votes for congressional action in the coming years.
Solving our global warming problems is the moral, business, economic, political and technological challenge of our generation. You can help us make a difference.
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August 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Doesn’t anyone see the irony in presenting this lecture by a lecturer fully dressed in jacket and tie to an audience similarly dressed. Obviously that hotel room was airconditioned down to about 69 degrees. What kind of leadership is on display here. What do you think is being consumed to provide that amount of air conditioning!
Respectfully.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I am a student Panjab University,Chandigarh.Today are facing the most serious issue,Global Warming.As this is mainly because of green house effect,which is most of the times is done by Carbon Dioxide.There are many carbon dioxide absorption equipments which can be easily installed in the exhaust pipes of automobiles also chimneys in the various industries.I think these are very effective in decreasing the concentration of carbon dioxide.So why these are still not in use.Why the governments ar enit taking the proactive steps make them in use.