Institute on the Environment • University of Minnesota • Spring 20 CITY HEAT Islands in the sun Beyond the media blame game Q&A: Growing hope with WANGARI MAATHAI DIRECTOR'S NOTE Becoming a Climate Pragmatist I SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I’m stuck in the hate carbon taxes and cap and trade. They’re movie “Groundhog Day.” not interested in adapting to a supposedly Each day, the same scenes play out again hypothetical future. Fair enough. Everyone is and again. But instead of reliving incidents entitled to an opinion. in small-town Pennsylvania, we’re living and But these same friends embrace ideas like reliving our national climate debate. And it U.S. energy independence, reducing foreign just won’t end. oil imports, promoting economic growth, Let’s face it: we’re stuck in the infinite loop protecting our families from harm and im- from hell. Scientists and environmentalists proving the U.S. balance of trade. And many are on one side, repeating our well-rehearsed of these same friends, while skeptical about lines, while conservatives, talk show hosts and climate change, see the wisdom in protecting business lobbies are on the other, repeating rain forests and the world’s biodiversity. theirs. Nothing has changed in decades. In Guess what? Many of the things that help fact, the divisions seem to be getting deeper. reduce the threats of climate change can also And Rome burns while we fiddle. be good for our economy and national secu- Why are we repeating the same old lines? rity, and vice versa. Many of the changes pro- Does each side expect the other to finally give posed to adapt to climate change are readily in and say, “We were wrong! Can you forgive justifiable as approaches to shelter our wealth us?” and everything will suddenly be okay? and well-being against the erratic forces of na- Don’t hold your breath. As with many ture such as Hurricane Katrina and the recent put more emphasis on “winning” than on issues in America today, participants in the floods in Australia. Why not work to boost finding an answer. It’s a natural human reac- climate debate have dug in and stopped listen- innovation, the economy, disaster prepared- tion, greatly amplified by the highly polarized ing to each other. ness and national security, and be pleasantly world we live in today. surprised when But I honestly don’t care who “wins” or greenhouse gas “loses” the climate debate. I just want to solve “I honestly don’t care who emissions and the problem. And I know that there are good wins or loses the climate debate. vulnerability to people, with good ideas, on the other side, climate change go who want to solve the problem too. Maybe, I JUST WANT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.” down, too? Why if we all can find the humility to care more not approach the about finding real solutions than winning the Hoping to move beyond this rhetorical debate from another direction, and be happy debate, we can get somewhere. stalemate, I’ve decided to try a different ap- that we find allies instead of adversaries? Anybody with me? proach. Here’s how it goes. Of course it’s not possible to maximize First, stop bashing people over the head with gain in every dimension at the same time— JONATHAN FOLEY climate science. It just isn’t working with some never has been, never will be. What’s unilater- people. In an age of identity politics, increas- ally best for an oil company is not necessarily ing polarization and culture wars, our ability what’s unilaterally best for a rural farmer, and to ignore data that contradict our worldview doing everything possible to reduce carbon (or personal interests) is extraordinary. emissions regardless of the consequences Director Don’t get me wrong: I am not giving up could create untenable barriers to meeting Institute on the Environment on climate science, and I continue to spread other societal needs. But if we—climate [email protected] the science message far and wide. I strongly scientists, climate skeptics and those in be- believe that science matters and we need to tween—are willing to look out for what’s best The views expressed here are those of the author and do continue to speak truth to power. But some for everyone, rather than for our individual not reflect the views of the University of Minnesota. people just aren’t listening to the science. So interests, we can end up in a place that works we need to approach them a different way. for all. Reframe the issue, and meet people where Finally, remember that it’s more important they are. Many of my conservative friends are to solve the problem than win an argument. In deeply suspicious of climate change, and they contentious circumstances we sometimes ENVIRONMENT.UMN.EDU/MOMENTUM CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS FEATURES SPRING 2011 • 3.2 2 Standout 8 Coping With Change Q&A with Wangari Maathai As increasing atmospheric director JONATHAN FOLEY CO alters the global 4 In Focus 2 communications director TODD REUBOLD distribution of water and Pine forests under seige weather, communities, managing editor MARY HOFF companies and nonprofits 6 Noteworthy are preparing for business creative director SARAH KARNAS not as usual. by DAVID BIELLO 30 Scientist’s Soapbox webmaster MICHELLE BEAMAN China forges ahead in 16 Sick of It? video producer BETH M. ANDERSON energy innovation Disease and disaster trace new patterns across the events coordinator STEPHANIE SZUREK 32 Snapshot planet. by GREG BREINING The happy side of land contributors CHRISTOPHER BAHN, DAVID BIELLO, GREG BREINING, use change 20 Where Does it Hurt? PAT GROESSEL, DAN HAUGEN, WENDEE HOLTCAMP, Climate change vulnerability ASHLEY KUEHL, MATTHEW C. NISBET, LISA PALMER, 34 Connections varies tremendously from MARK PEDELTY, RONALD REYES, MELANIE WARNER, Wind power in a box ELIZABETH WILSON one country, region or continent to another. printing MODERN PRESS 36 Viewpoints Media shift: Momentum is published three times per year by the University Good news or not? 22 Ecomusicology of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. To subscribe, The times they are change your address or request an alternative format, contact a-changin’—and so is how Mary Hoff, [email protected], 612-626-2670. To sign we think about the link up for an e-alert when the new issue is available online, go to between music and the environment.umn.edu/connect. environment. by MARK PEDELTY IonE is committed to sustainability. This magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper with an average 26 Beyond the Blame Game of 100% recycled fiber and 50% postconsumer waste. When it comes to the climate change debate, pointing fingers at the media will get us nowhere. by MATTHEW C. NISBET The opinions expressed in Momentum are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Institute on the Environment/University of Minnesota. 32 The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. 34 on the cover Icons of adaptation, many chameleons alter their coloration as their circumstances and surround- ings change. The ability to do so helps them survive where less labile lizards might not. 8 PHOTO BY PIP STARR PHOTO PHOTO BY RONALD REYES PHOTO SPRING 2011 1 STANDOUT Superwoman Interview by TODD REUBOLD WANGARI MAATHAI has made environmental preservation in Africa her life’s work. And what a life it’s been! Born in Kenya in 1940, she was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. She later went on to found the Green Belt Movement—an organization that has helped women plant more than 40 million trees on community lands throughout the continent. She has also been active in politics throughout her career, and in 1998 she became co-chair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign for debt for- giveness. In recognition of her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace, she was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Momentum recently had the honor of speaking with Maathai about cli- mate adaptation in Africa, the role of women in the environmental movement and her hopes for the future. AS CLIMATE CHANGE WHAT ARE COMMUNITIES DOING TO provided by the environment are not avail- ON YOUR MIND WHEN ADAPT? One way—especially the com- able—such as water, firewood or rainfall for YOU BEGAN THE GREEN munities that work with us—is to plant their agriculture. BELT MOVEMENT? Well, trees on their farms so that they can stop soil We have seen in the course of time men when we started back in erosion when the rains come. The other is also participate, but to a lesser degree and 1977,W climate change was not an issue, at to be actively involved in the protection of mostly because they want to plant trees least not in the public forum. But certainly watershed areas, especially communities that for commercial purposes rather than for in the last decade it became an issue for live near the forest. conservation. the Green Belt Movement. With respect to Having said that, I think it’s also impor- mitigation and adaptation, it is now a very tant to say that one of the major challenges SO IT’S THE WOMEN WHO ARE important part of what we do. is that you’re also dealing with a lot of com- ENGAGED FIRST? Yes, and although we paratively poor people, so quite often they know that in some other places men are ARE YOU ALREADY SEEING EVIDENCE exacerbate these situations. For example, also involved, women globally have a much OF A CHANGING CLIMATE IN EAST they will take their animals into the forest to greater sensitivity toward the changes in the AND CENTRAL AFRICA? Yes, indeed graze and that destroys biodiversity.