Stefan Kaufman's Weblog

Participant comments and reflections on planet 2050

stefankaufmans — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:31:39 +0000

Some of the thoughts and observations of planet 2050 participants can be viewed here.

Planet 2050 Workshop October 26-31st, Lund Sweden

stefankaufmans — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:12:40 +0000

At the end of some leave in October, I have been invited to attend a workshop called the Planet2050 in Lund, Sweden, from the 26th to the 31st.

http://www.theplanet2050.org/

While there, I’ll be sharing insights and lessons from EPA’s Rising Above Hot Air workshop on Tuesday September 30th.

That said, frankly, I am humbled by the attendance list, and need some help from people back home. I will be writing up a day journal of the workshop on a blog, summarising and reflecting on proceedings. I am inviting comments and responses from interested people, which I’ll try to share at the workshop, and after.

The aim of the workshop is to

(i) describe a number of desirable futures for Earth between the years 2030 and 2050;

(ii) explore pathways to move from the present situation toward those futures; and

(iii) identify more immediate constraints to, and opportunities for, moving human environment systems onto the more desirable pathways.

Each participant has been asked to provide a short vision statement for a desirable future and pathways there, which I attach for your information.

The organisers intend a book to come out of it, amongst other communications.

What assures consumers on climate change

stefankaufmans — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:58:25 +0000

This study was conducted by the NetBalance Foundation on behalf of EPA Victoria, amongst others.

Oil and house pricing vulnerability study

stefankaufmans — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:52:19 +0000

This study by researchers from Griffith University compares 2001 and 2006 census data to identify areas of high and low vulnerability to oil and housing prices in major capital cities. The index is then mapped using a GIS. Its a relatively simple calculation of car ownership, journey to work, mortgages and income, so does not include secondary impacts such as cost of living more generally, but the maps are interesting none the less.

Event: ATA Seminar: Could carbon become a new currency? – Are personal carbon allowances, reminiscent of wartime rations, the way forward?

stefankaufmans — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:43:23 +0000

ATA Seminar: Could carbon become a new currency? – Are personal carbon allowances, reminiscent of wartime rations, the way forward?When: Thursday, 4th September, 2008

Time: 6:15pm onwards for a 6:30pm start

Where: The Banking Chamber theatrette, Ground Floor, KPMG, 147 Collins St, Melbourne. Disabled access via 161 Collins St.

Costs: $15, $10 for ATA members (ATA couples $15). Refreshments provided after the presentation

RSVPs required: Email Wendy Clarke on wendy@ata.org.au or ph:(03) 9631 5407

ATA’s seminar will explore carbon rationing, which has been examined by the UK Government in their report “A Rough Guide to Individual Carbon Trading” and also supported by George Monbiot in “Heat”. David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red, advocates personal carbon allowances as the most fair and equitable means of rapidly reducing carbon emissions. David will look at the science relating to global warming and why greenhouse emissions would be best controlled by personal carbon allowances.

David Spratt – is a climate-policy analyst, co-founded Carbon Equity in 2006 and, with Philip Sutton, he is the co-author of “Climate Code Red”, published in July 2008.

Stern on what influence’s individuals behaviours

stefankaufmans — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:52:07 +0000

This is a good read – a paper making the case for examining and intervening onto the ‘behavoural landscape’ rather than focusing on values alone (see Weathercocks post for a link to the counter argument).

From abstract:

Editors’Summary: Individual behavior impacts the environment, but what impacts individual behavior? Effective laws and regulations, strong financial incentives and penalties, social pressure, and the like leave little room for personal values to influence behavior. It is only when these contextual influences are weak that personal factors are likely to play a larger role. Paul Stern therefore argues that the best way to change behavior depends on the behavior and its

context and that interventions in the context are more effective than targeting individuals directly with verbal appeals, information, or other efforts to change attitudes or beliefs. And because a variety of factors influence behavior, creative approaches involving multiple influences on behavior offer the greatest potential for change.

American Psychological Association on environment

stefankaufmans — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:25:13 +0000

A bunch of interesting snippets from a newspaper report on the August 2008 (US) APAs conference on environment and behaviour.

APA climate change page

stefankaufmans — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:09:45 +0000

The Australian Psychological Association have some interesting help sheets on dealing with the psychological impacts of climate change. They summarise some of the likely reactions to the issue and have some advice for practitioners and for supporting groups who might be particularly concerned, such as children.

Event: Environmental attitudes and actions in context

stefankaufmans — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:57:00 +0000

I’m going to this workshop as part of the Australian Psychological Association’s Conference in Hobart at the end of September 2008. It sounds good.

Environmental attitudes and actions in context

Uzzell, D.
Saturday 27 September, 8.30am – 4.30pm

This workshop will provide a review of research methodologies and findings on environmental behaviour change, including social marketing techniques, identity theory and social norms. There will be interactive sessions to collect data from workshop participants on their perceptions of environmental issues, followed by analyses of this material using co-orientation analysis, discourse analysis, and Boal’s conflict resolution techniques to understand socially situated environmental attitudes and practices. The workshop will especially interest psychology researchers; psychologists working in policy settings (e.g. national, federal and local government); psychologists working on behaviour change programmes; and doctoral students especially from environmental, social and political psychology.

Victorian Utility Consumption Survey 2007

stefankaufmans — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:48:49 +0000

This is a study focusing on Victorian concession holders’ use of utilities (energy and water), produced by the Department of Health. It is noteworthy for this blog as having a significant focus on the impacts of energy prices, and thus climate change exposure of low-income households. There is a lot of data, and full technical / social scientific details available.