Global Warming & Climate Change

WHAT DO I COVER IN A KEYNOTE TALK ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE?

This has to be one of my most important talks of all time. Global Warming and Climate Change need to cover a range of topics that inform and positively engage the audience effectively. Climate Change is one of the worst told stories ever, and the narrative needs to be tweaked so that, when the topic is raised, people do not suffer from subject fatigue or become conspiracy theorists. Global Warming is real, we have caused it, and now we have to deal with the ramifications. However, we do not need to believe the world is ending. Life is going to change for us both at home and the office, and I try to offer information that is easy to consume and inspires people to act. While I customize the talk based on the audience, here are some topics I might cover:

A proper definition and explanation of global warming and climate change, and, most importantly, explaining their significance in today’s world and timeframes.

I offer a very simple overview of the science, covering the greenhouse effect and how human activities (such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation) contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. I will also add one or two nuggets of key scientific data and trends that demonstrate rising global temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme natural events. I will also spend a brief moment talking about the environmental issues: melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity.

While I don’t spend too much time on this (because the bad news is covered a lot by mass media already, and I don’t want to depress people during this talk), I do need to cover some effects of climate change and the wide-ranging impacts on our families and businesses.

I spend a good portion of my talk on the subject of social impact: increased health risks, food and water scarcity, and migration. For business, I will touch on economic factors: damage to infrastructure, increased insurance costs, and impacts on industries like agriculture and tourism.

A very important part of my keynote talk covers the global and local responses at play and how decisions are being made that most people are probably not even aware of. I’ll mention some international agreements and frameworks aimed at dealing with climate change, such as the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as well as South Africa’s plans, which include several like the Climate Change Bill and the National Climate Change Response White Paper. (There are about five other laws/regulations/plans that play a part for South Africans.)

I will touch on the importance of global cooperation and the roles of countries, businesses, and individuals in combating climate change, as well as mention certain businesses and people who are hampering efforts.

To end, I will cover some mitigation strategies and ideas. I might cover the process of transitioning to renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), the Just Energy Transition, sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, and enhancing public transportation while reducing reliance on automobiles.

I will also touch on some adaptation measures by exploring ways societies can tweak the way they do this, such as building resilient infrastructure, developing water management strategies in drought-prone areas, and implementing disaster response and recovery plans (which are sorely lacking in Africa).

To conclude, I will chat about the role of technology and innovation and engaging communities and individuals, and if possible, offer some case studies applicable to the audience. My talk is designed to encourage collaboration among various stakeholders to create a collective impact, starting from the individual at home and the change champion at the office.