Download CHALLENGING BOUNDARIES: ECONOMICS, ECOLOGY AND

CHALLENGING BOUNDARIES: ECONOMICS, ECOLOGY AND GOVERNANCE
ISEE 2004 Montréal, 8th Biennial Scientific Conference
International Society for Ecological Economics
Montréal Convention Centre, Montréal, Canada
July 11-14, 2004
A Proposal for a Regular Parallel Session
Perspectives on ‘Dangerous’ Climate Change: Implications for Adaptation
Irene Lorenzoni, Centre for Environmental Risk (CER), University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK,
[email protected], +44(0)1603 593173 (tel.), +44(0)1603 591327 (fax)
Nick Pidgeon, Centre for Environmental Risk (CER), University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK,
[email protected], +44(0)1603 593129 (tel.) 44(0)1603 591327 (fax)
The objective of the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change “… is to achieve … stabilization
of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system”. Climate experts often focus upon science-based notions of thresholds
beyond which substantial climate change takes place, resulting in conspicuous impacts. But definitions of
dangerous climate change also have a societal element, depending explicitly or implicitly upon judgements
about such things as the value of ecological and human systems that may be affected by climate change. In
other words, what risks from climate change are acceptable to society and which may be considered
‘dangerous’? Crossovers and links between the climate science and insights from risk perceptions and
acceptability research have been to date few and far between. This paper aims to bridge that gap,
reviewing perceptions of climate change and definitions of danger used by the climate science community
and laypeople respectively, both of which we argue are equally important for policy-making, within the
context of responses to climate change, including adaptation.