glaciers + canoes

[synchronaut]

This is a climate change and GIS nerd post. You've been warned.

An interesting development for our local student ASPRS chapter - we're looking at adopting a glacier (actually, a remnant snowfield) in the Trinity Alps. There's a glacier monitoring project based out of Portland State - we're hoping to meet with the program managers at a conference

Comments

[ssinseminator]

Hi - this is Rahul, Sarah's husband. Your study should be quite well received in certain DC circles. I've done a fair bit of work with US EJ groups that are digging in their heals on this issue of climate change impacts on the poor. In Bali last year, I met with a handful of EJ people who are stunned to learn that US EJ groups resist action on climate change. The story in the US of course is that environmental action is zero-sum, and that reductions in GHG's somehow translate into further degraded air quality for the poor. It should be now well understood that many of the EJ groups active in DC are aligned with the oil and chemical industry...the trouble is that elected officials can't simply dismiss their often flawed arguments

[synchronaut]

Thanks for the feedback. I ran some of your comment past a sociology professor of mine, and she wasn't surprised to hear that the EJ communities are concerned about stepping on the toes of Big Chem / Big Oil. I assume their hesitancy to act is because sea level rise is a long-term event, and most EJ groups are concerned first and foremost about site-specific toxins and development. They have a vested interest in keeping the corporations at the table to reach any sort of accord. My plan is to submit my report to the county - hopefully it will help inform the general plan, and get the policymakers to see the local effects of global climate destabilization.

[tabittha77]

Nice userpic!