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[Episode #45] – Climate Science Part 3 – Paleoclimate

In this third episode of our mini-series on climate science, we talk with paleoclimate scientist Robert Kopp of Rutgers University about what Earth’s past climate can tell us about its future, especially where it concerns sea level rise. We also discuss his research on the relationship between climate science and the economy, and how a transdisciplinary approach using natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and urban planning can help us tackle the challenges that climate change poses to the world’s coastlines…and how tools like the social cost of carbon and appropriate discount rates can help address those challenges, from New Jersey to Florida, no matter what Trump does with federal policy. Finally, we discuss how ratings agencies and risk adjustors need to start factoring in climate risk, and why they haven't so far.

Guest:

 Dr. Robert Kopp is a Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University. For the last six years, he served as Associate Director of the Rutgers Energy Institute. Starting this July, he will become the Director of Rutgers’ Institute of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. He also serves as the director of Rutgers’ transdisciplinary Coastal Climate Risk & Resilience (C2R2) initiative, a training program which brings graduate students in the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and urban planning together with coastal stakeholders to tackle the challenges that climate change poses to the world’s coastlines.

On Twitter: @bobkopp

On the Web:  www.bobkopp.net

Recording date: June 2, 2017

Air date: June 14, 2017

Geek rating: 5