Global leaders in climate change science, industry, and the political sector came together for discourse on climate change issues and solutions at the 2014 Roundtable at Stanford. “The Climate Conversation You Haven’t Heard” featured esteemed panelists from diverse backgrounds discussing world problems being caused by climate change, ways to advance the conversation, the urgency of action, and some techniques and technologies being developed to solve the problems.

During the conversation, which was moderated by Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, panelists were asked about recommendations to improve public understanding of climate change. Suggestions included establishing government climate change policy while accepting a certain level of uncertainty and risk in the science, using regional and relatable examples of climate change in education and outreach to establish personal connections, and providing financial incentives for improvements.

“The issue of uncertainty is a bit of a cop-out [for] us as a society,” said Bina Venkataraman, director of global policy initiatives at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the former senior advisor for climate change innovation in the Executive Office of President Obama. “We make decisions on uncertainty all the time.”

Thousands of faculty, staff, students, and alumni attended this year’s event at Maples Pavilion. The Roundtable has kicked off Homecoming Weekend since 2006. In previous years, it has focused on topics from happiness and well-being to economic recovery and leadership in the 21st century.

More Information

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/october/roundtable-climate-change-102414.html