Can Wealth and Nature Coexist?
Mentor 1
Itziar Lazkano
Location
Union 250
Start Date
27-4-2018 12:00 PM
Description
Economic development has moved 3 billion people in China, India, Brazil and other developing countries out of poverty. A negative consequence of this rapid income growth is the extensive release of carbon emissions that cause human induced climate change. Wealthy countries such as the USA, Japan, and Sweden try to reconcile income growth with environmental concerns by transitioning away from dirty fuels like coal, and fostering the use of renewable energy like the wind or solar energy. While these efforts may slow down pollution in the richest countries, they are insufficient to tackle global climate change. How can densely populated developing countries, with a growing middle-class, promote an energy transition that reconciles between their economic development and the global concern for climate change? We study this by analyzing global data on wealth, population, carbon emissions and other parameters like culture and technology. We build graphs and use statistical regressions to understand significant cultural and social factors related to climate change. Global leaders, such as the United Nations, can use our findings to steer policies towards sustainable development in China, India, Brazil and other developing nations.
Can Wealth and Nature Coexist?
Union 250
Economic development has moved 3 billion people in China, India, Brazil and other developing countries out of poverty. A negative consequence of this rapid income growth is the extensive release of carbon emissions that cause human induced climate change. Wealthy countries such as the USA, Japan, and Sweden try to reconcile income growth with environmental concerns by transitioning away from dirty fuels like coal, and fostering the use of renewable energy like the wind or solar energy. While these efforts may slow down pollution in the richest countries, they are insufficient to tackle global climate change. How can densely populated developing countries, with a growing middle-class, promote an energy transition that reconciles between their economic development and the global concern for climate change? We study this by analyzing global data on wealth, population, carbon emissions and other parameters like culture and technology. We build graphs and use statistical regressions to understand significant cultural and social factors related to climate change. Global leaders, such as the United Nations, can use our findings to steer policies towards sustainable development in China, India, Brazil and other developing nations.
