‘The Most Terrifying Video You’ll Ever See’

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It is likely that many of you would have seen this video. It was originally posted in 2007 by Greg Craven on his Youtube account wonderingmind42 and has made a recent resurgence on Social Media via upworthy.com. If there is one thing that cannot be argued it is that the video has been brilliant at stimulating conversation on Global Climate Change (GCC). The issue of GCC is something that many feel passionate about and through the social nature of websites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, we have a platform to openly discuss our opinions.

What is the Video about?
For those of you who don’t know – the video is simply an American high school science teacher writing on a whiteboard and talking to a camera. Although basic, the fundamental argument is compelling and discussion-worthy. Since its upload, 11 million people have seen it and that number could easily be more if you calculate the contributions from the upworthy website.

Within the video and the description beneath it, Craven was open to criticism and has since published a refined argument in the form of a critically acclaimed book. However, the basic principles remain the same. He simplifies the potential of global warming happening with two options: true or false. He then measures these two potential outcomes against the choices that we as can make: action or non action. He then rationalises the potential outcomes.

What is the argument?
‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ argues Craven. Using the table, he highlights the combination of potential results. The best and worst combinations are when no action is taken but whether it is positive or negative depends on something we cannot predict: which row it falls into – true or false

The argument has been criticised as being simplistic. Craven himself acknowledges the lack of probability attached to the criteria but says ‘do it for yourself’ and add your own information in – the overall effect will be the same. It is hard to disagree that based on his diagram ‘the risk of not acting far outweighs the risk of acting.’

Summary
To summarise the video in Craven’s own words: If we do not act, we could face ‘a conclusion that is inescapable and terrifying’. The argument itself has been great for promoting positive change of thought and it raises awareness of the topic. What do you think about the video?

COP 18 Report

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In December 2012, the new Future Climate – Engineering Solutions (FC-ES) website was officially launched at a FC-ES side event at the Sheraton Hotel during COP18 in Doha, Qatar.

(From left to right: Rob Cooke, Saurev Dhakel, Andrew Picken, Fethi Thabet, Adam Poole, Daniel Kenning, Alex May, Chris May, Shalini Sharma)

Speakers from 6 different countries, including representatives from the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the British Council came together at the event, which was sponsored by Shell UK. The website was presented by a team from the Mayden Foundation.

Since the event, Tunisia has expressed an interest in participating in the project.

The main topics discussed were:

  • The Indian Energy and Climate Plan – presented by Dr Shalini Sharma, Chair Professor
  • The Institution of Engineers (India) and Head, Centre for Climate Change;
  • The UK Energy and Climate Plan – presented by Daniel Kenning, Fellow of the IMechE and founder of Splendid Engineering;
  • The DECC Pathways calculator and the global calculator – presented by Jan Kiso, Senior Policy Advisor, DECC;
  • The FC-ES website – Introduced by Chris May, founder and managing director of Mayden and
  • Mayden Foundation, and presented by Alex May; an Engineering student at Warwick University.
  • The role of WFEO and how it links to FC-ES – presented by Fethi Thabet, co-ordinator of WFEO-CEE
  • The work of the Engineering and Agriculture Task Group.

A video interview with Daniel Kenning on Energy planning is available here
News coverage of FC-ES at COP18 can be found here 

COP 18

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UN Climate Change Conference COP18 | CMP8

We will be attending the UN conference on climate change in Doha, Qatar this year. Our aim is to further expand the group of participants in the project and to showcase this website which is replacing the old one. A report on the events will be published here upon our return.

More information on the conference can be found by clicking on the above COP18 logo.

Progress Report August – September 2012

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Summary of August and September 2012:

-Russia has joined the FC-ES network with representatives from the Union of Scientific and Engineering Associations and the Moscow State University Civil Engineering Department

-Representatives from South Africa and Cyprus have joined the project

-A prototype website has been developed and is undergoing an initial review

Progress Report July 2012

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Summary of July 2012:

-There are now engineering associations from 23 countries involved in the project

-Work on the new website has commenced

-Formation of the FC-ES steering group (can be found on the FC-ES team tab above)

-There are plans to attend COP18.

Progress Report March – June 2012

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Summary of March to June 2012:

-A new international working group for FC-ES has been formed including: Daniel Kenning, Chair of Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group within the IMechE and Paul Jowitt, ex-President of the Institute of Civil Engineers.

-Infrastructure has been set up with the hope of satisfying administration needs online.

-Updates from each country have been requested along with any new data they may have obtained.

-Links with Canada have been established and negotiations with Russia are being planned.

-The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) has agreed to support FC-ES

Progress Report February 2012

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Summary of February 2012:

-The FC-ES infrastructure is being developed, ideally so that each country nominates a liaison who represents all members within that country to the FC-ES coordinator (currently Alison Cooke).

-Dr Alison Cooke attended a post COP17 panel discussion at Cambridge University do discuss FC-ES’s presence at COP17, a link to this can be found here: Post Durban Panel Discussion