August Ritter, a summer human dimensions of natural resources graduate, discusses the critical nature of communicating climate change issues.
June 9, 2008
Gov. Bill Ritter and his son, August, teamed up with a group of CSU professors to emphasize the critical nature of communicating climate change issues at a workshop held last week on campus.
Ways to improve communication
The Governor and August addressed a group of land managers and scientists gathered to determine ways to improve communication about issues surrounding climate change. Ritter addressed the long term consequences of the problem.
"Our climate change plan for Colorado states that we will reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent in 2050. I will be 95 by then, so it's not for me, it's for August and his children and beyond," said Gov. Ritter.
Younger generation concerned about climate change
August said he represents a generation that is eager to learn about climate change. As he addressed the group of land managers, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Services, August emphasized the education opportunities with visitors.
"I visit Canyonlands National Park every year and that is a perfect time and place to make the point that things will be changing in the future. It will look different and different animals will live here."
He also described how the planet may seem to be a smaller place than previous generations may have seen it, with technology that allows easy connections to those on the other side of the globe. With such technology, the opportunity for global-level collaboration seems feasible, August said.
Warner College of Natural Resources scientists coordinated workshop
CSU professors Brett Bruyere, Jessica Thompson and Tara Teel coordinated a team of scientists that addressed the ecological and communication aspects of climate change.
"It is not enough for us to have the science that tells us about the future of the warming climate. We must communicate effectively to the public about the problem. That's because it will take a broad-based, grassroots effort to address the problem," said Bruyere.
Assisting public land management agencies communicate with visitors
August is currently a senior in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at CSU. CSU and the HDNR department have a long tradition of dealing with natural resource issues through its research and teaching.
The organizers hope that this event will assist public land management agencies in communication with their visitors about the impact of climate change, as well as what people can contribute to help resolve it.
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Visit the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources online:
http://welcome.warnercnr.colostate.edu/welcome-to-hdnr/index.php.
Contact: Kimberly Sorensen
Email: Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu
Phone Number: (970) 491-0757
