Anthropology and Climate Change/ Module 8

What do we mean by “ecological footprint”? Be able to identify the definition of this term or an example of this term.

measure how much land and water nature needs to produce the resources we use (like food, energy, and paper) and to absorb the waste we create.

What countries are the main contributors to global warming through carbon emissions?

China, US, India

What country is the largest contributor of CO²?  What countries are the largest contributors per capita?

China is the largest contributor of CO2. The largest contributor per capita is the US.

How is energy use related to global warming?

More energy = more burning of fossil fuels/ tighten together 

What greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous Oxide(N2O)

What are the main anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions? Be able to distinguish between anthropogenic and naturally occurring greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural = solar irradiance, CH4 in soil and oceans, decaying plants

Human caused = fossil fuel, deforestation

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The 1st UN treaty to reduce GHG emissions 1997

Developing countries = reduce GHG emission to a level of  5% below 1990 levels by 2012

Developed countries = each given targets to meet

What did the Paris Agreement propose to do to try to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions?

countries had to submit national goals and make cyclical reports on progress

What are some of the observed effects of climate change?

• Shrinkage of glaciers

• Thawing of permafrost

• Late freezing and earlier break up of ice on rivers and lakes

• Growing seasons changing

• Shift of animals and plants

• Declining pop of animals and plants

• Earlier flowing of trees, more insects

What are some of the main natural systems that are at risk?

• Reduction in crop yields in tropic and sub tropic regions

• Water scarcity

• Increase the number of vectorborne and water borne diseases

• Flooding

• Increase energy demand = hot summers and cold winters

What are potential negative effects of climate changes on human social systems?

Discuss the terms adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience. How do they relate to the videos we viewed on how climate change affects local cultures (Montana, Kiribati in South Pacific, Inuit in Canada)?

• Potential or ability of a system, region, or community to adapt by adjusting to, moderating potential damages, or taking advantage of opportunities creating by, or coping with the effects of global climate change. The ability to cope with changes.

• Extent to which a natural or social system is susceptible to or unable to cope with global climate change's adverse effects. Is a function of the sensitivity of community or region to climate change ... adaptive capacity and degree of exposure of the system to climatic hazards.

• Not sensitive to climate variability and change and has the capacity to adapt.

In the article “Gone the Bull of Winter” by Susan Crate, what are the effects of global warming? How does that relate to the symbol of the Bull of Winter?

• They have humidity summers

• Early melting of ice

• Less animals 

• New animals

• Smaller harvesting seasons 

• More rain at time where their should be no rian

The Bull of Winter represents the different stages of the seasons (winter). Depending on how it changes it also represents the feeling or emotions the gods have towards the people that live here.

You are only responsible for the core article, not the response articles also included at the end of this specific article (so only about 10-15 pages. Focus on the biophysical and socioeconomic changes that have come as a result of global warming. How can we relate climate changes to cultural change and adaptation in this cultural group? How is this similar to the three short films we viewed in class?

This article connects climate change and culture because as the Bull of Winter changes they believe that this represents the feeling or emotions that the gods have towards that people in this place. 

This is connected to the videos because it shows how they are having to move or change where they do their rituals because of climate change. It is also shrinking the places where these people can do their rituals/ jobs.