A Learning Pathway to an Integrated Approach Involving Natural, Applied and Social Science, Humanities and Arts to Face Climate Change

摘要

The main sources of information about climate change cited in this article are characterized by a close to unanimous agreement about their contents not only within the international scientific community but also within the community of the nations whose political representatives have to approve them together with scientists. These sources are accessible both by scientists who have a background in natural and applied science, and by policy makers—professionals whose expertise is in fields other than natural and applied sciences. These sources are a good starting point for everyone wishing to be reliably informed about the reported subjects. The main issues related to the changing climate system are summarized with comments that underline the known feedback, their consequences, and the growing discussions about them inside the international scientific community. Also discussed are scientists' efforts to properly and effectively inform policy makers and to help to design feasible mitigation strategies that make sense, could be accepted by the public, and could achieve results. The main sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases emission are briefly described and the importance of the transition to an economy based on renewable energies and recycling is underlined. Two cases are included to show how the humanities, social sciences, and the arts could proactively work with natural and applied sciences, local communities, and society at large to imagine, plan, and build effective solutions. This article aims to be a primer on communication among different disciplines that have different competencies and roles and which could be an effective way to enlist citizen participation and commitment to build a sustainable future.