INTERVIEW
António Guerner: “Think local, act local”
Published on December 16th, 2015
With high expectations after the Paris Agreement, António Guerner, Clima@EduMedia researcher, spoke about the measures that Portugal must take to address climate change. The Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Planning of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto) has listed some of the key vulnerabilities of the country and the steps we must take.
What has been done globally to meet and combat climate change? Are summits such as the one recently held in Paris sufficient?
Overall, in conferences on climate, organised under the auspices of the UN, vital and relevant decisions are taken. Each time one of these summits comes to an end, the expectations created are always very high, but, as time passes, everybody increasingly realises the difficulties of implementing certain measures. That is, in most cases, our expectations are defrauded.
The reports published by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) perfectly portray the characterisation of global climate variations. These reports forecast the future climate and the expected consequences, in various domains, if nothing is done presently. Today, a lot more is known about the climate of the past, the present and the future than what we knew 10 or 15 years ago.
Portugal seems to start waking up to the problem of climate change without the scepticism of other countries. What do you think the Portuguese should know?
In general, in Portugal, most of the scientific community is aware of the problem of climate change and accepts the fact that climate change, or rather, global warming is a reality. Even those who doubt turn out to be relatively moderate sceptics. After all, I consider that the existence of a contradiction, in a theme such as climate change, should be seen in a positive and challenging way. Portugal, perhaps because it is a small and geographically marginal country, has always looked at this issue quite seriously.
The subject of climate change should be transmitted to the general population, seriously and without creating unnecessary alarmism. It seems that only when climate change consequences are dramatized, they are taken more seriously.
So, I understand that for the Portuguese in general or school population particularly as a motor vehicle of information for the society/family, the current knowledge on climate change should be taught/explained/transmitted clearly and assertively. Among the main sub-themes to teach, is the contribution of human climate change, as an active element on the surface of the earth, and the role of fossil fuels as an energy source for the increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
Portugal will be one of the most affected countries
Portugal is among the European countries with more vulnerability to climate change. What are the main threats, risks or impacts we face already and will face, predictably, in the future, and why?
One of the most visible effects of climate change is undoubtedly the rise in the average sea level. Although this is also a global effect, it will affect in particular those regions and countries with very extensive coastal areas - coastline.
As we all know, Portugal is one of the countries with the largest coastline in Europe and, if the rise in the average sea level affects coastal areas in particular, Portugal is undoubtedly one of the most affected countries as a result of climate change.
The impacts This allocation will be severe, not only from the point of view of a change in coastal ecosystems but also from a social point of view since about 75% of the Portuguese population lives on the coast.
It is worth stressing that, if the population along the coastline is affected, the economy will undoubtedly be affected, as will the economic activities that depend on the coast (exploitation of natural resources such as fishing, tourism, etc.) or economic activities of large-scale, such as the exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Portugal (EEZ). As it is known, the EEZ of Portugal is the largest among the European countries.
What political input has Portugal provided, given these vulnerabilities?
Portugal is a small country, so its role, both as a contributor to climate change, and as a mitigator of its effects has, overall, always been very small. However, we must think globally, but act locally, because, clearly, many small countries combined, give rise to one big country. Our small actions, if reflected in many countries, are major actions.
Being “green” is cool
And on the ground, what has been done regarding adaptation and mitigation? Which are the most important steps taken?
In our country, and in most countries worldwide, the performance has been, above all, in terms of mitigating the causes. Many governments consider that climate change is real, but as its consequences are not yet felt, it becomes easier to propose measures for the mitigation of the causes. Promote the use of more environment friendly energies, greener behaviours or production of articles with green label ends up being a cooler attitude and consequently better accepted by the public. The adjustment will be made more slowly and according to the needs. Humans are animals with great adaptability, and if climate change so requires, they will adapt in a way that is easier for them. The most important measures taken in Portugal, as I said, can be considered mitigation measures, which aim to change the level of CO2 emissions.
Presently, Portugal, though being open to further improvements, already implemented some highly practical measures, of which I could highlight two: i) a very clear commitment to renewable energies; as we know, in 2014, almost 80% of the electricity consumed in Portugal was from renewable sources, including wind with a contribution of approximately 50%. This electricity production is a reduction in CO2 emissions (mainly from coal-fired power plants) which is very significant; and ii) the focus on reduction of waste production and in various forms of recovery; waste disposal instead of its recovery, is a process with a potential to produce greenhouse gases; by investing in their reduction and recovery, we are contributing to mitigate some of the causes of climate change.
What can we learn from other countries that are already setting an example?
I believe that all countries can learn from each other. We should not be too pretentious thinking we know everything and have no need to learn anything, nor be too submissive thinking that the others know and do better than us. Portugal has already implemented significant measures and, overall, has been one of the countries that has most evolved in recent years in the use of renewable energy.
What can we do as a country?
Since Portugal is a small country, so it might think that the adopted measures will only have a local effect, but even so, these measures must be adopted. The principle is simple: think global (in the sense that the measures proposed and commitments apply to all or may be adopted by all) and act local (each individual, in each place, must implement the measures, few or many, more effective or less effective, that best suit each location, each country and each concrete reality). The phrase/principal [Think global, act local.], is widely used in recent times, it assumes the character of a cliché, but, in reality, it works much more realistically in what concerns climate change.
Any small measure contributing to climate change mitigation will also be a measure that will improve the environmental situation in a given place and thus also allow a better standard of living for the people who live there.
Like the previous sentence, many small measures that could be proposed also seem clichés. For example: i) prefer public transport; ii) walking; iii) prefer organic products; iv) buy environmentally friendly products; v) reduce the production of waste; vi) correctly separate waste in our house; vii) plant a tree each year; viii) become an active member of an environmental NGO; among many others, are actions that anyone can adopt, contributing to an overall improvement of the environment.
Today's youth will be tomorrow's leaders
What is the importance of raising awareness among young people and the school community?
Young people and the school community are the sector of society where it is easier to instil new ideas and convey new thoughts. The young minds are open and receptive to supporting causes that often seem like lost causes.
A problem such as climate change, which is already being felt nowadays, tends to worsen over the years and thus may affect today's youth more strongly. This is one of the main arguments that can be used to sensitise young people and the school community today.
On the other hand, sensitise the youth, in general, will be a good way to reach the older sections of the population, in particular, parents and other relatives of these young people.
The youth of today will be the leaders and the rulers of tomorrow, and if sensitised today, they will be much more scrupulous in the way that may interfere with the environment around us.
By: Cláudia Azevedo
Overall, in conferences on climate, organised under the auspices of the UN, vital and relevant decisions are taken. Each time one of these summits comes to an end, the expectations created are always very high, but, as time passes, everybody increasingly realises the difficulties of implementing certain measures. That is, in most cases, our expectations are defrauded.
The reports published by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) perfectly portray the characterisation of global climate variations. These reports forecast the future climate and the expected consequences, in various domains, if nothing is done presently. Today, a lot more is known about the climate of the past, the present and the future than what we knew 10 or 15 years ago.
Portugal seems to start waking up to the problem of climate change without the scepticism of other countries. What do you think the Portuguese should know?
In general, in Portugal, most of the scientific community is aware of the problem of climate change and accepts the fact that climate change, or rather, global warming is a reality. Even those who doubt turn out to be relatively moderate sceptics. After all, I consider that the existence of a contradiction, in a theme such as climate change, should be seen in a positive and challenging way. Portugal, perhaps because it is a small and geographically marginal country, has always looked at this issue quite seriously.
The subject of climate change should be transmitted to the general population, seriously and without creating unnecessary alarmism. It seems that only when climate change consequences are dramatized, they are taken more seriously.
So, I understand that for the Portuguese in general or school population particularly as a motor vehicle of information for the society/family, the current knowledge on climate change should be taught/explained/transmitted clearly and assertively. Among the main sub-themes to teach, is the contribution of human climate change, as an active element on the surface of the earth, and the role of fossil fuels as an energy source for the increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
Portugal will be one of the most affected countries
Portugal is among the European countries with more vulnerability to climate change. What are the main threats, risks or impacts we face already and will face, predictably, in the future, and why?
One of the most visible effects of climate change is undoubtedly the rise in the average sea level. Although this is also a global effect, it will affect in particular those regions and countries with very extensive coastal areas - coastline.
As we all know, Portugal is one of the countries with the largest coastline in Europe and, if the rise in the average sea level affects coastal areas in particular, Portugal is undoubtedly one of the most affected countries as a result of climate change.
The impacts This allocation will be severe, not only from the point of view of a change in coastal ecosystems but also from a social point of view since about 75% of the Portuguese population lives on the coast.
It is worth stressing that, if the population along the coastline is affected, the economy will undoubtedly be affected, as will the economic activities that depend on the coast (exploitation of natural resources such as fishing, tourism, etc.) or economic activities of large-scale, such as the exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Portugal (EEZ). As it is known, the EEZ of Portugal is the largest among the European countries.
What political input has Portugal provided, given these vulnerabilities?
Portugal is a small country, so its role, both as a contributor to climate change, and as a mitigator of its effects has, overall, always been very small. However, we must think globally, but act locally, because, clearly, many small countries combined, give rise to one big country. Our small actions, if reflected in many countries, are major actions.
Being “green” is cool
And on the ground, what has been done regarding adaptation and mitigation? Which are the most important steps taken?
In our country, and in most countries worldwide, the performance has been, above all, in terms of mitigating the causes. Many governments consider that climate change is real, but as its consequences are not yet felt, it becomes easier to propose measures for the mitigation of the causes. Promote the use of more environment friendly energies, greener behaviours or production of articles with green label ends up being a cooler attitude and consequently better accepted by the public. The adjustment will be made more slowly and according to the needs. Humans are animals with great adaptability, and if climate change so requires, they will adapt in a way that is easier for them. The most important measures taken in Portugal, as I said, can be considered mitigation measures, which aim to change the level of CO2 emissions.
Presently, Portugal, though being open to further improvements, already implemented some highly practical measures, of which I could highlight two: i) a very clear commitment to renewable energies; as we know, in 2014, almost 80% of the electricity consumed in Portugal was from renewable sources, including wind with a contribution of approximately 50%. This electricity production is a reduction in CO2 emissions (mainly from coal-fired power plants) which is very significant; and ii) the focus on reduction of waste production and in various forms of recovery; waste disposal instead of its recovery, is a process with a potential to produce greenhouse gases; by investing in their reduction and recovery, we are contributing to mitigate some of the causes of climate change.
What can we learn from other countries that are already setting an example?
I believe that all countries can learn from each other. We should not be too pretentious thinking we know everything and have no need to learn anything, nor be too submissive thinking that the others know and do better than us. Portugal has already implemented significant measures and, overall, has been one of the countries that has most evolved in recent years in the use of renewable energy.
What can we do as a country?
Since Portugal is a small country, so it might think that the adopted measures will only have a local effect, but even so, these measures must be adopted. The principle is simple: think global (in the sense that the measures proposed and commitments apply to all or may be adopted by all) and act local (each individual, in each place, must implement the measures, few or many, more effective or less effective, that best suit each location, each country and each concrete reality). The phrase/principal [Think global, act local.], is widely used in recent times, it assumes the character of a cliché, but, in reality, it works much more realistically in what concerns climate change.
Any small measure contributing to climate change mitigation will also be a measure that will improve the environmental situation in a given place and thus also allow a better standard of living for the people who live there.
Like the previous sentence, many small measures that could be proposed also seem clichés. For example: i) prefer public transport; ii) walking; iii) prefer organic products; iv) buy environmentally friendly products; v) reduce the production of waste; vi) correctly separate waste in our house; vii) plant a tree each year; viii) become an active member of an environmental NGO; among many others, are actions that anyone can adopt, contributing to an overall improvement of the environment.
Today's youth will be tomorrow's leaders
What is the importance of raising awareness among young people and the school community?
Young people and the school community are the sector of society where it is easier to instil new ideas and convey new thoughts. The young minds are open and receptive to supporting causes that often seem like lost causes.
A problem such as climate change, which is already being felt nowadays, tends to worsen over the years and thus may affect today's youth more strongly. This is one of the main arguments that can be used to sensitise young people and the school community today.
On the other hand, sensitise the youth, in general, will be a good way to reach the older sections of the population, in particular, parents and other relatives of these young people.
The youth of today will be the leaders and the rulers of tomorrow, and if sensitised today, they will be much more scrupulous in the way that may interfere with the environment around us.
By: Cláudia Azevedo