CHARLEMONT — Climate science is a tough industry to work in, says Columbia University Dean of Science Peter de Menocal. The academic, who lives part-time in Rowe, has received unpleasant calls, emails and even death threats, simply for studying the impacts of global warming.
And yet, de Menocal, who began studying climate change in the early 1990s, has persisted. In his words: “someone has to do it.”
As part of a series of summertime talks on global problems, the Charlemont Forum, de Menocal will give a talk Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Federated Church of Charlemont about climate change: how humans are impacting global warming, and what the effects will be on every day people.
“One of the things I’ve found, is that it’s very hard to get traction with people other than other scientists on the actual physics and chemistry of science,” de Menocal said. “It’s confusing, and it’s also, frankly, really daunting.”
Instead, de Menocal will cover the basic evidence supporting climate change before delving into how it will impact people. For example, he’ll discuss how climate change will impact growing season and real estate values in coastal areas.
“It makes it quite a bit more real when you see what the economic impacts are,” de Menocal said. “Regardless of how you vote, you’re still paying for climate change. Regardless of whether you believe it in or not.”
While de Menocal recognizes that the situation is bleak, he added that it is not too late to reverse it. He said he plans to discuss the various ways global warming can be mitigated.
“An energy revolution is underway due to cheap, scalable renewables,” de Menocal said in a news release. “Together with transport electrification, we can accelerate emission reductions on relevant timescales with available technologies.”
De Menocal noted that global warming has already impacted his decisions. He said he purchased a home in Rowe seven years ago instead of a home on the sea deliberately, given the “viability of coastal communities.”
“I want to give this property to my children,” de Menocal said.
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