Inaugural Lecture, Jeffrey D. Sachs
The Economics of Sustainable Development
Population Growth, Natural Resources and Economics
September 22, 2005, 4-6pm, Room 555 Lerner Hall
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Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals.
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Background Information:
Jeffrey D. Sachs is internationally renowned for his work as economic advisor to governments in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa, and his work with international agencies on problems of poverty reduction, debt cancellation for the poorest countries, and disease control. He is also the author of the acclaimed book The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities For Our Time
Key Terms
Agricultural Revolution
A significant change in agriculture that occurs when there are discoveries, inventions, or new technologies that change production.
Aquaculture
The cultivation of marine animals or plants for food.
Biodiversity
The variability among living organisms, including the variability within and between species and within and between ecosystems.
Carbon Sequestering
The capturing of carbon released by factories before it enters the atmosphere.
Demographic Transition
The demographic transition model seeks to explain the transformation of countries from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. In developed countries this transition began in the eighteenth century and continues today. Less developed countries began the transition later and are still in the midst of earlier stages of the model.
For stages of demographic transition, see:
http://www.uwmc.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htm
Desalination
The removal of salt and chemicals from water, especially sea water. Desalinization is one possible way to increase the supply of drinking water.
Green Revolution
The introduction of high-yield varieties of grains, the use of pesticides, and improved management techniques that results in a significant increase in agricultural productivity.
Greenhouse Gas
Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Among the most important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs.
Sustainable Development, As defined by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
A trajectory of economic, social, technological, and political development in which the poor have the opportunity to narrow the gap in material conditions with the rich, while the rich have the opportunity to continue to improve material conditions, and all of this accomplished with the attention to environmental conditions so as to prevent a massive loss of species and habitat, the destruction or depletion of essential resources, or the collapse of ecosystem functions.
Zoonotic Ilness
A disease of animals, such as rabies, that can be transmitted to humans.
For more information visit his website: Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities For Our Time
Thursday, September 29, 2005, 4-6pm, Room 555 Lerner Hall
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Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals.
Background
About Jeffrey D. Sachs
Scientific American September 2005
Time Magazine March 2005
The African Challenge: The Mission
Natural Hazards: Barriers to Human Development?
Thursday, October 20, 2005, 4-6pm, Satow Room, Lerner Hall
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Moderator:
John C. Mutter, Deputy Director/Associate Vice Provost of the Earth Institute at Columbia, Professor of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University
Panelists:
Art Lerner-Lam, Senior Research Scientist, Associate Director Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University
Marc Levy, Heads the Science Applications group at the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), and is an adjunct faculty member of the School of International and Public Affairs
Dirk Salomons, Director of the Program for Humanitarian Affairs at the School of International Public Affairs, Columbia University
Jane Carter Ingram, Earth Institute Research Fellow researching the relationship between conservation and poverty alleviation in developing countries
Irwin Redlener, Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Presentations:
Art Lerner-Lam: Flash | PDF
Dirk Salomons : Flash | PDF
Jane Carter Ingram : Flash | PDF
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Background Information
The Center for Hazards and Risk Research
Key Terms
Hazard
Natural occurrence of potentially dangerous environmental conditions or earth processes
Hazard impacts
Direct and indirect consequences of hazards
Natural Disaster
Hazard with severe direct and indirect impacts
Persistent Disaster
Hazard which exceeds expectations based on past experience
Extreme Event
Hazard which exceeds expectations, preparedness and capacity to respond
Vulnerability
Physical and societal preconditions that may amplify direct and indirect impacts and affect response
Risk
A measure of probable (persistent) and possible (extreme) impacts, including vulnerability and response capacity
Natural Disaster Hotspots
Geographic regions exposed to persistent natural hazards as well as extreme events
Biodiversity and sustainability: The Implausibility of Sustainable Development in an age of mass extinction
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 4-6pm, Satow Room, Lerner Hall
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Speaker:
Shahid Naeem, Department Chair for Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. He is also part of the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, and the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology department.
Understanding Katrina: Co-sponsored between the Earth Institute and the School of International and Public Affairs
Friday, Novermber 11, 2005, 10am-2pm, Faculty Room, Low Library
The wide-spread damage caused by Hurricane Katrina exposed serious weaknesses in society's ability to incorporate a scientific understanding of the Earth and its environment into its political and economic priorities. The Earth Institute at Columbia University will present a half-day conference examining a broad range of issues raised by Katrina, from scientific issues such as global warming to public decision-making processes, policy options, and mitigation strategies, as well as the wide array of socio-economic questions that have arisen in the aftermath of the storm.
Opening Remarks
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John Mutter, professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University
Presentation: Flash | PDF
Session 1 - Examining the Science: Physical Phenomenon, Predictability and Uncertainties of Hurricanes
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Moderator:
Richard Seager, Doherty Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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Panelists:
- Suzana Camargo, associate research scientist, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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Presentation: PDF
- Gavin Schmidt, senior research scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, The Earth Institute at Columbia University Real Video
Presentation:Flash | PDF
- Maria Uriarte; assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University Real Video
Presentation: PDF
- Adam Sobel, associate professor, Applied Physics & Applied Math and Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia UniversityReal Video
Presentation:Flash | PDF
Questions & Answers:
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Session 2 - Challenging Development: Physical and Social Vulnerabilities
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Moderator:
Art Lerner-Lam, Doherty Senior Research Scientist, and director of the Center for Hazards and Risk Research, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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Panelists
- Robert S. Chen, deputy director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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- Guillermo Franco, postdoctoral research fellow, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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Presentation: PDF
- Rebekah Green, postdoctoral research fellow, The Earth Institute at Columbia University
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Presentation: PDF
Questions & Answers:
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Session 3 - Learning Lessons: Social Consequence of Katrina
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Moderator:
Tanya Heikkila, assistant professor, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
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Panelists
- Kenneth Broad, assistant professor, Division of Marine Affairs and Policy, University of Miami, and Executive Committee, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Columbia University
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- Lee Clarke, associate professor, Department of Sociology, Rutgers University
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Questions & Answers:
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Concluding Remarks
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Kai Erikson, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Sociology and American Studies, Yale University
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Robert Pollack, professor, Biological Science, Columbia University, director, The Center for the Study of Science & Religion, The Earth Institute at Columbia University.
What Economists think about Sustainability
Thursday, November 17, 2005, 4-6pm, Room: Morris Room, Faculty House
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Speaker:
Geoffrey Heal, Director of the Center for Economy Environment & Society, and the Paul Garrett Professor on Public Policy and Business Responsibility at Columbia Business School
