About Creating a Climate of Change

The initial idea for a conference on global climate change was proposed by Dr. Dorothy Freidel, Associate Professor of Geography at Sonoma State, in the fall of 2001. Through her studies of past climate change, she had become increasingly concerned about the potential consequences of current trends, particularly in terms of the potential impact on water resources. Faculty members from a broad range of disciplines have expressed interest in the project and contributed their support in a variety of ways, as have several members of the local community.

Joining Freidel as core members of the planning process during the 2001-2002 academic year were Dr. Zeno Swijtink, a philosopher of science who teaches in the SSU Department of Philosophy. Dr. Swijtink, coordinator of the March 29 workshop, founded the Atascadero Creek and Green Valley Creek Watershed Council and represents the Sonoma County Conservation Council on the Russian River Watershed Council. Recently, he has joined the Climate Change Work Group of the California Water Plan Update 2003 of the State Resources Agency in Sacramento.

Debora Hammond, Provost in Hutchins School of Liberal Studies and Associate Professor at SSU also joined the effort. Her background is in the history of science, focusing on the social implications of systems theory, specifically in terms of the role of dialogue in the decision making process. As coordinator of the May 3 workshop, she has worked with Ann Hancock from Skymetrics and Armando Navarro, Assistant Director of the Environmental Technology Center at SSU, to coordinate the initial inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, as the first phase of the ICLEI project. Navarro has extensive experience in energy efficiency and renewable energy, working with large corporations (including P. G. & E.) and small non-profit energy consulting agencies. He has coordinated several energy-related workshops and forums, including last year's Green Building Expo and coordinated the June 7 workshop.

Additional members of the group include Jake MacKenzie, a member of the Rohnert Park city council; Jean Falbo, emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies and Planning, who has done extensive research on global warming and provided the vision and funding for the Environmental Technology Center; and Damon Knutson of Green Energy Network, brings 15 years of computer experience and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Planning from SSU to the coordinator position of the Global Climate Change Group. He is working on a project to gather grass-roots interest in Sonoma County for moving away from petroleum-based transportation.

In connection with Sonoma County's leadership on the ICLEI Climate Protection Campaign, along with other local initiatives, one of the primary goals of the SSU forum series is to provide an opportunity for community dialogue. According to Dr. Freidel, "Our first goal is to lay out the facts to our community regarding the science of global warming, to separate out the political rhetoric from reality. Our second goal is to facilitate discussion among community leaders, from public agencies, industry and agriculture, local government, and education to formulate plans for response to changes brought to our region by global warming." From an ethical perspective, Dr. Swijtink asks us to consider our responsibility to the people of the future as a basis for global stewardship of the earth, including species whose habitat is being disrupted by climate change.

For yet another view, Debora Hammond draws on the work of Richard Norgaard, Professor of Economics in the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley, who suggests that sustainability is not something that can be defined by scientific experts. Instead, it is the responsibility of the people who live in a community to determine for themselves what it means to live sustainably in their own region. She sees this series of forums as an opportunity for North Bay residents to begin this conversation.