Pardee Center Director Invited to Speak at EPA New England

Prof. Adil Najam, Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future and Professor of International Relations and of Geography and the Environment at Boston University, was invited to speak on “Global Climate Change After Copenhagen” at the Boston offices of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), headquarters of the EPA Region 1 (New England) serving the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, new Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and 10 Tribal Nations. Nearly a hundred staffers of EPA were present at the talk in Boston which was also relayed to other offices of EPA New England.

In his remarks, and later in the discussion with the audience, the Pardee Center Director highlighted the need to understand the results of the Copenhagen climate talks in the context of larger changes in global dynamics, of which climate change is just one aspect. Prof. Najam highlighted the need to look at these issues (a) with in the context of development and (b) as a longer-range future challenge. He stressed that what we are seeing today is not just haggling over climate and development, but a real shift in global structures of political and economic power, and that the energy, development and climate decisions we make today will leave a deep and lasting impact on all our futures.

The talk was hosted by Curt Spalding, the newly sworn-in Regional Administrator of EPA (New England), who introduced Prof. Najam for the talk.