NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 19920024814: Pathways of Understanding: the Interactions of Humanity and Global Environmental Change

63 Pages·38.3 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

NASA-CR-190678
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The Consortium for International Earth Science
Information Network (CIESIN)
2250 Pierce Road
University Center, MI 48710 USA
CIESIN is a non-profit corporation founded in 1989 to facilitate access to, use and
understanding of global change information worldwide. As a consortium, CIESIN
draws upon the expertise of universities, non-profit research organizations, government
agencies, foundations and private corporations to meet the challenges of understanding
environmental issues and advancing information technology and scientific research
involving the human dimensions of global change.
CIESIN is one of nine distributed data centers forming the data and information
management component of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
(NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS). EOS is a network of remote sensing satellites
and instruments dedicated to collecting essential data for studying Earth and its
changing natural systems. EOS is part of the United States Global Change Research
Program, which has been established to coordinate global change research efforts across
all participating federal agencies. CIESIN has been commissioned by NASA to extend
the benefits of EOS to a broad array of both international research and non-research
users including policy makers, federal agencies, educators, resource managers and the
general public.
The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of facts contained in this
document and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of
NASA.
C May 1992 Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network
® Printed on recyled paper.
Pathways of Understanding
The Interactions of Humanity
and Global Environmental Change
(NASA—CR-190678) PAT4WAYS OF N92-34058
UNDERSTANOING: THE INTERACTIONS OF
HUMANITY ANn GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
CHANGE (Consortium for Unclas
International Earth Science
Information Network) b2 Q
G3/45 0116117
44
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Sponsored by the
Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network
under NASA Grant No. NAGW-2010 and NAGW-2901:
Earth Science Information: Planning for the Integration and
Use of Global Change Information
CIE^^v
Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network
About the Consortium for International
Earth Science Information Network
In 1990, the National Aeronautics and Space conducting workshops and convening conferences;
Administration (NASA) granted funds to the sponsoring interdisciplinary science programs and
Consortium for International Earth Science pilot projects; and consulting with the scientific
Information Network (CIESIN) to bring the bene- community and numerous agencies, institutes and
fits of Earth monitoring systems, such as the Earth organizations. The Consortium's success hinges on
Observing System (EOS), to policy makers and accounting for the growing interdisciplinary nature
applied users worldwide. To achieve this task, of global change research and understanding the
CIESIN is working with current and potential users rapid evolution of technology.
to outline ways to interact with both the scientific
and policy making communities, and is studying To fulfill its mission, CIESIN draws upon the
the need for a computer network powerful enough expertise within universities, research organiza-
to store and disseminate data gathered from a wide tions, federal agencies and, potentially, that of
range of scientific disciplines. foundations and industrial partners. Consortium
members include the Environmental Research
Initially, NASA asked CIESIN to serve the EOS Institute of Michigan, Michigan State University,
Data and Information System and the United New York's Polytechnic University, Saginaw Valley
States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) State University, the University of California at
as an Affiliated Data Center. Recently, CIESIN's Santa Barbara, and the University of Michigan.
role has expanded into that of a distributed data
center. This designation means CIESIN will be a A major CIESIN goal is to cooperate and coordi-
"gateway" to global change information, bringing nate with organizations and researchers in the
data and research on the human dimensions of global change community in order to ensure that
global change into the EOS and USGCRP. every country around the globe benefits from the
most advanced technology, the latest scientific
In its first two years alone, CIESIN has made great research and the best information available for
strides by beginning to understand user needs; critical decision making.
A Word to Our Readers
This document is aimed at a broad audience, from It is also hoped that educators, resource managers
the general public to scientists who have an interest and policy makers will gain valuable information
in global environmental change. from this document, using its principles to study,
teach or make decisions. Educators, for example,
The Working Group that developed the Social may find the information presented will assist with
Process Diagram recognizes that people actively curriculum development, while policy makers may
engaged in studying global change will be familiar find this document useful when evaluating recom-
with some of the material presented here. We mendations from the research community. The
encourage this audience to focus on the sections Social Process Diagram can help determine
that describe the Social Process Diagram. For those whether a particular course of study or recommen-
not as familiar with global change issues, it is dation reflects an understanding of related issues.
hoped that the background information presented
will stimulate your curiosity for further study.
Members of the Human Interactions Working Group
The scientists listed below developed the Social Process Diagram at the Aspen Global Change Institute, Aspen,
Colorado in August 1991. The results of this Working Group's efforts are detailed in this document. This document
was written and reviewed by the Working Group members.
Dr. William Kuhn, Department o
Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space ciences, c^
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
(Working Group Organizer and Chair)
Dr. Urs Luterbacher, Graduate Institute o
International Studies, Geneva, Switzerlan
(Working Group Co-Moderator)
Dr. Ellen Wiegandt, University of Geneva,
Geneva, Switzerland (Working Group
Co-Moderator)
Dr. Christopher Aehen, Political Science
Department, University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Dr. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Hoover
Institution, Stanford University, Palo Alto,
California and University of Rochester,
New York
Dr. Paul Demeny, Population Council,
New York, New York
Dr. Allan M. Din, International Academy of
the Environment, Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Jae Edmonds, Economic Programs,
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, and
Policy Programs, Pacific Northwest
Laboratory's Global Studies Program,
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Frank Hole, Department of Anthropology,
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
r Dr. Stephen Kowalewski, Department of
Anthropology, University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia
Dr. Frederic L. Pryor, Economics Department,
SwarthmoreCollege, Swarthmore,
Pennsylvania
Dr. Gary Yohe, Department of Economics,
Wesleyan University, Middletown,
Connecticut
19
Table of Contents
2 Preface
by Jack Lousma,
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Consortium for International Earth Science
Information Network
4 Executive Summary
6 The Call to Explore the
Human Dimensions of
Global Change
10
The Social Process Diagram: A
Fundamental Contribution to
Human Dimensions Research
By Dr. Harold K. Jacobson, Chair,
Scientific Committee of the Human
Dimensions of Global Environmental
Change Programme, International Social
Science Council, and Director, Center for
Political Studies, University of Michigan
11 Reestablishing a Unified Approach
to the Sciences
By Dr. Urs Luterbacher, Professor of
Political Science, Graduate Institute of
International Studies, Geneva,
Switzerland
"*.
12 Global Change Research
Occurring Worldwide
A
15 Studying the Earth System
By Dr. Harold Mooney, Past Chair, U.S.
Committee on Global Change Research
and Professor of Biological Sciences,
Stanford University, Stanford, California
16 Studying the Human Dimensions of
Global Environmental Change
By Dr. Richard H. Moss, Deputy
Executive Director, Human Dimensions
of Global Environmental Change
Programme, and Programme Officer,
International Geosphere-Biosphere
Programme
ORIGINAL PAGE
COLOR PHOTOGRAPH
Integrating the Social 18
Sciences to Address Global
Change Issues
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Human Interactions 21
Working Group Participants
The Social Process Diagram 22
The Aspen Global Change Institute 34
By john Katzenberger, Director,
Aspen Global Change Institute,
Aspen, Colorado
The Diagram in Action: 35
Three Potential Scenarios

Global Warming and Sea Level Rise 36
By Dr. Garr Yohe, Wesleyan University,
Middletown, Connecticut

The Environmental Impact of 40
Human Population Migration
By Dr. Urs Luterbacher, Graduate
Institute of International Studies,
Geneva, Switzerland; Dr. Ellen
Wiegandt, University of Geneva,
Geneva, Switzerland; and Dr.
Stephen Kowalewski, University of
Georgia, Athens, Georgia i^
arti,,,.
Energy and the Environment: 44
The Effects of a Tax on
Fossil Fuel Emissions
By Dr. Jae Edmonds, Battelle Pacific
Northwest Laboratories,
Washington, D.C.
Advancing Global Change 50
Research
Appendices 55
ORIGINAL PAGE
COLOR PHOTOGRAPH

119
Executive Summary
Earth is a place of change, first and contimi- The Social Process Diagram is, in part, an
ally by natural forces, and increasingly by a expansion of several preceding global change
myriad of human activities. Humans naturally research efforts. In the mid-1980s, a group of
organize into social groups, and our inclination natural scientists constructed a diagram
to question, explore and learn has caused and picturing the interactions among natural
continues to cause much of the environmental processes that influence global change. This
change we experience today. Critical global diagram has become widely known as the
change issues—including loss of biodiversity, Bretherton Diagram. While "Human
climate change and ozone depletion—will all Activities" are noted on the Bretherton
remain center stage as we enter the 21st century. Diagram, the relationships among these activi-
A growing realization surrounding research ties were not developed. The Social Process
into these and other areas is how human activi- Diagram, explained in this document, gives us
ties combine with naturally occurring events to a framework to begin analyzing these human
contribute to global change. This new facet of dimensions.
global change research is called the "human
dimensions" of global change. The Social Process Diagram consists of seven
building blocks that constitute the Diagram's
This document explores how humans, inter- structural framework:
acting within social systems, affect and are
affected by global change. The causes and Fund of Knowledge and Experience. This
consequences of human activities need to be refers to the formal and informal understand-
factored into the discussions, research, predic- ing people have of their natural and social
tions, policies and actions surrounding global environments, and to the technology that their
change. When the links between the natural culture defines as relevant.
and human domains are identified and quanti-
fied, we will begin to understand more fully Preferences and Expectations. From the Fund
the direction of global change. Achieving this of Knowledge people define their preferences
goal requires that social and natural scientists and expectations, which reflect the culturally
work together to identify and understand defined constraints and opportunities that
global change and to recommend courses of confront individual actions.
action to ensure the long-term well-being of
Earth and all its inhabitants. Factors of Production and Technology, includ-
ing resources consisting of Labor, Land,
Recognizing the impact human activities have Capital, Raw Material and Energy. The
on the environment and responding to the resources and technology people use to
need to document the interactions among produce goods and services constitute this
human activities, the Consortium for category. This category helps us trace what
International Earth Science Information elements enter a system, how they are modi-
Network (CIESIN) commissioned a group of fied and what emerges at the end of the
12 scientists to develop a framework illustrat- process.
ing the key human systems that contribute to
global change. This framework, called the Population and Social Structure. The world's
Social Process Diagram, will help natural and growing population is perhaps one of the most
social scientists, educators, resource managers important factors of global environmental
and policy makers envision and analyze how change. Population helps determine the
human systems interact among themselves and demands placed on resources and the associat-
with the natural system. ed wastes generated, and thus whether a
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