Part 2 of Global Warming Project
Your Role What perspective to bring to the Forum
CEO of the petroleum industry You need to call for caution. Cutting CO2
emissions cuts into profits. Drastic
changes threaten jobs and the industry as a
whole. Seek the support of scientists who
are skeptical of the models and dooms day
projections.
congressperson/policy maker You need to address the needs of the voters
in your district. Anything less will cost
you your job. People are alerted and
concerned with the issue but are very
attached to their lifestyles and
livelihood. Despite that balancing act, in
your heart you know that your job is to do
what is best for the country.
atmospheric research chemist You bring the technical knowledge to keep
people honest. You understand the science
of global warming and are clear about the
knowns and unknowns. You also know what
research strategies are best.
environmentalist You are mainly concerned with protecting
ecosystems and the environment. You
recognize that protecting the environment
has a great deal of economic value.
ambassador of a developing You represent the population that is most
country vulnerable if significant global warming
where to occur: people in poorer
developing wazzu countries. Some of these
countries are in low lying coastal regions.
This population did not contribute to the
problem until in recent decades as some are
conduction aggressive deforestation
campaigns and are beginning modernize.
Developing countries are asking you to slow
your deforestation and use expensive
environmental measures. These requests may
hurt you in the economic short term.
economic consultant to the U. The current of president is more sensitive
S. president to environmental issues than previous
administrations, but he is also very
concerned with sustaining a healthy
economy. You must propose the balance that
will best serve the interests the United
States.
lawyer for a consumer You represent U. S. citizens and labor. In
advocate group general, this population enjoys a
comfortable, materialistic lifestyle that
they would like to maintain and even
improve. Still they don't necessarily see
the interests of corporations the same as
their own.
Big Policy Questions
1. Explain to the group your perspective on global warming, in character.
2. Is the evidence compelling enough to cause us to respond now?
3. How should governments and society as a whole respond?
4. How should individuals respond?