The Climate Solutions Research Collective Team UBC Climate Solutions Research Collective climate.collective@ubc.ca The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory Room 431 AERL | 2202 Main Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada
Registration is not required for in-person participation, but individuals can sign up to receive a reminder email.
Event Information:
The Climate Solutions Research Collective is a UBC pan-university initiative designed to build connections across UBC climate researchers, groups and initiatives, and to encourage new collaborative research on climate change solutions. It aims to foster engagement across departments and faculties, and to support graduate students and faculty in applying their research and expertise to climate
Abstract:
While the physics of climate change is well-established, the complexity of its impact on human systems remains our greatest uncertainty.
During this talk, the speaker will examine the tension between climate reality and the political power of fossil fuel interests, concluding with a look at how this friction manifests in the public debate over science—including current efforts to challenge the EPA’s endangerment finding. Ultimately, the "brink" we stand on is less about scientific capability and more about the political will to act on what we already know.
Bio:
Professor Andrew Dessler (Texas A&M), is a climate scientist studying both the science and politics of climate change. He is a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and director of Texas A&M’s Texas Center for Climate Studies. His scientific research revolves around climate feedbacks, in particular how water vapor and clouds act to amplify warming from the carbon dioxide that humans emit. He is also interested in the intersection of climate change and human society, with the goal of helping us better cope with the impacts of climate change.
He co-authored the book The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: A Guide to the Debate which is now in its second edition and authored the textbook Introduction to Modern Climate Change which is now in its third edition. He has written op-eds and has communicated on climate change and government policy to diverse audiences through multiple forms of media. Notably, he helped lead and coordinate a 434-page rebuttal of the July 2025 US Department of Energy’s report A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate in August 2025.
Add to Calendar
2026-03-09T12:30:002026-03-09T13:50:00The Climate Brink: On the Brink of Disaster and the Brink of SalvationEvent Information:
The Climate Solutions Research Collective is a UBC pan-university initiative designed to build connections across UBC climate researchers, groups and initiatives, and to encourage new collaborative research on climate change solutions. It aims to foster engagement across departments and faculties, and to support graduate students and faculty in applying their research and expertise to climate
Abstract:
While the physics of climate change is well-established, the complexity of its impact on human systems remains our greatest uncertainty.
During this talk, the speaker will examine the tension between climate reality and the political power of fossil fuel interests, concluding with a look at how this friction manifests in the public debate over science—including current efforts to challenge the EPA’s endangerment finding. Ultimately, the "brink" we stand on is less about scientific capability and more about the political will to act on what we already know.
Bio:
Professor Andrew Dessler (Texas A&M), is a climate scientist studying both the science and politics of climate change. He is a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and director of Texas A&M’s Texas Center for Climate Studies. His scientific research revolves around climate feedbacks, in particular how water vapor and clouds act to amplify warming from the carbon dioxide that humans emit. He is also interested in the intersection of climate change and human society, with the goal of helping us better cope with the impacts of climate change.
He co-authored the book The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: A Guide to the Debate which is now in its second edition and authored the textbook Introduction to Modern Climate Change which is now in its third edition. He has written op-eds and has communicated on climate change and government policy to diverse audiences through multiple forms of media. Notably, he helped lead and coordinate a 434-page rebuttal of the July 2025 US Department of Energy’s report A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate in August 2025. Event Location:
Buchanan A | Room 104 | Livestream Option
