Comments on: Climate, conflict, peacebuilding and adaptation: a need for leaps and links http://dansmithsblog.com/2009/06/16/climate-conflict-peacebuilding-and-adaptation-a-need-for-leaps-and-links/ Analysis & commentary on world issues Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:09:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Climate adaptation: Brown paints the big money picture – now to get the details right « Dan Smith’s blog http://dansmithsblog.com/2009/06/16/climate-conflict-peacebuilding-and-adaptation-a-need-for-leaps-and-links/#comment-201 Climate adaptation: Brown paints the big money picture – now to get the details right « Dan Smith’s blog Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:27:03 +0000 http://dansmithsblog.com/?p=446#comment-201 [...] in front of the US House of Representatives is quite striking. As I explained in an earlier post (16 June), the bill anticipates committing about $700 million to fund adaptation internationally in 2012/13, [...] [...] in front of the US House of Representatives is quite striking. As I explained in an earlier post (16 June), the bill anticipates committing about $700 million to fund adaptation internationally in 2012/13, [...]

]]> By: Dan Smith http://dansmithsblog.com/2009/06/16/climate-conflict-peacebuilding-and-adaptation-a-need-for-leaps-and-links/#comment-182 Dan Smith Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:18:00 +0000 http://dansmithsblog.com/?p=446#comment-182 And I hope you understand, Gawain, that my aim - even when my comments sound a bit critical - is working along with you, doing our best. I could maybe have said in the post that one thing I am worried about is a possible tendency outside the US to leave it all to Obama. Not good enough - as you confirm, help is indeed needed! Thanks for your comment and it was likewise good to meet you and your colleagues. And I hope you understand, Gawain, that my aim – even when my comments sound a bit critical – is working along with you, doing our best. I could maybe have said in the post that one thing I am worried about is a possible tendency outside the US to leave it all to Obama. Not good enough – as you confirm, help is indeed needed!

Thanks for your comment and it was likewise good to meet you and your colleagues.

]]> By: gawain kripke http://dansmithsblog.com/2009/06/16/climate-conflict-peacebuilding-and-adaptation-a-need-for-leaps-and-links/#comment-181 gawain kripke Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:38:26 +0000 http://dansmithsblog.com/?p=446#comment-181 Hi Dan, great to meet you while in DC. Sad to say, I confirm you basic view in this posting. I remember a conversation I had in Addis with an Ethiopian colleague last year. He was excited about Obama and asked, "is it possible he will win? How wonderful will it be?" I said, "I think he will win. And I think he will be good. But it will still be America, so remember. Even the best President can only move a big country a small distance." Living and working on policy in Washington, you learn to measure out your victories in disappointly small increments. The scale is so big that the absolute numbers are large (billions and trillions). But the American political apparatus is designed for paralysis and only really take action in crisis (real or concocted). Notwithstanding the shouting of environmentalists (and, increasingly, development advocates), climate change isn't really a crisis in Washington. I suppose it will be - but thousands - millions of people will have to suffer before that comes clear. Meantime, we do our best. gawain Hi Dan,

great to meet you while in DC. Sad to say, I confirm you basic view in this posting. I remember a conversation I had in Addis with an Ethiopian colleague last year. He was excited about Obama and asked, “is it possible he will win? How wonderful will it be?”

I said, “I think he will win. And I think he will be good. But it will still be America, so remember. Even the best President can only move a big country a small distance.”

Living and working on policy in Washington, you learn to measure out your victories in disappointly small increments. The scale is so big that the absolute numbers are large (billions and trillions). But the American political apparatus is designed for paralysis and only really take action in crisis (real or concocted). Notwithstanding the shouting of environmentalists (and, increasingly, development advocates), climate change isn’t really a crisis in Washington.

I suppose it will be – but thousands – millions of people will have to suffer before that comes clear.

Meantime, we do our best.

gawain

]]> By: climatesight http://dansmithsblog.com/2009/06/16/climate-conflict-peacebuilding-and-adaptation-a-need-for-leaps-and-links/#comment-179 climatesight Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:24:32 +0000 http://dansmithsblog.com/?p=446#comment-179 Complicated stuff, and it may or may not work out well. But it's great to see someone trying to find alternate solutions instead of ignoring the problem altogether, which is what society has been doing for too long. I'd love you to come check out my blog, which has to do exclusively with climate change, especially how it relates to ideas such as credibility and risk management. Link on my username. Thanks! Complicated stuff, and it may or may not work out well. But it’s great to see someone trying to find alternate solutions instead of ignoring the problem altogether, which is what society has been doing for too long.

I’d love you to come check out my blog, which has to do exclusively with climate change, especially how it relates to ideas such as credibility and risk management. Link on my username. Thanks!

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