Climate change occurs when changes in Earth’s climate system result in new weather patterns that last for at least a few decades, and maybe for millions of years. In the context of climate variation, anthropogenic factors are human activities which affect the climate. Of most concern are the increase in CO2 levels, industrial land use, ozone depletion, animal husbandry, and deforestation.
In 2017, Ryan Maia, a student of Northeastern University visited Singapore and interviewed government officials, leaders at non-governmental organizations, and university researchers to learn how the country is preparing for climate change.
He discovered creative solutions for mitigating its effects and promoting sustainability, as well as examples of government, industry, and the public working together to create these solutions.
“So often when we talk about climate change, it’s a field of crisis, we’re all in danger,” says Maia.
He plans to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and international affairs and says that his experience in Singapore inspired him to explore the fields of climate change and international development after graduation. He is also is among four Northeastern students named Presidential Global Fellows this year.
Maia moreover worked on co-op in Australia at the Institute for Economics and Peace, and presented his study of how Australia and New Zealand are helping Pacific Island nations prepare for climate change at a conference earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
His research experience in Singapore also led him to educate children in Boston about climate change and sustainability. He co-founded EcoScholars, a program in which Northeastern students teach lessons on environmental education to children at after-school programs in Boston. The lessons being taught this spring focus on defining climate change and explaining how people contribute to it, how it affects people and the world, and how people can fight it.