Introduction: Describing, Analyzing and Promoting Global Warming Solutions

This blog is dedicated to the proposition that the global community, with urgency, must accelerate its transition to a clean-energy future. To assist this process, we members of the Middlebury College course "Global Warming Solutions" are developing a portfolio of possible solutions.

Recognizing the unprecedented complexity of this global challenge, we have developed a set of categories for describing, analyzing and promoting global warming solutions.

Technical

What is the technology (if any) that underlies the proposed solution? How does it work? Is it currently in use or under development?

Economic

What is are the economic characteristics (if any) of the proposed solution? Is it cost-effective? Can one justify a government subsidy for this solution?

Political

What are the political opportunities (if any) associated the proposed solution? Is the solution compatible with the incentives of elected officials?

Sociocultural

How might the proposed solution be affected (if at all) by sociocultural factors? How might sociocultural traditions be affected by the proposed solution? What are the opportunities (if any) to strengthen sociocultural traditions by implementing the proposed solution?

Scale

On what scales is this solution implemented: individual, local, regional, national, and/or international? At what scales are critical decisions made about this solution: individual, local, regional, national, and/or international?

Geography

Are some of these solutions more appropriate in rural areas? Urban areas?

Risk analysis

What could go wrong?