Business Council on Climate Change
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Topics such as biodiversity, global warming and clean water were common around the dinner table during Aaron Pope’s childhood in Berkeley, CA, and instilled in him a lifelong commitment to the natural world. While a student at UC Santa Barbara, Aaron helped found the student-run Environmental Affairs Board. He also held several conservation internships before graduating with an Environmental Studies degree. Aaron’s love of the outdoors took him to Lake Tahoe, where he worked as a river rafting guide, editor and writer. In 2001, Aaron returned to the Bay Area to pursue a career as a project manager, helping to develop educational software for young children. His environmental experience and passion led him to the California Academy of Sciences in 2008, where he now splits his time between content development and managing the Academy’s Green Initiative. Aaron is especially interested in climate change communication, and works to help the museum empower and inspire visitors to protect their environment.

Communicating Climate

On August 19, 2010 BC3 welcomed Aaron Pope of the California Academy of Sciences to present his findings on visitor interactions at the Climate Change Exhibit at Arup (560 Mission Street), which was recognized as one of the most innovative and effective public education installations on climate change in the United States. Aaron's presentation highlighted the importance of how the public engages with climate change science and sustainability-motivated behavior change.  

Key Points:  
  • Research suggests that true barriers to a sustainable future are psychological, cultural, and institutional as opposed to technological or financial
  • Human beings are not rational; emotions and value systems almost always trump reality
  • The average American is misinformed and disengaged with the idea of long-term sustainability
  • There is an alarming rate of environmental illiteracy: Only 32% of Americans have a basic awareness of environmental topics
  • “Try to connect and talk with, not at, people”
 

Presented by:
 
Aaron Pope, Manager of Sustainability Programs, California Academy of Sciences

Links

Aaron Pope's Climate Blog:

Sustainable Futures