Stockholm university

Alasdair Skelton: ”Knowledge about geological time is all we need to understand the climate crisis"

During the climate top meeting COP26 in Glasgow, Alasdair Skelton was there to do what he is most passionate about: explain his research. We joined the journey of a researcher working on climate and finding a balance between academia and personal engagement.

 

 

”When I meet young climate activists and talk with them about my research I see a clear purpose of the research I do as a geologist. A basic understanding of geological time (millions on years) is all any of us need to understand the severity of the climate crisis that we our now in”, says Alasdair Skelton.

What message did you try to convey at the meeting?

”I was there to explain the simple reality that when snow and ice melt and sea level rises, this is, from our human time perspective, a permanent change. It is therefore extremely important that we limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. 2 degrees is too much. When ice melts the entire world is affected for a long time. And the ice will take a long time to return. Even if we limit global warming, sea level rise will remain.”

Do you experience problems as a scientist working closely with young protesters?

”No, provided that I know my place. I am a scientist, I talk about science and scientific facts. I do not run around with placards. That is not my place.”

What do you feel about the outcome of the meeting?

”We need massive emissions reductions. This needs to be stated even more clearly than in the written material that has come from COP26. Fossil fuel subsidies were on the agenda. Initially, there was a very strong statement about phasing them out, but the statement became weaker and weaker throughout the meeting.”

Does this mean that we are too late?

”No. Something that gave me hope was the positive atmosphere both inside and outside the meeting. I feel that the peaceful protests outside the arena gave support to the negotiators, helping them to find the courage to make good decisions. These are the actions that will create a better future.”

 

Abour Alasdair Skelton

Photo: Caroline Falkman

Alasdair Skelton is a professor of geochemistry and petrology. For nine years, he has been the director of the Bolin Center for Climate Research, which was formed at Stockholm University in 2006, a network of over 400 Swedish climate researchers.

Research focus: the climate of the time and the ongoing climate crisis. However, not at the same time. There are two tracks. He has also studied earthquakes and tsunamis.
Geology: the theory of the origin, composition and change of the earth's rocks and soils, and the climate.
Geochemistry: the science of earth chemistry.
Petrology: the study of rocks (= rocks and their origin, properties and use).

Read more about Alasdair Skelton's research

Alasdair Skelton explains the carbon cycle

 

COP26

The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 was the 26th UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October to 12 November 2021. The conference was originally scheduled for November 2020, but was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The United Kingdom hosted the meeting, in cooperation with Italy. The meeting is normally held annually between the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and this was the 26th in a row, hence the abbreviation COP26 ("Conference of the Parties"). (Source Wikipedia)

Read more about COP26

 

Bolin Centret for Climate Research

  • The Bolin Centre is a multi-disciplinary consortium of over 400 scientists in Sweden that conduct research and graduate education related to the Earth´s climate.
  • The Bolin Centre focuses on extending and disseminating knowledge about the Earth’s natural climate system, climate variations, climate impacting processes, climate modelling, human impact on the climate and climate impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity and human conditions as well as how society can minimize negative impacts.
  • The centre was formed in 2006 by Stockholm University, the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI).

Read more about the Bolin Centre for Climate Research

 

MOOC: ”Taking on the Climate Crisis with Social Change”

Smältande is
Melting ice. Photo: Martin Jakobsson

Do you want to learn more about climate change and what can be done to counter it? Now there is a new open online course that you can attend. "Taking on the Climate Crisis with Social Change" is a so-called Massive Online Open Course (MOOC), which means that the course is given in digital format, has no prerequisites and is free to attend. Several of the course elements consist of filmed elements where the course participants can follow to different places such as Vättern and Omberg in Sweden.

One of the initiators of the course is Alasdair Skelton, professor of geochemistry and petrology.

Find the course

 

Alasdair Skelton explains the long-term carbon cycle

 

 

 

Alasdair Skelton explains the risks with geoengineering

 

 

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