Alumna selected for UN talks

The third discussion of global climate changes took place Wednesday, Nov. 18, in MainStreet Cinema at Tangeman University Center to raise awareness of the United Nations Framework Convention.

The University of Cincinnati Sustainability group and the Programs and Activities Council hosted the events, which began Monday, Nov. 16.

The speakers included Gary M. Bramble, director of the Air and Waste Management Association and Elizabeth Trombley, a recent UC graduate and a member of the non-profit youth empowerment organization SustainUS.

Trombley secured her seat at the December conference through SustainUS. She and fellow group members will cover specific climate issues that might exist in the future.

“In the upcoming years we will see increases in biomass, solar, wind and nuclear energy,” Bramble said. Bramble also said many power companies are taking steps to combat the energy problem.

One of the main subjects to be covered at the conference is the need for global change to reduce greenhouse gasses, halt the melting of the polar ice caps and the rising of ocean levels.

Ocean levels are expected to rise eight to 24 inches by 2099, based on the 8 percent increase in the last century, Bramble said.

“Some of this rise is due to the expansion of water from the increased temperatures in oceans caused by global climate change,” Bramble said.

Countries such as Africa are noticing the effects of global climate change.

“Right now droughts are sweeping through Africa killing cattle,” Trombley said. “And people are simply killing themselves because they have nothing left.”

When the air warms, evaporation from both land and sea increases. This can cause drought in areas of the world where the increased evaporation is not compensated for by precipitation, Bramble said.

Trombley points to the low level of international cooperation and the unwillingness of wealthier nations to help developing countries as a contributing factor.

“These talks at the Copenhagen Conference will set the groundwork to work from in the coming years,” Bramble said.

The conference will take place Dec. 7 - Dec. 18 in Copenhagen.

“It is important to me to reach out to college students because we are the future and it is better to educate us about this biggest issue of our time early,” Trombley said.