JCU students hear hard lesson on the environment

By Molly Robinson

Rome, April 14 – Market forces are beginning to take on the problem of climate change.

That was the message last Thursday from Giovannella D'Andrea, a partner at B-Legal an international law firm that concentrates on corporate and social responsibility, environment regulation, energy resources and international trade. D'Andrea came to John Cabot University to discuss with students the impact climate change is having on the planet.

According to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the earth’s surface temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C (3.2 to 7.2 degrees F) this century if no further action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although this seems like a small number, it has already caused the to sea level rise 10-25 cm over the past 100 years, displacing people living in low lying areas in South Asia, and it's believed to be having an impact on weather patterns. Think out-of-season hurricanes, heat waves and floods.

D'andrea made it clear these changes are only the beginning. Unless stopped, sea levels will continue to rise, wiping out many of the major cities in South America, leading to the spread of tropical diseases such as malaria northward where the population has little or no immunity to them, reduce the fresh water supply, increase droughts and decimate biodiversity.

The presentation lasted well past the allotted time and the students had to move into a side to room to ask questions and snack on chips, soft drinks and other refreshments the university provided