Tuesday on Political Rewind: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest reporting last week. It is the most definitive report yet on the consequences of an unchecked global carbon economy on our global climate. Scientists are crystal clear that human activity is to blame for widespread and rapid changes. The findings are grim, but not surprising to anyone who has been following the unfolding crisis.

“The extremes associated with climate change and that are talked about in the IPCC report; they are not happening in 2100, they are not happening just to the polar bears, they are happening right now,” Dr. Marshall Shepherd said. “And we're seeing implications for our day-to-day lives, what I often call our kitchen-table issues.”

So what is the message Americans should take away from this report? As we look ahead to uncertainty, what are the paths forward that address this existential issue?

Panelists:

Dr. J. Marshall Sheperd — Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia 

Dr. Marilyn Brown — Regents and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems, School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology 

Dr. Nirajan Dhakal — Associate professor and vice chair of Environmental and Health Sciences Program 

Tamar Hallerman – Senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution