Oral Presentations: UC 330
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Peter Mcdonough
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Environmental Studies
Abstract / Artist's Statement
In 2017, several sources of the state of Montana’s economy are susceptible to climate change impacts; those industries include tourism, agriculture, wildlife management, and outdoor recreation. In recent years, political figures, national governments, and grassroots organizations have called for extreme methods of climate change mitigation for the entire global community. In response, communities, countries, and individuals have responded and changed their habits and policies to begin mitigating climate change.
During this research, I analyzed peer reviewed articles, government documents, and interviews from Montana economy experts. From those results, I was able to discern the approximate amount of money associated with the Montana industries that are at risk from climate change. This dollar amount was compared to the estimated profit from industries associated with fossil fuels, or those industries that would succeed if no climate change mitigation was addressed.
In addition, my research included using climate model research to establish how the global impact of greenhouse gases would impact at-risk Montana industries. After synthesizing the results from the climate models with the comparative dollar amounts of Montana industries, this research concludes Montana mitigation would negatively impact the Montana economy.
By means of secondary research and a synthesizing of the conclusions of credible economists, local energy experts, technology scientists, and climate scientists, this paper hypothesizes that extreme climate change mitigation methods in Montana would have no direct impact impact on the quality of Montana’s environment, and would actually decrease the total economic profit of the state of Montana and its collective inhabitants.
Category
Humanities
Economic Impacts of Climate Change Mitigation in the State of Montana
UC 330
In 2017, several sources of the state of Montana’s economy are susceptible to climate change impacts; those industries include tourism, agriculture, wildlife management, and outdoor recreation. In recent years, political figures, national governments, and grassroots organizations have called for extreme methods of climate change mitigation for the entire global community. In response, communities, countries, and individuals have responded and changed their habits and policies to begin mitigating climate change.
During this research, I analyzed peer reviewed articles, government documents, and interviews from Montana economy experts. From those results, I was able to discern the approximate amount of money associated with the Montana industries that are at risk from climate change. This dollar amount was compared to the estimated profit from industries associated with fossil fuels, or those industries that would succeed if no climate change mitigation was addressed.
In addition, my research included using climate model research to establish how the global impact of greenhouse gases would impact at-risk Montana industries. After synthesizing the results from the climate models with the comparative dollar amounts of Montana industries, this research concludes Montana mitigation would negatively impact the Montana economy.
By means of secondary research and a synthesizing of the conclusions of credible economists, local energy experts, technology scientists, and climate scientists, this paper hypothesizes that extreme climate change mitigation methods in Montana would have no direct impact impact on the quality of Montana’s environment, and would actually decrease the total economic profit of the state of Montana and its collective inhabitants.