How much worse was that storm because of climate change?
Summary
This episode explores attribution science, a field that quantifies climate change’s role in specific extreme weather events. Dr. Joyce Kimutai explains how scientists compare current conditions to pre-industrial baselines to determine event intensity and likelihood. Professor Maxine Burkett discusses how this data supports legal accountability, enabling cities to sue major emitters for damages and seek compensation for climate resilience investments.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and Science Friday intro
Introduction to attribution science
How attribution science works and methods
Societal impact and importance of the field
Legal implications and holding emitters accountable
Scales of litigation: local, national, global
Case study: Honolulu suing fossil fuel companies
Climate crisis as a pollution problem and conclusion
Listen ad-free on Castria