ABSTRACT
Climate change has become the defining issue of the twenty-first century, requiring a complete readjustment of priorities on a global scale. This chapter explores the intersection between environmental and human systems with growing concern over the sense of urgency to act, bringing the human-cultural dimensions to the forefront, before turning to affecting decision-making within the global context of climate impacts. It also focuses on the terms of constructing a sustainable vision in order to act with a unity of purpose. The report included global views from international science organizations, regional views grounded in grassroots efforts to harness science and technology in support of sustainable development. In light of these challenges and the inevitable clumsy solutions, what is needed from an anthropological partnership with the other sciences is a strong response to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, Bali Roadmap, and post-2012 climate change regime.
