New York Times reporter recounts his quest for global sustainability

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New York Times reporter recounts his quest for global sustainability

April 28, 2006

ORIENT STAFF

After his lecture, New York Times science reporter Andrew Revkin, left, signed books at a reception at the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum.

Spring in Maine does not feel so frigid to New York Times science reporter Andrew Revkin, who has traveled to the arctic multiple times to report on global warming. Revkin delivered this year's Thomas Cassidy Lecture in journalism.

Revkin, who received his B.S. from Brown and M.S. from the Columbia School of Journalism, recounted his adventures around the world, with a focus on the Arctic region and the North Pole. In the 11-plus years that Revkin has worked for the New York Times, he has written some 1000 articles. But he also spoke about his earlier years, including his sailing experience in the tropics.

"If you have the opportunity to go ahead and do it, you never know what will happen," he said of going abroad. "Being overseas is what made me want to be a journalist."

In just the past three years, Revkin has thrice visited the North Pole on behalf of the Times. He shared his views on global warming with the audience.

Revkin expressed surprise at the public opinion of global warming, which ranks relatively low on a list of public concerns about the climate. He suggested that people do not care about climate change because of its intergenerational character, and noted that the public is more concerned about issues that can be solved in the short-term.

"Climate change is more complicated than 'here-and-now,'" he said. "We're talking about the slow drip."

He stressed that few politicians or scientists seriously disputed the claim that humans are having a significant impact on the environment, but that now the argument is what to do about it.

Revkin acknowledged that there are benefits to global warming, especially economically, but suggested that it does not mean that more eco-friendly alternative energy sources should not be pursued.

Preceding the lecture, Revkin dined with select Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff at the Maine Lounge in Moulton Union.

Revkin also visited the anthropology first-year seminar, Weather, Climate and Culture. After a short lecture illustrating his views on climate change, he fielded questions from the class.

One argument against global warming that he did not mention in the lecture, but did cover in class, was the idea that the arctic is too beautiful to destroy.

"Aesthetics are always discounted," he said. "Scientists hate talking about beauty."

Revkin brought up the April 3 issue of TIME Magazine, the cover of which featured global warming as a threat: "Be Worried. Be Very Worried." He considered the scare-tactic approach counter-productive, saying that such a cover makes the global warming debate appear partisan.

At the end of the evening lecture, Revkin took out an acoustic guitar and performed his self-penned song, "Liberated Carbon," with the satirical chorus, "Liberate some carbon—it's the American way." Revkin is part of the band Uncle Wade, and has written profiles on musicians for the Times.

Revkin's new book "The North Pole Was Here" is on sale at the Bowdoin Bookstore. He says the book is aimed toward everyone "10 and up."

Revkin said that he believes there is hope for controlling climate-change.

"Believe it or not I'm optimistic," he said in his lecture.

"If young people don't get agitated about this, then there is no hope," Revkin told the anthropology class, speaking of climate change. "That generation has to get righteously indignant."

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