Bending the Curve: Climate Actions Depend on Long-Term Observations
Climate Week 2024
Join the Keeling Curve Foundation live in New York City this September for a series of inspiring and thought-provoking talks.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 3 pm EDT
New York City, NY
Attend in person or virtually
Cost: Free!
Event Summary
How will we know when we’ve bent the curve, and finally moved fossil-fuel generated CO₂ emissions towards net zero? We’ll know through long-term observations (LTOs). Long-term climate observations are essential for tracking the effectiveness of our solutions and for guiding climate policies. Four lightning talks will showcase the value of long-term observations in the atmosphere, oceans, and on land: the Keeling Curve, marine carbon dioxide removal, land observations, and policy creation.
Hosted by The Keeling Curve Foundation.
Event Description
This event highlights the challenges and importance of long-term observations for climate action.
This event addresses two key questions:
How can we increase awareness of the importance of long-term observations to climate action?
How can we increase support for long-term observations to match the growing societal need?
The iconic Keeling Curve is widely recognized as a key indicator of the climate crisis. Vital long-term measurements, such as the measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen, maintained by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), have been taken for many decades. Long-term observations (LTOs) also track variation in carbon sinks on land and ocean, which serve as essential indicators of planetary health as they track the success of our carbon actions.
Despite their significance, creation and maintenance of the measurements have been far from guaranteed. Sustained over the years by generous but short-term support, many critical records have lacked consistent long-term sponsorship.
Starting with the measurements of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, the program then turns to other examples of LTOs in the ocean and on land, with a focus on their importance for climate policy and monitoring. We highlight the need for alternative support models, including philanthropic funding.
Event Details
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm EDT
11th Floor Town Hall, 155 West 23rd St.
New York City, NY
Hosted by the Keeling Curve Foundation
Questions? Contact info@keelingcurve.org
Event Registration
Registration is requested 36 hours ahead of the event. Attendance options are in person or virtual.
Please note that the in-person attendance capacity is limited to 100 people. Light refreshments will be served.
About the Keeling Curve Foundation
The Keeling Curve Foundation is dedicated to advancing, honoring, and protecting long-term environmental observations. We work to:
collaborate to protect globally-imperiled research data collections
communicate the significance of long-term observations to the public and to private/public funders of science
honor outstanding efforts in long-term observations with the Keeling Award
Speakers and Talk Titles
Ralph Keeling, SIO: “To bend the curve, we must track the curve”
Dave Karl, UH: “Importance of LTOs for monitoring the marine carbon cycle and marine carbon dioxide removal”
Julio Betancourt, NPN: “Tracking climatic impacts on seasonal timing through LTOs”
Steve Hamburg, EDF: “LTOs are essential for accelerating GHG emissions reductions”
Ralph Keeling, SIO: Closing Remarks
Speakers
Ralph Keeling, Ph.D., Professor of Geochemistry, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Topic: To bend the curve, we must track the curve
Dave Karl, Ph.D., Professor of Oceanography; Director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Topic: Importance of LTOs for monitoring the marine carbon cycle and marine carbon dioxide removal
Julio Betancourt, Ph.D., retired federal scientist, co-founder of USA-National Phenology Network
Topic: Tracking climatic impacts on seasonal timing through LTOs
Steve Hamburg, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, EDF
Topic: LTOs are essential for accelerating GHG emissions reductions
What is Climate Week NYC?
Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 600 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening.
Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.
This year, Climate Week NYC is being held from September 22-29, 2024. The event takes place every year in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
