Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1

Annotated Bibliography

Climate Change at UTEP

William Johnson

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302

Dr. Vierra

July 23, 2018

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2

Research Question

• What is climate change?

o Bridgman (2006)

o Cameron (2001)

o Cotton (2007)

• Who does not believe in climate change?

1. Harvey (2017)

2. Lorenzo (2010)

3. Lane (2014)

• Can climate change affect the economy?

1. Blackburn (2017)

2. Ackerman (2013)

3. Esquinca (2015)

• How does the idea of climate change affect UTEP and its students?

1. Drewes (2018)

2. Ackerman (2013)

3. Cameron (2001)
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3

Interview Questions

1. What is your age?

2. What is your gender?

3. Are you from the El Paso/ Ciudad Juarez area? If so, what area?

4. Do you believe in man-made climate change?

5. Why or why not?

6. How did you learn about climate change?

7. Has anything weather related stopped you from turning in or completing an assignment?

8. What is your GPA range?

9. How many times have you gotten a weather-related sickness in the past year?
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4

Annotated Bibliography

Ackerman, F., & Stanton, E. A. (2013). Climate economics: The state of the art (1st ed.). USA and Canada:
Routledge. Retrieved from http://0-
search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b2644162&site=eds
-live&scope=site

Ackerman (2013) claimed that the prediction of future economic influence through climate change is
possible, but it begins with knowing the “business-as-usual” statistics. The global economic greenhouse
gas emissions released also needs to be known in order to move forward (p. 9). The most optimistic
scenario being that in the next few decades the greenhouse gases double and the pessimistic outcome
being it more than triples what the current output is today. A good portion of the climate system is
already understood by scientists. With that being said it is established that the surplus of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere is magnifying the sun’s potential to heat up the earth (p. 13).

Those unfamiliar with this school of thought might be interested to know that it basically boiled down to
the bad gases destroying our protection against the sun which is the atmosphere. The atmosphere is our
protection from the sun and it is failing which allows the sun’s rays to further come in and throw the
planet’s equilibrium off. Ackerman and Stanton (2013) observed there has been a steady increase of two
degrees Celsius in global temperature since 1990. If the bad emissions continue to rise then it will put an
end to the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Artic sea ice. With two of the largest bodies of ice in the world
melted, it will undoubtedly lead to massive flooding.

Blackburn, J. (2017). A Texan plan for the Texas coast (1st ed.). Texas: College Station: Texas A&M
University Press, 2017.

Blackburn (2017) observed that the Texas coastal region is up against long-term issues that endanger its
entire economy (p. 1). He noted that this society’s infrastructure as well as their thinking is strongly
planted in expansion while current resources are barely enough to sustain the ecosystem (p. 3).

Although Blackburn (2017) may have seemed of concern to only a small group of Texans, it should in
fact have concerned anyone who cared about the Gulf coast like Louisiana and Mississippi. These two
states are near Texas and also reside on the Gulf coast. The countries in South America that border on
the Gulf will probably share similar feelings as well.

Bridgman, H. A., Oliver, J. E., & Glantz, M. H. (2006). In Glantz M. (Ed.), The global climate system:
Patterns, processes, and teleconnections (First ed.). USA, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Retrieved from http://0-
search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b2108975&site=eds
-live&scope=site

Bridgman and Oliver (2006) believed that climate is a function in all of the spheres, not only the
atmosphere. It includes the geosphere, hydrosphere, and the biosphere. They observed that a systems
method acknowledges specific influences between different elements. This system is climate based and
avoids only taking in singular atmospheric data. If it only took this data into account then there would be
a substantial amount of inaccuracies (p. 1). At different times of the year irreversible impacts of the
environment are happening that ultimately affect humans. The droughts happening in a season when
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5

the crops should be growing as well as other climate related tragedies. These horrible instances are
happening in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. It is a big concern to the global public,
government officials and researchers alike. The issue threatens a way of life including water, energy,
food, security, and health (p. 10).

While Bridgman and Oliver (2006) are probably wrong when they claimed it is a big concern to
the global public, they were right about the fact that it is a big concern. The global public as a whole
either does not believe in or does not think it is a big enough issue. The majority of the government as
well as policy makers do not think it is a big enough issue and are the back bone of the big companies
that do not care as long as their business is profitable. Those big businesses have enough disposable
income to control the muckrakers. The government officials who do not believe are those who have
probably been convinced and paid by the big companies whose products create a toxic byproduct.

Cameron, G. N., & Scheel, D. (2001). Getting warmer: Effect of global climate change on distribution of
rodents in Texas. Journal of Mammalogy, 82(3), 652-680. Retrieved from http://0-
www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/1383604

Cameron and Scheel (2001) believed granivores and herbivores utilized less new habitats that entered
Texas after the climate change compared to other species. The authors noted that historically the
allocation of animals and plants repositioned after certain changes in temperature at different areas
around the world. As well as the impact of climate change on rodents in Texas was the most severe
during hotter and less humid weather (p. 2).

Although Cameron and Scheel (2001) are correct up to a point, their overall conclusion that the
temperature affected the animals’ locations was flawed. The evidence is not conclusive that the
temperature is the sole reason for their relocation.

Cotton, W. R., & Pielke, R. A., Jr. (2007). Human impacts on weather and climate (Second ed.). USA, New
York: Cambridge University Press.

Cotton and Pielke (2007) claimed that man has modified the weather through attempts both failed and
successful. The authors noted a discovery in 1946 resulted in man-made ice crystals. This discovery of
using dry ice in a freezer evolved into modifying weather, the current age of science (p. 3). A project was
taken place in various locations above New Mexico in an attempt to make it rain using a technique
called seeding. The project was named Cirrus. The technique was performed flying in different patterns
while dropping dry ice in different types of clouds. One of the flight strategies used was a racetrack
pattern about twenty miles long. The projects concluded that rainfall occurred in over a quarter of the
area covered and that it was not a coincidence (p. 6).

While it was true that the dry ice was a cause for the precipitation, it does not necessarily follow that it
was the sole cause for this phenomenon.

Dettinger, M., Udall, B., & Georgakakos, A. (2015). Western water and climate change. Ecological
Applications, 25(8), 2069-2093. Retrieved from http://0-www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/24700679;

Dettinger, Udall, and Georgakakos (2015) claimed that climate change threatens the Western water
source unlike any other part in the United States. The index for water supply that they were able to
create indicates the Southwestern water supply stress is unparalleled with the rest of the country (p. 3).
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 6

These authors observed that El Paso relies on the Rio Grande for a fraction of their supplies as well as
heavy ground water pumping (p. 17).

Dettinger’s claim that climate change threatens the Western water source rests upon the questionable
assumption that something or someone else is not siphoning the water for alternative purposes.

Drewes, A., Henderson, J., & Mouza, C. (2018). Professional development design considerations in
climate change education: Teacher enactment and student learning. International Journal of Science
Education, 40(1), 67-89. Retrieved from http://0-
search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edswss&AN=000428298500004&site=ed
s-live&scope=site;

Drewes (2018) believes that climate change is one of the leading and most significant issues overlooking
humanity (p. 2). Right now, science is the top discipline heading research for climate change. Now
climate is not heavy in most instructors’ background so it is difficult to catch up. There was a Climate
Academy built that is now a famous part of the research effort to create climate change education. A
middle school teacher named Emma attended a professional development workshop at this academy.
Her middle school was very diverse but being mainly Hispanic. She was able to teach her students the
difference between weather and climate. The difference between climate and weather was not known
by the majority of her students (p. 14). Students showed significant improvements and interest after the
climate material was covered. The topic was not able to go further than causes but the middle school
students proved to have an actual interest once the topic was broken down and explained (p. 16).
Drewes noted that utilizing a thorough approach, the teachers are able to merge climate change into
their curriculum and make noticeable changes. There is also another approach that is more flexible. This
flexible approach allows the teacher to better fit climate change into the requirements of the curriculum
while making it easy for the students to understand. Even with the advances Drewes also observed
through the findings that the Academy’s priority was only handing out the information and not teaching
how to adapt or alleviate.

Although Drewes (2018) found a program that aims in the right direction for information, it must be
pointed out that the program is not geared toward taking care of the issue.

Esquinca, M. (2015, April 21). Regional water shortages prompt researchers for change. The Prospector,
100(25), 5-6. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/prospector/209/;

Esquinca (2015) believed that the frequent droughts are diminishing El Paso’s water supply. She noted
this is a result of the climate change (p. 5). Esquinca was not the only one to take notice because an
anthropologist and an Environmental Resource Manager pulled their resources together to obtain a 4.9
million dollar grant. This grant is to help find solutions for the diminishing water supply. It was so bad at
one-point Vinton County did not have water due to the shortage (p. 6).

Harvey, C. (2017, February 2). Survey: Only a quarter of Trump voters believe in human-caused climate
change. Washington Post. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540233780/SCIC?u=txshracd2603&sid=SCIC&xid=a99dbf74
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 7

Harvey (2017) observed that seventy five percent of the people who voted for Trump did not
acknowledge that climate change is happening all around us. Additionally, they did not believe that
human activity would cause it. This survey was done by analysts from the University of New Hampshire.
Although Clinton’s voters did believe in climate change and the fact that it was caused by human activity
(Harvey, 2017). Only ten percent of her voters did not agree nor believe that this was the case. The
study was widespread from each of the 50 states and included seven hundred and seven adults. It also
included a variety of different science questions which occurred during the months of November and
December of 2016. (Harvey, 2017).

Lane, L. (2014). Toward a conservative policy on climate change. The New Atlantis, (41), 19-37. Retrieved
from http://0-www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/43152778;

Lane (2014) observed that the policies about climate are not up to par. The author also stated that it has
been an expensive process that has resulted in failure. Alternatively, the Conservatives in America rather
ignore or muddy the climate change issues in lieu of creating a positive response (p. 19). The
conservatives and business groups have gotten rid of noteworthy voters that could have made a big
impact in favor of lessening the effects of climate change. These powerful groups have aggressively
declared that there is no serious threat on its way. China not being a believer in climate change does not
even participate in the supposed global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (p. 21). Lane states as
the economy evolves it becomes more independent and does not rely on the climate. In America the
Republicans disagreed with President Obama’s plan to better deal with climate change. The major
reasons being cost and no evidence to say that these measures would be effective. The propaganda of
climate change not being real from big business spread like wild fire encouraging more people not to
believe in it. This was all to serve their purpose of continuing to do what they want in order to stay
profitable.

While Lane is probably wrong when he claimed that it is only the Republicans going against the climate
change environmentalists, he was right that the powerful are aggressively stating there is no
foreseeable threat. The powerful in this country also work with China which has a huge controlling
factor in America. Countries such as these more than likely align themselves with both sides of the
fence.

Prado-Lorenzo, J., & Garcia-Sanchez, I. (2010). The role of the board of directors in disseminating
relevant information on greenhouse gases. Journal of Business Ethics, 97(3), 391-424. Retrieved from
http://0-www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/40929462;

Lorenzo and Sanchez (2010) observed that the Board of Directors care more about their bottom line
than aiding in the effort to take care of the planet. The authors noted that Board of Directors often
portray opposition to releasing any information regarding greenhouse gases and particularly if it leads to
hefty legal fees (p. 393). The legal fees would also come with another more than likely substantial bill to
fix any environmentally harmful issues. The Directors job is to help make the company profit and it is not
always profitable to do things in an eco-friendly manner. And from that standpoint the Board of
Directors will go to extreme measures to ensure that they stay profitable while appearing as eco-friendly
as they can. In the corporate world money is power and the company that controls the most money has
the most power. Climate change is a global issue and it touches some places more than others (p. 395).
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 8

The majority of the Board of Directors do not care about climate change and the environment. The few
who do not believe in it simply do not want to because profit is their priority.

By focusing on the Board of Directors’ money, Lorenzo and Sanchez overlooked the deeper problem of
their self-preservation. They showed that the Directors only care about what affects them the most
which is money. In today’s society money talks and you could do almost anything you want with enough
of it. If they knew that their companies’ toxic actions would affect their lives as well as their loved ones
more than money then the priority would change.