Students in government professor Peter Cannavo's "Introduction to Environmental Politics" class will hold a simulated U.S. Senate Hearing on climate change policy on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 4 - 7 p.m. in the Red Pit auditorium in the Kirner Johnson building.
The Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety will question witnesses and then vote on whether or not to recommend U.S. participation in, and Senate passage of, the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Students will assume roles as U.S. Senators from both parties, members of the media, climatologists, members of the fossil fuels industries, environmentalists, E.U. representatives and global warming skeptics, among others.
Students portraying journalists will work for the fictional National Gazette. The group will produce a special issue on climate change prior to the hearings. Six student groups will present testimony before the Senate panel. A press conference will give members of the subcommittee an opportunity to explain their votes during class the following day.
Dec. 7
4:00-4:05 p.m. - Brief opening statements from majority and minority leaders
4:50-5:30 p.m. - Developing nations & European Union
5:35-6:15 p.m. - Environmentalists & Fossil fuel industry
6:20-6:30 p.m. - 10-minute break for Senators to deliberate
6:30-7:00 p.m. - Senators make presentations, and then vote
1 p.m. - Senators hold a 20 to 30-minute press conference; Science Center G027
