The water panel, chaired by Dr. Gary Woodard, Policy Analyst for Economic and Business Research at the University of Arizona, will work under the assumptions that warmer temperatures from the greenhouse effect will result in decreased Colorado River flows and decreased precipitation in Arizona. In addition, hotter air temperatures will cause increased water demand and usage. Immediately following the three scientific panels will be two panels considering social change and public policy. Dr. Andrew Kirby, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Arizona, will head the social change panel. Their concern is with individual behavior and how the actions of ordinary people can exacerbate or ameliorate global warming.
People are more likely to respond to problems close to home.
If we had the ability to predict greenhouse effects on localized areas, we would have a better idea of what behavioral changes would be successful in what areas. Most importantly, we need to think about how we can encourage individuals to change their everyday practices. The political arena offers one opportunity for affecting social change by imposing legal constraints on individual behavior. These are among the topics to be addressed by the policy panel, chaired by Dr. Helen Ingram, Acting Director of the Udall Center. They will consider how political context affects the policy choices of elected officials.