This week we talked about development in several different
aspects of climate futures. The most interesting to me was the reading in Climate Cultures by Jessica Barnes
titled Scale and Agency: Climate Change
and the Future of Egypt’s Water. Often when I think of climate change I
think of it on global scale, which can be a very limited way to think in
regards of development. Development is political and subjective; meaning people
on all scales, scientists, government officials, international experts, irrigation
engineers, and farmers, are all crucial to understand the future of
climate-linked development. Barnes talked about one specific interview with a
farmer who controlled the water flow in the canal. The river was low one day and
he admitted to not showing up adjust the water levels one day because of a
holiday which resulted in very low water levels. This isn’t a “one person can
change the world” rant but more so a realization of human agency and the
importance of all systems within climate change. We must realize it is this
intersection of natural and human agency that shapes environmental outcome and
we must not undermine human capability.
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