This talk explores how the concept of ‘global climate change’ emerged only recently, from a surprising source: the sciences and technologies tracing radioactive fallout from nuclear bombs detonated during the Cold War. The global climate, therefore, is not the natural or immutable scientific object that we take for granted today as a permanent fixture of nature. Rather, it is the conceptual echo of mushroom clouds that once fomented a ‘global climate change’ wrought by nuclear winter.
About the speaker
Dr. Scott Hamilton is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-19) researching crises of of global governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He specializes in International Relations, continental philosophy, and global environmental politics.
