as a scientist I made lots of trips to communities to talk about the impacts of
communities to talk about the impacts of
communities to talk about the impacts of climate change and how to adapt to them
climate change and how to adapt to them
climate change and how to adapt to them and I’d like to share one memorable
and I’d like to share one memorable
and I’d like to share one memorable experience I guess I had while I was on
experience I guess I had while I was on
experience I guess I had while I was on the road it was the year 2000 and I was
the road it was the year 2000 and I was
the road it was the year 2000 and I was at a workshop for Canadian and US
at a workshop for Canadian and US
at a workshop for Canadian and US professionals from the Great Lakes basin
professionals from the Great Lakes basin
professionals from the Great Lakes basin my presentation was why adapt and my
my presentation was why adapt and my
my presentation was why adapt and my goal was to motivate these people to
goal was to motivate these people to
goal was to motivate these people to rethink to plan and take action or adapt
rethink to plan and take action or adapt
rethink to plan and take action or adapt to climate change
to climate change
to climate change I used maps graphs tables with lots of
I used maps graphs tables with lots of
I used maps graphs tables with lots of numbers you know the things that we
numbers you know the things that we
numbers you know the things that we scientists love to use but I also talked
scientists love to use but I also talked
scientists love to use but I also talked about the impacts and the economic costs
about the impacts and the economic costs
about the impacts and the economic costs and the implications for people’s
and the implications for people’s
and the implications for people’s quality of life I thought I had done a
quality of life I thought I had done a
quality of life I thought I had done a bang-up job laying out the scientific
bang-up job laying out the scientific
bang-up job laying out the scientific case for climate change adaptation and I
case for climate change adaptation and I
case for climate change adaptation and I actually hoped that I might inspire them
actually hoped that I might inspire them
actually hoped that I might inspire them to take some action when the floor
to take some action when the floor
to take some action when the floor opened for questions
opened for questions
opened for questions a rather agitated participant was the
a rather agitated participant was the
a rather agitated participant was the first to stand up ma’am ma’am you’re
first to stand up ma’am ma’am you’re
first to stand up ma’am ma’am you’re talking about changes in the future
talking about changes in the future
talking about changes in the future 20 20 s 20 50 s that’s a long way away
20 20 s 20 50 s that’s a long way away
20 20 s 20 50 s that’s a long way away plus those impacts that you’re talking
plus those impacts that you’re talking
plus those impacts that you’re talking about there are only projections we’re
about there are only projections we’re
about there are only projections we’re well prepared so I don’t think we’ll be
well prepared so I don’t think we’ll be
well prepared so I don’t think we’ll be able in my community plus if changes
able in my community plus if changes
able in my community plus if changes start to happen we’ll have enough time
start to happen we’ll have enough time
start to happen we’ll have enough time to react plus ma’am you’re advising us
to react plus ma’am you’re advising us
to react plus ma’am you’re advising us to adapt to climate change
to adapt to climate change
to adapt to climate change why should we listen why should we act
why should we listen why should we act
why should we listen why should we act besides how certain are you of your
besides how certain are you of your
besides how certain are you of your climate change science would you be
climate change science would you be
climate change science would you be willing to offer up your firstborn child
willing to offer up your firstborn child
willing to offer up your firstborn child I went whoo I’ve never had a question
I went whoo I’ve never had a question
I went whoo I’ve never had a question quite like that and I thought oh my
quite like that and I thought oh my
quite like that and I thought oh my goodness
goodness
goodness you know we scientists we like facts so
you know we scientists we like facts so
you know we scientists we like facts so I was expecting to get you know the
I was expecting to get you know the
I was expecting to get you know the nitty-gritty technical details so I was
nitty-gritty technical details so I was
nitty-gritty technical details so I was really taken aback I was no longer
really taken aback I was no longer
really taken aback I was no longer allowed to be the rational
allowed to be the rational
allowed to be the rational by-the-numbers scientist I had to be
by-the-numbers scientist I had to be
by-the-numbers scientist I had to be think and feel like a mother this
think and feel like a mother this
think and feel like a mother this gentleman was making it personal stopped
gentleman was making it personal stopped
gentleman was making it personal stopped and thought but you know it is personal
and thought but you know it is personal
and thought but you know it is personal now no mother wants to offer up their
now no mother wants to offer up their
now no mother wants to offer up their child as a sacrifice but my children and
child as a sacrifice but my children and
child as a sacrifice but my children and food future generations motivate my
food future generations motivate my
food future generations motivate my research in a sense I can see potential
research in a sense I can see potential
research in a sense I can see potential futures not like a soothsayer but with
futures not like a soothsayer but with
futures not like a soothsayer but with the tools of my trade hard scientific
the tools of my trade hard scientific
the tools of my trade hard scientific tools climate models climate projections
tools climate models climate projections
tools climate models climate projections and impact assessments they help me
and impact assessments they help me
and impact assessments they help me diagnose threats opportunities and where
diagnose threats opportunities and where
diagnose threats opportunities and where action would be prudent the evidence is
action would be prudent the evidence is
action would be prudent the evidence is overwhelming the neat climate adaptation
overwhelming the neat climate adaptation
overwhelming the neat climate adaptation is necessary and urgent and didn’t this
is necessary and urgent and didn’t this
is necessary and urgent and didn’t this guy get it him
guy get it him
guy get it him so also didn’t he understand that he was
so also didn’t he understand that he was
so also didn’t he understand that he was a participant in climate change
a participant in climate change
a participant in climate change adaptation whether he wanted it or not
paused and thought you know my case is
paused and thought you know my case is really strong
really strong
really strong so I said yes to him and I offered up
so I said yes to him and I offered up
so I said yes to him and I offered up not one but both my children Patrick and
not one but both my children Patrick and
not one but both my children Patrick and Alison now many of you here
Alison now many of you here
Alison now many of you here believe climate change and believe in
believe climate change and believe in
believe climate change and believe in climate change and that something has to
climate change and that something has to
climate change and that something has to be done about it
be done about it
be done about it but I suspect that you may still hold a
but I suspect that you may still hold a
but I suspect that you may still hold a few preconceptions about the nature of
few preconceptions about the nature of
few preconceptions about the nature of climate change and how to do adaptation
climate change and how to do adaptation
climate change and how to do adaptation in my experience I’d like to sort of get
in my experience I’d like to sort of get
in my experience I’d like to sort of get at three myths and slash them myth
at three myths and slash them myth
at three myths and slash them myth number one climate change will happen
number one climate change will happen
number one climate change will happen sometime in the distant future
sometime in the distant future
sometime in the distant future myth number two climate change will
myth number two climate change will
myth number two climate change will happen to someone else and not me
happen to someone else and not me
happen to someone else and not me myth number three it will be easy to
myth number three it will be easy to
myth number three it will be easy to adapt to climate change so myth number
adapt to climate change so myth number
adapt to climate change so myth number one climate change will happen in the
one climate change will happen in the
one climate change will happen in the way distant future actually we are now
way distant future actually we are now
way distant future actually we are now in the midst of a climate transformation
in the midst of a climate transformation
in the midst of a climate transformation we just don’t know it statistics would
we just don’t know it statistics would
we just don’t know it statistics would tell us that but how many of us collect
tell us that but how many of us collect
tell us that but how many of us collect data and all the statistics of our air
data and all the statistics of our air
data and all the statistics of our air temperature slowly unfolding changes
temperature slowly unfolding changes
temperature slowly unfolding changes just creep up on you you know the fabled
just creep up on you you know the fabled
just creep up on you you know the fabled freshman 15 weight gain or worse white
freshman 15 weight gain or worse white
freshman 15 weight gain or worse white hair and wrinkles magically appearing
hair and wrinkles magically appearing
hair and wrinkles magically appearing and doesn’t it seem then you first
and doesn’t it seem then you first
and doesn’t it seem then you first notice those changes that they seem to
notice those changes that they seem to
notice those changes that they seem to accelerate and you’re getting older
accelerate and you’re getting older
accelerate and you’re getting older faster and there’s no going back
faster and there’s no going back
faster and there’s no going back well that’s what’s happening with
well that’s what’s happening with
well that’s what’s happening with climate change so if we’re in the midst
climate change so if we’re in the midst
climate change so if we’re in the midst of a climate transformation how do we
of a climate transformation how do we
of a climate transformation how do we know it so we scientists we’re on it
know it so we scientists we’re on it
know it so we scientists we’re on it since 1990 we’ve tabled or present
since 1990 we’ve tabled or present
since 1990 we’ve tabled or present five climate change assessment reports
five climate change assessment reports
five climate change assessment reports to the governments of the world I
to the governments of the world I
to the governments of the world I participated in most of them and I tell
participated in most of them and I tell
participated in most of them and I tell you you have to be on the top of your
you you have to be on the top of your
you you have to be on the top of your game to participate it is a rigorous
game to participate it is a rigorous
game to participate it is a rigorous demanding process our assessments use
demanding process our assessments use
demanding process our assessments use the highest caliber research we use
the highest caliber research we use
the highest caliber research we use millions of observations from around the
millions of observations from around the
millions of observations from around the world taken over hundreds of years and
world taken over hundreds of years and
world taken over hundreds of years and that is the foundation for us making
that is the foundation for us making
that is the foundation for us making statements on the state of the climate
statements on the state of the climate
statements on the state of the climate system I’d like to share some of those
system I’d like to share some of those
system I’d like to share some of those statements with you and I’d like you to
statements with you and I’d like you to
statements with you and I’d like you to listen very carefully to the words they
listen very carefully to the words they
listen very carefully to the words they were chosen with painstaking care by the
were chosen with painstaking care by the
were chosen with painstaking care by the scientists and approved unanimously by
scientists and approved unanimously by
scientists and approved unanimously by over 150 countries of the world I’d say
over 150 countries of the world I’d say
over 150 countries of the world I’d say that’s a pretty awesome accomplishment
that’s a pretty awesome accomplishment
that’s a pretty awesome accomplishment we’ve done it five times so what’s the
we’ve done it five times so what’s the
we’ve done it five times so what’s the statements in 1995 we were detecting a
statements in 1995 we were detecting a
statements in 1995 we were detecting a human influence on the climate system in
human influence on the climate system in
human influence on the climate system in 2001 there was a discernible human
2001 there was a discernible human
2001 there was a discernible human influence on the climate system in the
influence on the climate system in the
influence on the climate system in the 2013 report warming of the climate
2013 report warming of the climate
2013 report warming of the climate system is unequivocal and human activity
system is unequivocal and human activity
system is unequivocal and human activity is the dominant cause of warming since
is the dominant cause of warming since
is the dominant cause of warming since the 1950s
the 1950s
the 1950s so when international scientists and
so when international scientists and
so when international scientists and world governments use the word like
world governments use the word like
world governments use the word like unequivocal they mean it in a literal
unequivocal they mean it in a literal
unequivocal they mean it in a literal sense leave no doubt so if we’re in the
sense leave no doubt so if we’re in the
sense leave no doubt so if we’re in the midst of a climate transformation and we
midst of a climate transformation and we
midst of a climate transformation and we can measure it what are the consequences
can measure it what are the consequences
can measure it what are the consequences let me take you to Houston
let me take you to Houston
let me take you to Houston taxes which was recently hit by
taxes which was recently hit by
taxes which was recently hit by hurricane Harvey some client some
hurricane Harvey some client some
hurricane Harvey some client some scientists say that climate change may
scientists say that climate change may
scientists say that climate change may have what made Harvey worse how is this
have what made Harvey worse how is this
have what made Harvey worse how is this so well we know warming heats the ocean
so well we know warming heats the ocean
so well we know warming heats the ocean which feeds hurricanes warming also
which feeds hurricanes warming also
which feeds hurricanes warming also heats the atmosphere and it lets
heats the atmosphere and it lets
heats the atmosphere and it lets hurricanes hold more moisture or water
hurricanes hold more moisture or water
hurricanes hold more moisture or water that can fall as rain but that’s only
that can fall as rain but that’s only
that can fall as rain but that’s only one example what really really really
one example what really really really
one example what really really really concerns me is that warming fuels
concerns me is that warming fuels
concerns me is that warming fuels extreme events that’s not just
extreme events that’s not just
extreme events that’s not just hurricanes
hurricanes
hurricanes that’s heat waves that’s droughts floods
that’s heat waves that’s droughts floods
that’s heat waves that’s droughts floods and wildflower fires all becoming
and wildflower fires all becoming
and wildflower fires all becoming stronger lasting longer and becoming
stronger lasting longer and becoming
stronger lasting longer and becoming more frequent that is climate change now
more frequent that is climate change now
more frequent that is climate change now miss myth number two is climate change
miss myth number two is climate change
miss myth number two is climate change will happen to someone else and not me
will happen to someone else and not me
will happen to someone else and not me and it’s really interesting I have
and it’s really interesting I have
and it’s really interesting I have observed that most people feel that the
observed that most people feel that the
observed that most people feel that the worst impacts will happen to someone
worst impacts will happen to someone
worst impacts will happen to someone else they deflect but climate change is
else they deflect but climate change is
else they deflect but climate change is going to happen to you and it is going
going to happen to you and it is going
going to happen to you and it is going to affect you directly and it will also
to affect you directly and it will also
to affect you directly and it will also affect your families your communities
affect your families your communities
affect your families your communities your cities your natural areas your
your cities your natural areas your
your cities your natural areas your regions and it will also affect you by
regions and it will also affect you by
regions and it will also affect you by what happens in some other some of the
what happens in some other some of the
what happens in some other some of the other countries around the world let me
other countries around the world let me
other countries around the world let me use sea level rise as an example
use sea level rise as an example
use sea level rise as an example Bangladesh has all often been identified
Bangladesh has all often been identified
Bangladesh has all often been identified as a place where with a that’s a
as a place where with a that’s a
as a place where with a that’s a humanitarian crisis in the making
humanitarian crisis in the making
humanitarian crisis in the making Bangladesh sits just a little above sea
Bangladesh sits just a little above sea
Bangladesh sits just a little above sea level it’s at the mouth of three huge
level it’s at the mouth of three huge
level it’s at the mouth of three huge rivers and it’s exposed to at two
rivers and it’s exposed to at two
rivers and it’s exposed to at two tropical cyclones and there’s very
tropical cyclones and there’s very
tropical cyclones and there’s very little protection
about 10% of Bangladesh’s population may
about 10% of Bangladesh’s population may be displaced by sea level rise caused by
be displaced by sea level rise caused by
be displaced by sea level rise caused by climate change
climate change
climate change that’s 18 million environmental refugees
that’s 18 million environmental refugees
that’s 18 million environmental refugees or about half of Canada’s population and
or about half of Canada’s population and
or about half of Canada’s population and that’s not just the end of it Bangladesh
that’s not just the end of it Bangladesh
that’s not just the end of it Bangladesh is only one of many other countries in
is only one of many other countries in
is only one of many other countries in coastal areas that are going to
coastal areas that are going to
coastal areas that are going to experience sea-level rise flooding and
experience sea-level rise flooding and
experience sea-level rise flooding and displaced people it becomes a world
displaced people it becomes a world
displaced people it becomes a world problem I’d also like to draw your
problem I’d also like to draw your
problem I’d also like to draw your attention to the fact that climate
attention to the fact that climate
attention to the fact that climate change will also affect you closer to
change will also affect you closer to
change will also affect you closer to home and use Vancouver British Columbia
home and use Vancouver British Columbia
home and use Vancouver British Columbia as an example coastal communities in
as an example coastal communities in
as an example coastal communities in British Columbia are already planning
British Columbia are already planning
British Columbia are already planning for sea level rise because of climate
for sea level rise because of climate
for sea level rise because of climate change
change
change 50 centimetres by 2050 100 centimetres
50 centimetres by 2050 100 centimetres
50 centimetres by 2050 100 centimetres by 2100 and 200 centimetres by 2200
by 2100 and 200 centimetres by 2200
by 2100 and 200 centimetres by 2200 there’s also been neighborhoods that
there’s also been neighborhoods that
there’s also been neighborhoods that have been identified as potential future
have been identified as potential future
have been identified as potential future flooding hotspots their names you’ll
flooding hotspots their names you’ll
flooding hotspots their names you’ll recognise an English Bay hit Kitsilano
recognise an English Bay hit Kitsilano
recognise an English Bay hit Kitsilano Beach gas town in the Downtown Eastside
Beach gas town in the Downtown Eastside
Beach gas town in the Downtown Eastside for example now imagine that you’re a
for example now imagine that you’re a
for example now imagine that you’re a business owner or a resident here your
business owner or a resident here your
business owner or a resident here your neighborhood is in transformation you
neighborhood is in transformation you
neighborhood is in transformation you will be experiencing likely to
will be experiencing likely to
will be experiencing likely to experience more flooding and risk to
experience more flooding and risk to
experience more flooding and risk to displacement emerge-ii evacuation loss
displacement emerge-ii evacuation loss
displacement emerge-ii evacuation loss of income and property will also be an
of income and property will also be an
of income and property will also be an increasing risk to you so what can you
increasing risk to you so what can you
increasing risk to you so what can you do how can you adapt these are the
do how can you adapt these are the
do how can you adapt these are the difficult questions this leads me to
difficult questions this leads me to
difficult questions this leads me to addressing myth number 3
addressing myth number 3
addressing myth number 3 it’ll be easy to adapt to a changing
it’ll be easy to adapt to a changing
it’ll be easy to adapt to a changing climate you know change is difficult
climate you know change is difficult
climate you know change is difficult think about losing weight the first five
think about losing weight the first five
think about losing weight the first five pounds okay they come off relatively
pounds okay they come off relatively
pounds okay they come off relatively easily but the next ten or twenty or
easily but the next ten or twenty or
easily but the next ten or twenty or thirty pounds require planning
thirty pounds require planning
thirty pounds require planning commitment and effort and also may
commitment and effort and also may
commitment and effort and also may require a transformation in your diet
require a transformation in your diet
require a transformation in your diet and your lifestyle that’s the same thing
and your lifestyle that’s the same thing
and your lifestyle that’s the same thing with climate change let me take you back
with climate change let me take you back
with climate change let me take you back to the example of sea-level rise on
to the example of sea-level rise on
to the example of sea-level rise on Vancouver in the early stages of
Vancouver in the early stages of
Vancouver in the early stages of adaptation the climate threat is
adaptation the climate threat is
adaptation the climate threat is increased flooding during storms so our
increased flooding during storms so our
increased flooding during storms so our goal is to protect health and safety and
goal is to protect health and safety and
goal is to protect health and safety and the built environment I call it the
the built environment I call it the
the built environment I call it the sandbags and dikes face that means that
sandbags and dikes face that means that
sandbags and dikes face that means that the adaptation is traditional and
the adaptation is traditional and
the adaptation is traditional and incremental what we do is that we do
incremental what we do is that we do
incremental what we do is that we do risk assessments for example we look at
risk assessments for example we look at
risk assessments for example we look at who’s vulnerable what’s at risk and
who’s vulnerable what’s at risk and
who’s vulnerable what’s at risk and where and we think about retrofitting
where and we think about retrofitting
where and we think about retrofitting existing dikes and building new ones but
existing dikes and building new ones but
existing dikes and building new ones but if you take the longer view you’re going
if you take the longer view you’re going
if you take the longer view you’re going to recognize as the climate system
to recognize as the climate system
to recognize as the climate system transitions we are likely to tip into
transitions we are likely to tip into
transitions we are likely to tip into uncharted extremes that means our plans
uncharted extremes that means our plans
uncharted extremes that means our plans will no longer function as they should
will no longer function as they should
will no longer function as they should or maybe we won’t be able to afford them
or maybe we won’t be able to afford them
or maybe we won’t be able to afford them anymore
anymore
anymore the adaptation gets
the adaptation gets
the adaptation gets really messy think again to those
really messy think again to those
really messy think again to those hotspot neighborhoods that are hotspots
hotspot neighborhoods that are hotspots
hotspot neighborhoods that are hotspots for flooding at what point would the
for flooding at what point would the
for flooding at what point would the community decide that the flooding risk
community decide that the flooding risk
community decide that the flooding risk is too great that they would relinquish
is too great that they would relinquish
is too great that they would relinquish the land abandon their homes and
the land abandon their homes and
the land abandon their homes and businesses and retreat from rising sea
businesses and retreat from rising sea
businesses and retreat from rising sea levels can you imagine how difficult
levels can you imagine how difficult
levels can you imagine how difficult that conversation or conversations would
that conversation or conversations would
that conversation or conversations would be and how difficult those choices might
be and how difficult those choices might
be and how difficult those choices might be that’s the challenge of adaptation
be that’s the challenge of adaptation
be that’s the challenge of adaptation now dare I also talk about innovative
now dare I also talk about innovative
now dare I also talk about innovative out-of-the-box adaptations planners
out-of-the-box adaptations planners
out-of-the-box adaptations planners architects and engineers are reimagining
architects and engineers are reimagining
architects and engineers are reimagining the coasts the relationship between land
the coasts the relationship between land
the coasts the relationship between land and water along the coast and they’re
and water along the coast and they’re
and water along the coast and they’re designing amphibious subdivisions now
designing amphibious subdivisions now
designing amphibious subdivisions now that’s a transformative adaptation my
that’s a transformative adaptation my
that’s a transformative adaptation my talk i’ve dispelled three myths i’ve
talk i’ve dispelled three myths i’ve
talk i’ve dispelled three myths i’ve going to replace them with the three
going to replace them with the three
going to replace them with the three realities of human-caused climate change
realities of human-caused climate change
realities of human-caused climate change it’s happening it’s going to affect you
it’s happening it’s going to affect you
it’s happening it’s going to affect you and it’s going to require
and it’s going to require
and it’s going to require transformational adaptation now I don’t
transformational adaptation now I don’t
transformational adaptation now I don’t want you to be discouraged I’m not and
want you to be discouraged I’m not and
want you to be discouraged I’m not and I’ve been working on the climate change
I’ve been working on the climate change
I’ve been working on the climate change issue for over 30 years
issue for over 30 years
issue for over 30 years and I am hopeful and I am certain that
and I am hopeful and I am certain that
and I am hopeful and I am certain that we can and will meet this adaptation
we can and will meet this adaptation
we can and will meet this adaptation challenge remember how I said that we
challenge remember how I said that we
challenge remember how I said that we are all
are all
are all this adaptation journey whether we want
this adaptation journey whether we want
this adaptation journey whether we want to be or not I’d like you to think about
to be or not I’d like you to think about
to be or not I’d like you to think about how you can trick and contribute what
how you can trick and contribute what
how you can trick and contribute what roles you can play
roles you can play
roles you can play we need thinkers people who can look at
we need thinkers people who can look at
we need thinkers people who can look at a problem in a new way and find
a problem in a new way and find
a problem in a new way and find innovative transformative solutions
innovative transformative solutions
innovative transformative solutions things that we hadn’t thought of before
things that we hadn’t thought of before
things that we hadn’t thought of before we need doers people who can Shepherd
we need doers people who can Shepherd
we need doers people who can Shepherd these innovative ideas through the
these innovative ideas through the
these innovative ideas through the natural controversies and inevitable
natural controversies and inevitable
natural controversies and inevitable barriers when you bounce up against the
barriers when you bounce up against the
barriers when you bounce up against the status quo we also need supporters
status quo we also need supporters
status quo we also need supporters supporters are fundamental to enabling
supporters are fundamental to enabling
supporters are fundamental to enabling good thinkers and the doers and we also
good thinkers and the doers and we also
good thinkers and the doers and we also can’t discount when when supporters use
can’t discount when when supporters use
can’t discount when when supporters use their voices like voting to build social
their voices like voting to build social
their voices like voting to build social and political support for those
and political support for those
and political support for those innovative and transfers
innovative and transfers
innovative and transfers transformational ideas I offered up my
transformational ideas I offered up my
transformational ideas I offered up my children Patrick and Alison for climate
children Patrick and Alison for climate
children Patrick and Alison for climate change it wasn’t a joke I was serious I
change it wasn’t a joke I was serious I
change it wasn’t a joke I was serious I was going at that guy I was serious
was going at that guy I was serious
was going at that guy I was serious about my science and I was serious about
about my science and I was serious about
about my science and I was serious about the need to adapt and if we all don’t
the need to adapt and if we all don’t
the need to adapt and if we all don’t act we will be offering up our children
act we will be offering up our children
act we will be offering up our children to climate change so looking forward to
to climate change so looking forward to
to climate change so looking forward to the challenges of adaptation let’s not
the challenges of adaptation let’s not
the challenges of adaptation let’s not offer up our children grandchildren and
offer up our children grandchildren and
offer up our children grandchildren and future generations let’s think
future generations let’s think
future generations let’s think transformational adaptation let’s be
transformational adaptation let’s be
transformational adaptation let’s be innovative energetic and brave and let’s
innovative energetic and brave and let’s
innovative energetic and brave and let’s build a better future thank you
build a better future thank you
build a better future thank you you
”
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