World-renowned climatologist Dr. Stephen Schneider will lecture on Monday about global warming and government policy.

The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management will host Schneider, a Stanford University professor, as the first distinguished visitor in a three-person lecture series on the effects of environmental degradation. The event, “Global Warming: Is the Science Settled Enough for Policy?”, will take place in Broida Hall 1610 at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Schneider has been a part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change since 1988 and in 2007, along with four generations of IPCC authors, won a collective Nobel Peace Prize. He is also the recipient of the 2008 MacArthur Fellow Genius Award for his work in global climate change education and research.

Schneider said Bren School’s commitment to environmental protection and research stands out among California institutions.

“I am happy to visit UCSB’s Bren School as the Zurich Financial Services Distinguished Visitor for their program on climate change, as I have been involved with the Bren School since they were just an idea,” Schneider said.

Schneider has served as a presidential environmental consultant for six different administrations. He has also lectured on environmental issues since the 1970s and is the founder and editor of the journal, Climate Change.

According to James Badham, senior writer for the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, Schneider’s visit will offer students the opportunity to learn about global warming and how to tackle the issue.

“Our students and faculty are involved in identifying environmental problems and seeking solutions,” Badham said. “He fits right into that.”

Zurich Financial Services, a corporate partner of the Bren School, made a one million dollar contribution to create and endow the Distinguished Visitors Program in January. Schneider is the first speaker associated with the program.

Following Schneider’s presentation, there will be a panel discussion that will include Bren School Dean Ernst von Weizsäcker and Linden Patton, a representative from Zurich Financial Services.

“We are pleased to provide support for bringing great thinkers and leaders to a school that does such an excellent job of educating students who will assume professional roles critical to solving our most pressing environmental problems,” Patton said in a press release.

The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management is expecting two other distinguished visitors this year — professor Thomas P. Lyon in February and Richard Duke in April.