Global Climate Change

Page 1

The Issue Adam Adam Berman Berman Isabella Isabella Freedman Freedman Jewish Jewish Retreat Retreat Center Center




There is consensus "Politicians, economists, journalists and others may have the impression of confusion, disagreement or discord among climate scientists, but that impression is incorrect." Pielke, R.A. Jr.; Oreskes, N. 2005. Consensus About Climate Change?. Science 13, p. 952-954.



Atmospheric CO22 More CO22 Traps More Heat

National National Geographic Geographic Feb. Feb. 2004 2004



ppm

381

315

1958

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

“The Keeling Curve”

2006


About half of the carbon we burn stays in the atmosphere for centuries Fossil Fuel Burning

7

ATMOSPHERE

billion tons go in

4 billion tons added every year

800

billion tons carbon

Ocean

Land Biosphere (net)

2

+

1

=

3 billion tons go out


CO CO22 Today Today 381 381 400,000 400,000 Years Years of of CO CO22,, Temperature, Temperature, and and Sea Sea Level Level

CO CO22

CO CO22

Temp. Temp.

Temp. Temp.

Sea Sea Level Level

Sea Sea Level Level

Orbital Variations Tilt

Wobble

National National Geographic Geographic Oct. Oct. 2007, 2007, NASA NASA GISS GISS


CO CO22 Today Today 381 381 400,000 400,000 Years Years of of CO CO22,, Temperature, Temperature, and and Sea Sea Level Level

CO CO22

CO CO22

Temp. Temp.

Temp. Temp.

Sea Sea Level Level

Sea Sea Level Level

Orbital Variations Tilt

Wobble

National National Geographic Geographic Oct. Oct. 2007, 2007, NASA NASA GISS GISS


1998

2005

2003

2002

2004

2006

2001

1997

1995

1999

1990

2000

Warmest 12 Years


1998

2005

2003

2002

2004

2006

2001

1997

1995

1999

1990

2000

Warmest 10 Years

IPCC IPCC


Larsen B Antarctica Jan. 2002


Larsen B Antarctica Mar. 2002


Summer Minimum Arctic Ice 1979


Summer Minimum Arctic Ice 2005 (––20%)


add 2007 arctic ice melt

Summer Minimum Arctic Ice Sept. 2007 (-39%)


Greenland: Ice Two Miles Thick

NASA NASA




Greenland: Recent Ice Melt Increasing


1 meter

2 meters

4 meters

8 meters


Overpeck, Overpeck, SCIENCE, SCIENCE, 2006 2006

Florida With 6 Meter Sea Rise


The Impacts • Hurricanes/Flooding • Drought/Heat Waves • Disease • Species Extinction


Total Population


www.worldmapper.org www.worldmapper.org

Carbon Emissions 2000


Million Metric Tons

Coal: Current and Projected Use


''To me the question of the environment is more ominous than that of peace and war. ‌I'm more worried about global warming than I am of any major military conflict.'' Hans Blix, March 2003 Hans Blix, March 2003


The Good News


“Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial knowhow to solve the carbon and climate problem for the next half-century...�

S. S. Pacala Pacala and and R. R. Socolow Socolow


Rise above 1990 sea level (global average) 3 feet

2–

Sea Level Rises as CO2 Rises

Worst Worst Case Case CO CO22 at at 1000 1000 ppm ppm

1– Best Best Case Case CO CO22 at at 450 450 ppm ppm

0– 2000 2000

2050 2050

2100 2100

IPCC IPCC 2001 2001


One One Wedge Wedge == 50 50 billion billion tons tons of of carbon carbon Worst Worst Case Case CO CO22 at at 1000 1000 ppm ppm

Stabilization Wedges S. Pacala and R. Socolow

Best Best Case Case CO CO22 at at 450 450 ppm ppm 2000 2000

2050 2050


2x 2x Vehicle Vehicle Mileage Mileage

Stabilization Wedges

2x 2x Efficient Efficient Appliances Appliances 50 50 xx More More Wind Wind 700 700 xx More More Solar Solar 33 xx More More Nuclear Nuclear 50 50 xx More More Biofuels Biofuels Stop Stop Deforestation Deforestation Sequester Sequester Carbon Carbon

2000 2000

2050 2050


Areas of Action Technology

• Reducing our own carbon footprint Education

• Educating our leadership, our community Policy

• Use the influence of our community in Albany and Washington


A Jewish Issue? • Shabbat • Kashrut • Brachot • Tzedakah


Why UJA? Caring for those in need, rescuing those in harm's way, and renewing and strengthening the Jewish people in New York, in Israel, and around the world


Still Not Convinced? Security

• Reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Jewish Outreach

• Environment is a relevant issue for Jewish youth Financial Benefits

• Reducing carbon footprint saves money


“In ten years Global Warming will be the only issue the Jewish community is talking about� Rabbi Michael Paley UJA Federation of NY December 12, 2007


Freedman’s Response • Technology/Carbon Footprint



Carbon Offsets Isabella Freedman Annual Electricity Use: 250Kwh Annual Carbon Footprint: 100 tons Cost to Offset: $1200


Local Organic Food 35,000 30,000

33,000

25,000 20,000 15,000

17,000

10,000 5,000

10,000

0 2005

2006

2007


Freedman’s Response • Technology/Carbon Footprint • Education





Freedman’s Response • Technology/Carbon Footprint • Education • Advocacy


But What Can I Do? Technology

• •

Worst thing you can do is drive your SUV to the steakhouse… The big things matter.

Education

Stay Connected. Heatisonline.org

Policy

Vote – make this an issue.


Three Questions • What are the questions this raises for you? • How does all of this make you feel? • How do you personally relate to the issue of global warming?


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