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 at CO22 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 at CO22 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?