why being green is not enough
DESCRIPTION
Elton Sherwin's presentation at Trinity Episcopal Church on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Elton is the author of "Addicted to Energy." For more information see www.EltonSherwin.comTRANSCRIPT
Why Being Green Is Not Enough
Elton B. SherwinApril 25, 2010
40th Anniversary ofEarth Day
Six Things Tend to Dominate The Carbon Footprint of
Affluent AmericansWhat are they?
AgendaGlobal perspectiveCalifornia perspectiveWhat you can do
Quiz answersWhat cities can do
“…fill the earth and subdue it. …work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 1:28b, 2:15b
We are overachievers at “filling” and “subduing.”
The problem is with “take care of it.”
There Have Been a Few Surprises No One Anticipated 40 Years Ago
Image: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK)
Muir & Riggs Glaciers
Alaska
Most of the World’s Glaciers
are Shrinking
In 2007, Much of the North Pole Disappeared
North PoleNASA
Missing Ice
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Graphic from www.solcomhouse.com
CO2
TastelessOdorlessNon toxic
Invisible (lets visible light through)
Traps Infrared Heat
CO2
Simple Greenhouse Effect
Graphic modified from www.stopglobalwarming.com.au
Some CO2 is Good
CO2
Graphic modified from www.stopglobalwarming.com.au
Double CO2 from 1800’s
0 2 4 6-6 -4 -2ºC
Ken Caldeira Carnegie Institution at Stanford Univ.
CO2
How Do We Really Know CO2 is the Problem?
What About SunspotsOr the Earth’s Orbit?
NA
SA
, Ret
ro S
töck
li
CO2
Temp.
Current CO2 Levels are
Unprecedented in the Last 400,000 YearsCO2
Temp.
CO2
Civilization
7000 years of stable temperaturesc
"For the first time in human history, science has shown that
we are altering the destiny of our planet…
It’s quite alarming.”Steven Chu,
U.S. Secretary of Energy and Nobel Laureate
From his remarks to scientists and staff at the Stanford Linear Accelerator in Palo Alto.
June 26, 2009
California
July Temperatures
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategywww.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation
California’s agricultural regions will be hard hit
Midcentury Increase of 5 Degrees Fahrenheit
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategywww.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation
Could See Increases of 10 to 14 Degree Fahrenheit in Central Valley*
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy
*“Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California”Christopher B. Field and 17 coauthors, June 23, 2004, PNAS
Smaller snowpack More water shortages
Less water for agriculture
“Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California”Christopher B. Field and 17 coauthors, June 23, 2004, PNAS
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/planning/climate_change/climate_change.shtml
16 Inches of Sea Rise
San Jose
San Francisco
Vallejo
San Rafael
Oakland
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
Foster City
Redwoo
d Shores
East Palo Alto
East Menlo
16 Inches of Sea Rise
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
Moffett Field
101
237
South Bay 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Cisco, Sun,
and Google all at risk
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
Vallejo
North Bay 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
Richmond
North Bay 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
San Rafael
Larkspur
Corte Madera
It Is Not Just the West Coast
Many cities at risk• Miami• Key West• Tampa• New York• Venice• Amsterdam
In 150 years, students may study New Orleans like Carthage: A city that no longer exists
World’s Poor Hard Hit
Move 17 million
people this century?
Some Consequences Are Unpredictable
Tipping pointsIrreversible thresholds
Ice Sheets Collapse
Consequences are Huge
20 Feet of Ocean Rise
Image: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK)
NSF Website and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Acidification and Warming of the Ocean
Risk of some piece of the ecosystem collapsing
NOAA
“The climate is nearing tipping points. Changes are beginning
to appear and there is a potential for explosive
changes, effects that would be irreversible”
James Hansen, Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for
Space StudiesThe Observer, February 15, 2009,
“A common misperception is that this is a crisis that is down the road.
“Climate change is real. It's happening now.”
Senator John McCainAugust 24, 2009
LA Times
Kristen Wyatt Associated Press http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-global- warming-national-parks,0,6162897.story
What You Can Do
Answers to Quiz
Six Items Tend to Dominate The Carbon Footprint of Affluent
Americans1. Air travel 2. The “stuff” you buy3. Gasoline and diesel you use4. Natural gas, propane, heating oil, and
wood you burn5. Electricity you use6. Beef and dairy you eat
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
1. Travel less by plane. 2. Drive less. 3. Buy less stuff4. Burn fewer hydrocarbons to make hot
water and heat.5. Use less electricity. 6. Eat less beef, cheese, and cream.
Stop burning wood, paper, and leaves.
(save more / buy less)
(shorter showers)(turn off lights)
Real-time MonitoringBlack & Decker Power Monitor
You can installCosts $886% to 20% reduction
Read all the reviews on Amazon to make sure it is compatible with your meter
Day After Installation
At 10:10 AM.
“It says I am using $1000 a month.”
“And nothing is on.I turned off all the lights.Nothing is on”
Except the Pool Pump
We were spending $1,000 a year moving water around
Spent $2,500Saves about $100/mo.
www.pentairpool.com
Installed a New Pool
Pump
Handout
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com
Handout
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com
Home, School, or Business Audit
Sherwin family replaced 55 bulbs
Saved over $100 a month: 3 mo. breakeven
It Takes Time
Six trips to Home Depot
Replace light bulbs Download from www.EltonSherwin.com
Have an Impact
Focus on One or Two AreasYour homeA school
ContestChurchCityClubRelativesNeighborhoodOn the webOr…
Use Your SkillsResearchTeach or train othersInstall CFLsBlog (Facebook)Call talk radio showsAttend meetingsStart a new organizationStart a committee in an existing organization or businessWrite letters and op-ed pieces
Service Project
www.stovesonline.co.u k/darfur-stove.html
Efficient Cookstoves
Top 10 Recommendations for Cities
1. Eliminate all methane (food scraps)2. Eliminate all soot (diesel & fireplaces)3. Publish & post energy grades of buildings
www.EltonSherwin.comThis presentationWhat are Your Home’s Top Energy Wasters?What are Your Company’s Top Energy Wasters?
www.Amazon.comNeed one city or county to take a leadership role.
We Are Leaving Our Children a Different State
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002. Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
Foster City
Redwoo
d Shores
East Palo Alto
East Menlo 16 Inches of Sea Rise
“The time for action is now.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Temperature Rise
Questions
Appendix
Under the Surface, it is Troubling
In 2009, less than 15% of the North Pole was “old ice.”
North Pole, NASA
Recent Past, 1961-1979
Higher Emissions Scenario, 2080-2099
Lower Emissions Scenario, 2080-2099
Number of Days Over 100ºF
White House Report on Climate Change
EPA and National
Research Council
Estimates of Ocean Rise
16 inches
1 meter
A word about Mercury
Berkeley Electric Cooperative