global warming and florida; what we can do about it. big bend group sierra club 031802
TRANSCRIPT
Global Warming and Florida;Global Warming and Florida; What we can do about it. What we can do about it.
Big Bend Group Sierra Club
031802
Carbon DioxideCarbon DioxideCatches infrared waves going into space
Distance between C and O; just right to catch infrared waves.
Infrared has the most energyInfrared has the most energy
About 3Gt C are added About 3Gt C are added every yearevery year
Climate ChangeClimate Changechanges everythingchanges everything
More CO2 changes plant behaviorMore CO2 increases temperature of the
atmosphere, the surface, the earth’s crust and the oceans
Distribution of energy through currents on the planet
Global hydro cycle; rain and moisture
Much reduction is Much reduction is needed to reach stabilityneeded to reach stability
8
4.7
Human emission rate in billion t/C/yr
t
Equilibrium
Latent atmospheric C is about 188 billion ton
Emissions the earth absorbs in billion t/C/yr
Climate Change:Climate Change:A hundred year problemA hundred year problem
Achieving carbon-neutrality (the switch to clean energy) = 30 years?
Absorption of latent carbon (sequestration) = 150 years?
FloridaFlorida-Average temperature increase of 5 ~10°F
-July temperature increase of ~ 15°F
-Reversal of summer-wet, winter-dry
-Change in soil / Fire risk
-Vectors
-Tropical diseases
-Sea level rise
-Intensive Storms
-Will happen anyway
Impacts on:
-Agriculture
-Health
-Insurance
-Tourism
-Tax Base
-Economy
Possible ApproachesPossible Approaches “ “The Big Picture”The Big Picture”
• Do nothing• Strategic adaptation (we move!)• Nuclear• Renewable Energy• Energy Efficiency• Sequestration• Price induced reductions• International Carbon Trading
What can we do?What can we do?The “us” picture.The “us” picture.
AwarenessRefrigeratorWasherVacuumLightsCarEnergy Star Products and Homes
What we can do:What we can do:influenceinfluence
County / City Action PlanLobby – write your congressman!Publicity – feature the positiveOthers..
Carbon Cycle is complexCarbon Cycle is complex
Links and ResourcesLinks and Resources
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_1_1.htm http://www.ucsusa.org/environment/gulf.html http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/visitorcenter/lists.html http://www.icbe.com/carbondatabase/reductions.asp http://www.climatesafe.com/intro/intro_flash.asp
Gasoline is 85.5% carbonGasoline is 85.5% carbon
1 gallon of conventional liquid gasoline turns into172 cubic feet / 4.87 cubic meters of CO2.
125 gallon make one ton CO125 gallon make one ton CO22
1 ton of CO2 easily fills up a 19,000 cubic feet / 556 cubic meters container.
10 ton CO10 ton CO22 fills Florida Field fills Florida Field 3 foot high 3 foot high
Every year, the average person in the United States produces 20 tons of CO2.
U.S. commitment under KyotoU.S. commitment under Kyoto
Regardless, somebody has to initiate action
Join our Beta test !Join our Beta test !
The ICBE is looking for participants interested in profiling their GHG emissions.
Help create a GHG map of Florida
Contact ICBEContact ICBE
International Carbon Bank and Exchange®, Inc
6651 NW 23rd Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32606-8400
352 367 1144 tel
352 335 9140 fax
www.icbe.com
Mark van Soestbergen
Toward Climate Stability™