This document provides information about global warming in California and actions high school students can take to address it. It discusses how most of the world's glaciers are shrinking and climate change is impacting California through higher temperatures, especially in agricultural regions, and rising sea levels that could flood coastal cities. The document emphasizes that the impacts of climate change are already being felt and that further changes may become irreversible. It identifies some of the main contributors to an individual's carbon footprint and suggests actions students can take to reduce their footprint, such as using less energy at home and starting related service projects.
14. are
Current CO2 Levels CO2
0,000 Years
Unprecede nted in the Last 40
Temp.
15. Civilization
CO2
c
7000 years of stable temperatures
16. "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
18. July Temperatures
California’s
agricultural
regions will be
hard hit
2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy
www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation
20. 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
21. 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
22. 16 Inches Vallejo
of Sea Rise
San Rafael
Oakland
San
Francisco
San Jose
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
23. 16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Foster City
es
or
Sh
d
oo
dw
Re
East Menlo
East Palo Alto
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
24. South Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
10
1
Moffett Field
237
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
25. North Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
Vallejo
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
26. North Bay
16 Inches
of Sea Rise
San Rafael
Richmond
Larkspur
Corte Madera
SOURCE: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Aerial imagery is NAIP 2005 data. BCDC.gov
31. Ice Sheets Collapse
Consequences
are Huge
20 Feet of
Ocean Rise
NSF Website and the National Center for
Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Image: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK)
33. “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 Studies
The Observer, February 15, 2009,
34. “A common misperception is that this is
a crisis that is down the road.
“Climate change is real. It's happening
now.”
Senator John McCain
August 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
35. “The time for action is now.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
38. Six Items Tend to Dominate The
Carbon Footprint of Affluent
Americans
1. Air travel
2. The “stuff” you buy
3. Gasoline and diesel you use
4. Natural gas, propane, heating oil, and
wood you burn
5. Electricity you use
6. Beef and dairy you eat
39. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
1. Travel less by plane.
2. Drive less.
3. Buy less stuff (save more / buy less)
4. Burn fewer hydrocarbons to make hot
water and heat. (shorter showers)
5. Use less electricity. (turn off lights)
6. Eat less beef, cheese, and cream.
Stop burning wood, paper, and leaves.
40. Real-time Monitoring
Black & Decker
Power Monitor
You can install
Costs $88
6% to 20% reduction
Read all the reviews on
Amazon to make sure it is
compatible with your meter
41. 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”
42. Except the Pool Pump
We were spending $1,000 a year moving
water around
43. Installed a
New Pool
Pump
Spent $2,500
Saves about
$100/mo.
www.pentairpool.com
55. Pick one
Your home
Your school
Contest
Your middle school
Club
Relatives
Neighborhood
On the web
Or…
56. Use Your Skills
Replace energy hogs
Install CFLs
Teach or train others
Facebook
Start a new organization
Contest
Service project
57. Checklists
www.EltonSherwin.com
What are Your Home’s Top
Energy Wasters?
How Do I Find the Energy Hogs in
www.Amazon.com
My House?
What are Your Company’s Top
Energy Wasters?
Use this checklist for schools
What is My Carbon Footprint?
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Download from www.EltonSherwin.com
58. You Did Not Create the Problem
You Are Inheriting It
It could change your world