Climate Change and YOU!Climate Change in Oregon and What You

Can Do About It

Amber MooreMD/MPH Student

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Agenda

The problem of global warming Impact in Oregon Why act What you can do to stop global warming

– Lifestyle changes– Community changes– Policy changes

Questions

The Problem

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/sustainability/greenhouse_effect.html

The Problem

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/images/8/88/Mauna_Loa_Carbon_Dioxide.png

11/05 Science

The Problem

Science magazine analyzed 928 peer-reviewed scientific papers on global warming published between 1993 and 2003. Not a single one challenged the scientific consensus that earth's temperature is rising due to human activity.

What’s the Big Deal?

How Does Climate Change Affect Oregon?

• Temperature

• Precipitation

• Sea Level

• Snowpack “The effects of global warming – higher temperatures,

reduced snowpack, declining stream flows – are already hurting the bottom line of farmers and business people in other industries,” said Eban Goodstein, an economist at Lewis and Clark College

Scientific Consensus Statement on the Likely Impacts of Climate Change on the Pacific Northwest http://inr.oregonstate.edu/download/climate_change_consensus_statement_final.pdf and http://ri.uoregon.edu/publicationspress/press_release_10_10_2005.doc

Temperature

IMPACT: Scientists are very certain that the Pacific Northwest is warming and that this is best explained by human-caused changes

PREDICTION: Northwest temperatures expected to increase approximately 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2030 and 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. This is expected to lead to longer fire seasons and longer and more intense allergy season

Mosquitoes on the Move

Source: World Wildlife Fund, 1996

Warmer temperatures encourage northward migration of malaria-carrying mosquitoes

West Nile Virus

Compiled from CDC, Health Canada, USGS, and ProMED-mail sources as of 14 May 2003

Precipitation

IMPACT: Since the beginning of the 20th century, average annual precipitation has increased across the region by 10%, with increases of 30-40% in eastern Washington and northern Idaho

PREDICTION: Uncertain, however impacts on water resources are expected due to low summer precipitation and earlier peak streamflow. This will likely lead to decreased summer water availability, changes in ability to manage flood damage, shifts in hydropower production, and decreased water quality due to higher temperatures, increased salinity and pollutant concentration

Sea Level

IMPACT: Land on the central and northern Oregon coast is being submerged at a rate of .06-.08 inches annually (1930-1995)

PREDICTION: Continued rise is certain however impact is uncertain. Maximum wave heights are also expected to increase, leading to increasing erosion in coastal areas.

“We’re going to get a meter sea level rise and

there’s nothing we can do about it… It’s going to

happen… the question is when.”

Andrew Weaver, lead author for IPCC Report

October 2007

Greenland Melt is Accelerating

200520021992

Rignot, Science v. 311, 2006

Arctic Sea Ice

1979

2003

What is a positive feedback cycle?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/Images/Arctic_SSMI1979-03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3%3Fimg_id%3D16340&h=713&w=540&sz=125&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=icadjlObsTb35M:&tbnh=140&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darctic%2Bsea%2Bice%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DRNWE,RNWE:2004-44,RNWE:en%26sa%3DN

Snow Pack

IMPACT: Between 1950 and 2000, the April 1 snowpack declined. From 1950-1995, the cumulative downward trend in snow water equivalent is approximately 35%. Peak Snowpack has moved earlier in the year, increasing March streamflows and reducing June stream flows.

PREDICTION : Continued decline

B

BBC News: bbc.co.uk

It is time to Act Now

Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11th Hour

Why Act?

Because we can’t afford not to act It is our moral obligation

Why Aren’t We Acting?

Behavior Change Theory Health Belief Model Stages of Change Social networks/social behavior change

Can I Really Make a Difference?

What’s the point? “In general, just under half of the emissions for which each

of us is responsible come from things over which we have personal control, such as how much we drive and fly and how we heat and power our homes. Of the rest, about 25 per cent of the total arises indirectly through powering our workplaces, about 10 per cent comes from maintaining public infrastructure and government, and about 20 per cent is emitted during the production of the things we buy, including food. We can still influence some of these indirect emissions through what we buy - or we could if we had access to the right kind of information - but by and large it makes sense to concentrate on the emissions we can control directly. “ (Pearce, New Scientist, 2007)

Who is to Blame?

The US population has 5% of the world’s population, but more than 20% of emissions

Household emissions by Country

US-55,000 pounds Germany-27,000 Sweden-15,000

Follow the chart above to track progress on your diet

Source: Gershon, Low Carbon Diet

US You on a Diet

Sweden0

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It is possible to cut individual emissions by around 75 per cent without seriously altering our lifestyles.– Chris Goodall

The following slides on reducing your carbon footprint are adapted from this book (Gershon, D (2006). Low Carbon Diet. Woodstock: Empowerment Institute.) and from True Green by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin (2005, National

Geographic)

Solid Waste-the problem

Every pound of solid waste that goes to the landfill generates 2 pounds of greenhouse gases, from transportation and anaerobic decomposition

The average household produces about 4.5 lbs of solid waste a day

Solid waste-the solution

Reduce-do you really need to buy that? Recycle! Remember, even things that can’t

be recycled curbside can still be recycled. Compost Reduce packaging-bring your own bags and

buy items with little packaging Reduce junk

mail—www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail

Solid waste-the savings

Recycle all recyclable waste-save 1,300 lbs Reduce weekly waste from a 90 gallon trash

container to a 60 gallon container- save 3,120 lbs

Total Saving: 4,320 lbs

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Hot Water

Heating hot water for a 10 minute shower can generate 4 lbs of CO2

A bath can use twice as much A dishwasher uses two pounds of CO2 each

time it is run, inefficiently washing dishes by hand can generate up to 3 pounds of CO2

Hot Water-the solution

Reduce shower time from 10 to 5 minutes Install a low-flow showerhead Run the dishwater only when it is full When hand-washing dishes, full one tub

with soapy water, and one with clean for rinsing

Turn water off when you are done using it

Hot Water-the savings

Each person who reduces shower time to 5 minutes saves 300 pounds of CO2/year, or 1200 pounds for a household of 4

Installing a low-flow showerhead reduces emissions by 250 pounds/year

Reducing washing by one dishwasher load/week saves 100 pounds

Minimizing hot water use when hand washing saves 125 poundsTotal savings: 1675

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Clothing care-the problem

An average washing machine produces nearly 200lbs of greenhouse gases per year (80-85% comes from heating the water)

A dryer generates 5 pounds per cycle

Clothing care-the solution

Wear clothes until they are dirty Only wash full loads of laundry Hang clothes to dry

Clothing care-the savings

Switching one load of laundry per week from hot to cold water saves 100 pounds

Eliminating the need for one dryer load each week saves 260 pounds

Total: 360 pounds

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Home Heating-the problem

People who live in colder climates generate 8,800 pounds of CO2 emissions annually

Home heating-the solution

Turn the temperature down during the day when people are out of the house, and while sleeping at night

Set your thermostat to “sweater” temperature when you are at home: between 65-68 degrees

Home Heating-the savings

Setting the thermostat to 65-68 during the day and 55-58 at night saves 1400 pounds annually.

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Travel-the problem

US residents drive an average of 10,000 miles per year, each mile driven (in a car that gets 20 mpg) is one pound of carbon

Air travel has a greenhouse gas effect three times greater than a vehicle. A coast-to-coast round trip dumps 4480 pounds of carbon, PER PERSON!

Travel-the solution

Reduce car travel by biking, taking public transportation, combining trips to reduce mileage, carpool

Reduce plane travel when possible Buy carbon offsets to reduce impact when

travel is necessary

A note about carbon offsets

What am I buying?-You are reducing the amount of power generated

by fossil fuels

-When you buy offsets, are buying a renewable source, therefore reducing the need for energy from harmful sources

-Nativeenergy.com

Travel-the savings

If you drive a car that gets 20mpg, and you drive 10,000 miles/year, reducing the number of miles driven by 20% will save 2,000 pounds

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Fuel efficiency-the problem

10-30% of your fuel costs and CO2 emissions can be reduced by driving smart

An additional 30% can be reduced by tuning up your car

Fuel efficiency-the solution

If your family has more than one car, drive the more efficient vehicle

Avoid idling Rid your car of unnecessary weight Keep highway driving at 55 mph, the most

efficient speed Keep your tires inflated Service car on a regular basis

Fuel efficiency-the savings

By driving efficiently, you can save 1,100 pounds per year.

By tuning your car, you can save 1,500 pounds

Total savings= 2,600 pounds

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Home Energy efficiency-the problem

Regular light bulbs use significantly more energy than newer compact fluorescent bulbs

Appliances use significant amounts of energy

Home energy-the solution

Change to CFLs! Turn off appliances/computers when not in

use

Home energy-the savings

Save 100 pounds per bulb Assuming 10 bulbs are changed, save 1000

pounds

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Total Savings

Solid Waste 4320Hot Water 1675Clothing Care 360Home Heating 1400Travel 2000Fuel Efficiency 2500Home Energy 1000

Total 13,355 pounds saved

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When you are the consumer

Buy energy star appliances Buy a fuel efficient car Tune up your water heater and furnace, or buy a

more efficient products Seal air leaks in your house Insulate walls and attic, install energy efficient

windows Buy green energy (PGE) Buy local

Spread the Word!

In your school In your neighborhood/community

Get ready to vote!

What is good legislation

Reduce emissions 2%/year, with 80% reduction by 2050

Encourage innovation, discourage the building of facilities that force us to use old technology

The Legislation

House: Safe Climate Act (Waxman) Senate: Global Warming Reduction Act

(Sanders and Boxer)

Thank you for your Attention!

Questions?

Special thanks to Catherine Thomasson and John Fogarty for use of their slides, Oregon

PSR for their support