Climate ChaosClimate Chaos

Climate Chaos – A BIG Aussie Issue

Nicky Ison

The briefest of brief intro’s to The briefest of brief intro’s to climate change scienceclimate change science

Caused by increasing amounts of Caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmospheredioxide in the atmosphere

This causes a COThis causes a CO22 blanket around the blanket around the earth, trapping the heat earth, trapping the heat

Increased heat changes the Earth’s Increased heat changes the Earth’s climatic systemsclimatic systems

Some Climate Change StatisticsSome Climate Change Statistics

In 100 years the Earth has warmed by ~ 0.7ºC. In 100 years the Earth has warmed by ~ 0.7ºC.

The concentration of COThe concentration of CO22 in the atmosphere has in the atmosphere has increased from 280ppm to 380ppm in the last 100 increased from 280ppm to 380ppm in the last 100 years – 31% increase. years – 31% increase.

The difference in global temperatures between now The difference in global temperatures between now and the last ice age ~ 5ºC and the last ice age ~ 5ºC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts temperatures will rise between 1.4 – 5.8ºC. predicts temperatures will rise between 1.4 – 5.8ºC.

In AustraliaIn Australia

We are addicted to fossil fuels:We are addicted to fossil fuels: Subsidised annually to the tune of $9 billionSubsidised annually to the tune of $9 billion Largest coal exporting nation – 29% of Largest coal exporting nation – 29% of

global coal exportsglobal coal exports

We have energy intensive export We have energy intensive export industries – aluminum industries – aluminum

Stationary energy (electricity) accounts Stationary energy (electricity) accounts for 48% of our emissionfor 48% of our emission

ASEN Clean Energy CampaignASEN Clean Energy Campaign

Why?Why?

We are students – Universities and We are students – Universities and education institutions are our sphere of education institutions are our sphere of influenceinfluence

Universities are huge energy consumers, by Universities are huge energy consumers, by changing their systems we can changing their systems we can significantly influence the energy sector. significantly influence the energy sector.

ASEN is campaigning forASEN is campaigning for

Purchasing Renewable EnergyPurchasing Renewable Energy

Onsite Renewable Energy GenerationOnsite Renewable Energy Generation

Increased energy efficiencyIncreased energy efficiency

Green-buildingsGreen-buildings

Reduction in Universities’ greenhouse gas Reduction in Universities’ greenhouse gas emissionsemissions

Some SuccessesSome Successes

Monash University – 20% energy Monash University – 20% energy reduction by 2010, $300,000 per reduction by 2010, $300,000 per year energy fund, staff position to year energy fund, staff position to focus on energy reductionsfocus on energy reductions

ANU – 20% purchase of Greenpower ANU – 20% purchase of Greenpower by end 2006by end 2006

ASEN Climate Working groupASEN Climate Working group

On the ground campus campaignsOn the ground campus campaigns

National initiatives to support these National initiatives to support these campaigns campaigns Campus Climate Challenge ScorecardCampus Climate Challenge Scorecard National Call in day to the Australian National Call in day to the Australian

Vice Chancellor’s CommitteeVice Chancellor’s Committee

We need a paradigm shiftWe need a paradigm shift

““Warming (and warming alone), through its primary antidote Warming (and warming alone), through its primary antidote

of withdrawing carbon from production and consumption, is of withdrawing carbon from production and consumption, is

capable of realizing the environmentalist’s dream of an capable of realizing the environmentalist’s dream of an

egalitarian society based on rejection of economic growth egalitarian society based on rejection of economic growth

in favor of a smaller population’s eating lower on the food in favor of a smaller population’s eating lower on the food

chain, consuming a lot less, and sharing a much lower level chain, consuming a lot less, and sharing a much lower level

of resources much more equally” (Ray Evans, Nine Lies of resources much more equally” (Ray Evans, Nine Lies

about Global Warming)about Global Warming)

Clean Energy RevolutionClean Energy Revolution

With Climate Change as the imperative With Climate Change as the imperative we can create a clean energy future!we can create a clean energy future!