"every generation faces a challenge. in the 1930s, it was the creation of social security. in...
TRANSCRIPT
"Every generation faces a challenge. In the 1930s, it was the creation of Social Security.
In the 1960s, it was putting a man on the moon. In the 1980s, it was ending the Cold War.
-Eileen Clausen, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Our generation's challenge will be addressing global climate change while sustaining a growing global economy."
Our generation's challenge will be addressing global climate change while sustaining a growing global economy."
"If America fails to address climate change, we'll be jeopardizing all of our hard-fought conservation gains and putting thousands
of local jobs at risk.
Fortunately with our history of innovation and growing
clean energy economy, Washington is well-poised to lead
the way towards solving this difficult challenge."
-Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
"If America fails to address climate change, we'll be jeopardizing all of our hard-fought conservation gains and putting thousands
of local jobs at risk.
Fortunately with our history of innovation and growing
clean energy economy, Washington is well-poised to lead
the way towards solving this difficult challenge."
-Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
“Climate Change" is a general term used when referring to a wide variety of effects brought about by human activities.
"Global Warming,” one aspect of climate change, is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's lower atmosphere.
Since the Industrial Revolution, that temperature has gone up by an average of 1 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since the Industrial Revolution, that temperature has gone up by an average of 1 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2002Source: http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/178
Average annual temperatures in the Pacific Northwest continue to rise, warming at a rate substantially greater than the global warming trend.
Since 1950, winter temperatures have warmed by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: http://www.pscleanair.org
Several U.S. states may lose their official birds as they head for cooler climates — including the Baltimore oriole of Maryland, the black-capped chickadee of Massachusetts, and the American goldfinch of Iowa.
Source: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/issues/art19623.html
"Ignoring climate change will be the most costly of all possible choices, for us and our children.”
-Peter Ewins, British Meteorological Office
The World Health Organization
estimates that climate change is
already responsible for an estimated
150,000 deaths per year
Source: http://www.who.int/globalchange/news/fsclimandhealth/en/
"A child born in a wealthy country is likely to consume, waste, and pollute more in his lifetime than 50 children born in developing nations.
It is dawning on us at last that the life of our world is as vulnerable as the children we raise."
-George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, UK
"A child born in a wealthy country is likely to consume, waste, and pollute more in his lifetime than 50 children born in developing nations.
It is dawning on us at last that the life of our world is as vulnerable as the children we raise."
-George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, UK
Every year the U.S generates over 240 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste.
Washington state contributed approximately 18 million tons of waste in 2005.
Every year the U.S generates over 240 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste.
Washington state contributed approximately 18 million tons of waste in 2005.
Source: PSE Waste Fact Sheet
By recycling all of its office paper By recycling all of its office paper waste for one year, a building of waste for one year, a building of 7,000 workers could reduce 7,000 workers could reduce greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking about 370 equivalent to taking about 370 cars off the road that year.cars off the road that year.
By recycling all of its office paper By recycling all of its office paper waste for one year, a building of waste for one year, a building of 7,000 workers could reduce 7,000 workers could reduce greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking about 370 equivalent to taking about 370 cars off the road that year.cars off the road that year.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, “Climate Change and Waste Reducing Waste Can Make a Difference,” EPA 530-E-03-002, 2002
"You have 4000 universities in the country spending $190 billion on goods and services annually. That’s greater than the GDP of all but 20 nations.
If schools were practicing renewable energy and buying environmentally sound products, it would have a huge impact."
-Anthony Cortese, President, Second Nature
"You have 4000 universities in the country spending $190 billion on goods and services annually. That’s greater than the GDP of all but 20 nations.
If schools were practicing renewable energy and buying environmentally sound products, it would have a huge impact."
-Anthony Cortese, President, Second Nature
Recycled aluminum saves 95% energy vs. virgin aluminum; recycling of one aluminum can saves enough
energy to run a TV for 3 hours
Source: http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=lib&a=energy/EnergyFacts.html
Arctic sea ice is melting
at a rate of up to 9 percent per decade.
Arctic summers
could be ice-free
by mid-century,
possibly driving
polar bears
to extinction
within 100 years
Source: http://www.climatetrust.org/about_offsets_facts.php
Nearly every glacier in the Cascades and Olympics has retreated during the past 50-150 years in response to warming
Nearly every glacier in the Cascades and Olympics has retreated during the past 50-150 years in response to warming
Source: http://www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/climate_change2005/climate_home.htm
In 2004 alone, diesel pollution will have caused an estimated 3,000 premature deaths in California — greater than the average 2,300 annual homicides in the state.
In 2004 alone, diesel pollution will have caused an estimated 3,000 premature deaths in California — greater than the average 2,300 annual homicides in the state.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/deer_2004/session6/2004_deer_anair.pdf
School bus fleets are one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the U.S.
School bus fleets are one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the U.S.
Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults.
Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults.
Today asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15.
Today asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15.
Source: http;//www.pscleanair.org
"When I see an adult on a
bicycle,
I do not despair for the
future of the human race."
-H.G. Wells
"When I see an adult on a
bicycle,
I do not despair for the
future of the human race."
-H.G. Wells
If everyone left their car at home one day per week and rode the bus or carpooled, the result would be a 20 percent reduction in commuter traffic
If everyone left their car at home one day per week and rode the bus or carpooled, the result would be a 20 percent reduction in commuter traffic
"The sunshine that strikes American roads each year contains more energy than all the fossil fuels used by the entire world."- Denis Hayes, International Chair of Earth Day
If everyone in North America cooked exclusively with a microwave rather then an electric oven, for a year, we'd save as much energy as the entire continent of Africa consumes during that same time.
If everyone in North America cooked exclusively with a microwave rather then an electric oven, for a year, we'd save as much energy as the entire continent of Africa consumes during that same time.
Source: Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen, authors of The Green Book
The U.S. uses nearly $1 million worth of energy every minute.
Source: Energy Information Administration
Energy savings can reach 30 percent or more when interactive efforts of building and system components such as lighting, heating and cooling are considered.
Energy savings can reach 30 percent or more when interactive efforts of building and system components such as lighting, heating and cooling are considered.
Source: http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/factsheets/dangerous_experiment.pdf
Source: Pew Center on Global Climate Change, “The U.S. Electric Power Sector and Climate Change Mitigation,” Granger Morgan, Jay Apt and Lester Lave, June 2005
Electricity generation in the US is the largest source of carbon dioxide, producing 4 percent of the total CO2 emissions in 2003.
CO2 is the main cause of global warming.
Electricity generation in the US is the largest source of carbon dioxide, producing 4 percent of the total CO2 emissions in 2003.
CO2 is the main cause of global warming.
In the average home, 40 percent of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
Nationwide, the total electricity consumed by electronics while idle equals the annual output of 12 power plants.
Source: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/home.html
11 of the 12 hottest years on record have occurred in the last 12 years (1995-2006)
Source: PSE Global Warming Fact Sheet
Due to a warmer climate scientist believe Western Washington will see more of our precipitation falling as rain rather than as snow at higher elevations.
Due to a warmer climate scientist believe Western Washington will see more of our precipitation falling as rain rather than as snow at higher elevations.
This means a higher chance of flooding and other problems associated with more freshwater entering the salty Puget Sound.
http://www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/climate_change2005/climate_home.htm
Scientists project that a 3-degree Fahrenheit rise in average August temperatures could cause up to 20 percent of the Columbia Snake River Basin and coastal watersheds inWashington and Oregon to become too warm for salmon, steelhead and trout species
Scientists project that a 3-degree Fahrenheit rise in average August temperatures could cause up to 20 percent of the Columbia Snake River Basin and coastal watersheds inWashington and Oregon to become too warm for salmon, steelhead and trout species
Source: http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Washington.pdf
As sea level increases and stream flows decrease, the quality of Washington’s estuaries could decline, impacting oysters and clam populations and the state’s $77 million shellfish industry.
As sea level increases and stream flows decrease, the quality of Washington’s estuaries could decline, impacting oysters and clam populations and the state’s $77 million shellfish industry.
Source:http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Washington.pdf
Reductions in crop yields are anticipated for many regions, especially in later decades as temperatures rise. Recent studies have shown that for rice, the world’s most significant grain crop, yields fall by 10 percent for each degree of warming
Reductions in crop yields are anticipated for many regions, especially in later decades as temperatures rise. Recent studies have shown that for rice, the world’s most significant grain crop, yields fall by 10 percent for each degree of warming
Source: http://www.climatetrust.org/about_offsets_facts.php
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!
I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
-Thomas Edison (1847–1931)
Air conditioning and heating account for almost half of electricity use in the average American home.
Air conditioning and heating account for almost half of electricity use in the average American home.
Source: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/activities/art19631.html
Over 50 percent of the emissions attributed to the average U.S household, come from creating energy to heat and cool homes
"Never doubt that a
small group of
thoughtful, concerned
citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is
the only thing
that ever has. "
-Margaret Mead
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
-Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
-Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)