Global WarmingGlobal Warming(and Climate Change)(and Climate Change)

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How it happens:How it happens:

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The Greenhouse The Greenhouse Effect:Effect: greenhouse greenhouse gases (carbon gases (carbon dioxide, methane, dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons) make fluorocarbons) make the earth warmer by the earth warmer by trapping energy in trapping energy in the atmosphere. the atmosphere.

Global Warming:Global Warming: Global warming refers to an Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by their concern is about global warming caused by human activities. human activities.

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/gw.htmlhttp://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/gw.html

Climate Change:Climate Change: Climate change represents Climate change represents a change in these long-term weather patterns. a change in these long-term weather patterns. They can become warmer or colder. Annual They can become warmer or colder. Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or decrease.decrease.

THE COOLEST GUY EVER!:THE COOLEST GUY EVER!:

(ever!)(ever!)

Al Al Gore!Gore!

His film, based on his His film, based on his book, to raise book, to raise awareness for awareness for

Global Warming Global Warming won an Academy won an Academy

Award!Award!

The Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol called for a dramatic The Kyoto Protocol called for a dramatic

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions reduction of greenhouse gas emissions over a period of 5 years, between 2008 over a period of 5 years, between 2008 and 2012.and 2012.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on December 11, 1997 and was put into December 11, 1997 and was put into effect on February 16, 2005. effect on February 16, 2005.

The United States refused to ratify its The United States refused to ratify its participation in this treaty.participation in this treaty.

Some Vocab:Some Vocab: Cap-and-trade system: sets an aggressive cap, Cap-and-trade system: sets an aggressive cap,

or maximum limit, on emissions. Sources covered or maximum limit, on emissions. Sources covered by the program then receive authorizations to by the program then receive authorizations to emit in the form of emissions allowances, with the emit in the form of emissions allowances, with the total amount of allowances limited by the cap. total amount of allowances limited by the cap.

Pollution Permits: companies have to pay a Pollution Permits: companies have to pay a certain amount for the pollution they produce.certain amount for the pollution they produce.

Gas Tax Suspension or Holiday: would reduce Gas Tax Suspension or Holiday: would reduce the tax on gasoline, for at least a little bit. Not a the tax on gasoline, for at least a little bit. Not a very good environmental idea because as soon very good environmental idea because as soon as gas costs less more people will buy and use it.as gas costs less more people will buy and use it.

Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton The Good:The Good:

-A plan that proposes a cap-and-trade -A plan that proposes a cap-and-trade system that cuts greenhouse gas system that cuts greenhouse gas emissions emissions levels from 1990 by 80% by levels from 1990 by 80% by 2050. 2050.

-The focus would be on efficiency and -The focus would be on efficiency and investmentinvestment

-Also a National Energy Council to -Also a National Energy Council to coordinate action across federal coordinate action across federal agencies. agencies.

The Bad:The Bad:-Calling for a suspension of the federal -Calling for a suspension of the federal gas gas

tax over the summer.tax over the summer.

Barack ObamaBarack Obama The Good:The Good:

-Centers around a cap-and-trade that calls for -Centers around a cap-and-trade that calls for an 80% emission reduction from 1990 levels by an 80% emission reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. 2050. - Also auctioning 100% of the pollution permits. - Also auctioning 100% of the pollution permits. - The proposal also calls for a $150 billion - The proposal also calls for a $150 billion investment plan to boost clean energy and investment plan to boost clean energy and create green jobs, proposals to boost efficiency, create green jobs, proposals to boost efficiency, build a smart electricity grid, and encourage build a smart electricity grid, and encourage public transportation.public transportation.- Unlike Clinton he does not endorse the - Unlike Clinton he does not endorse the suspension from the gas tax.suspension from the gas tax.

John McCainJohn McCain

It’s Not Too Bad But Not Too Great:It’s Not Too Bad But Not Too Great:-His plan calls for a cap-and-trade system that -His plan calls for a cap-and-trade system that would gradually reduce levels of greenhouse would gradually reduce levels of greenhouse gases from 1990 by 60% by 2050.gases from 1990 by 60% by 2050.

-His plan would give away pollution permits -His plan would give away pollution permits instead of auctioning and give polluters much instead of auctioning and give polluters much leeway to buy carbon offsets instead of leeway to buy carbon offsets instead of reducing their own emissions.reducing their own emissions.

The Effects of Global The Effects of Global Warming:Warming:

SAVE THE SAVE THE POLAR BEARS!POLAR BEARS!

Glacial retreat Glacial retreat and and

disappearance!disappearance!

And people say that global And people say that global warming isn’t a problem…warming isn’t a problem…

riiiiight….riiiiight….

Extreme Weather!Extreme Weather!

i.e.: -increased hurricane poweri.e.: -increased hurricane power

-increased evaporation-increased evaporation

-extreme temperature changes-extreme temperature changes

And Ocean Levels RisingAnd Ocean Levels Rising

In the past 100 years In the past 100 years global sea levels global sea levels have rose 4-8 inches. have rose 4-8 inches.

Oh…and this…Oh…and this…

Welll….maybe not exactly…Welll….maybe not exactly…

And the final slide:And the final slide:

If action is not taken now, the earth we If action is not taken now, the earth we know will be gone forever!know will be gone forever!

The rising sea levels will cover amounts The rising sea levels will cover amounts of land we now use, animals will become of land we now use, animals will become endangered and even extinct, and the endangered and even extinct, and the entire balance of the planet will be entire balance of the planet will be ruined. ruined.