The Sustainability Trust

1. The Sustainability Trust Rotarians for a Sustainable Planet A Global Project by Participating Rotary Clubs The Trust is an independent charitable foundation supported by Rotary Clubs around the world, with 12 Founding Member Clubs on 6 continents

2. Boiling the Frog in a Pot ‘a Dangerous Waiting Game on Climate Change’* *Newsday, 23-12-2011

3. The Boiling Frog • The pot heats • The frog does nothing • The frog boils until cooked!

4. Boiling Planet Earth • Planet Earth Heats • The human race does nothing • The Hotter Climate creates havoc until we’re cooked!

5. So What’s the Problem? • Planet Earth’s Climate - What’s Happening? • Why is our Climate Changing? • What will the Consequences Be? • Why doesn’t someone DO SOMETHING? • What Should WeDo? • What tools do we have to help Rotarians?

6. The Discovery of Fire • Planet Earth is ~4.6 billion years old • About 400,000 years ago* our ancestors found that burning carbon fuel kept them warm • Controlling temperature, providing light, cooking, forest-clearing, • Using fire thus helped the population to grow

7. But the growth has been exponential..! The Industrial Revolution has taken our use of fire to extreme levels

8. The predominant scientific opinion on climate change - • “Earth'sclimate system is unequivocally warming • “It is more than 90% certain that humans are causing it • “Our activities increase concentrations ofgreenhouse gases in the atmosphere, • “Burningfossil fuels, deforestation and similar activities are the main causes Source = ‘Climate Wars’, by Gwynne Dyer

9. Why is our Climate Changing? • Burning carbon fuels takes our planet from • Natural Warming to Amplified Warming

10. AMPLIFIED GREENHOUSE EFFECT: Higher concentrations of CO2 and other "greenhouse" gases trap more infrared energy in the atmosphere than occurs naturally. The additional heat further warms the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface…. and melts more ice, so extra heat is absorbed One of the main water sources outside Moyale in Kenya runs dry.

11. The Consequences: • More energy in the atmosphere • More heat in the oceans • More storms • More hurricanes • More drought • More floods • More famine • More disease

12. Climate Change doesn’t mean everywhere gets warmer …. • Scientists have established a link between the cold, snowy winters in Britain and melting sea ice in the Arctic • They have warned that long periods of freezing weather are likely to become more frequent in years to come* • Recent Harsh UK Winters are not yet a Pattern, but all the Signs Point That Way *The Independent newspaper 24-12-2010

13. Recent harsh UK winters are not yet a pattern, but all the signs point that way Warmer waters in the Barents and Kara seas are creating an area of high pressure surrounded by clockwise-moving winds that sweep down from the polar region over Europe and the British Isles. Source - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

14. Water Shortage Predictions 2020Source = University of Kassel in Germany The Sustainability Trust – Rotarians for Rotarians for a Sustainable Planet

15. Water Shortage Predictions 2070Source = University of Kassel in Germany The Sustainability Trust – Rotarians for a Sustainable Planet

16. 2070 and the Receding Glaciers • Two BILLION people rely on the glacial melt-water from the Himalayas and mountains in northern India, China and Pakistan • Can we imagine the consequences if this life-giving water supply fails?

17. And it’s started: The Weather is Changing EVERYWHERE

18. …..famine, disease, poverty and war • Will we be able to fill ShelterBoxes fast enough? • And then there’s SUSTAINABILITY……….

19. Why Sustainability? Is this Sustainable? The human race is using the resources of 1.4 planet Earths By 2030 we will need the resources of two planet Earths

20. Do we follow the Frog? Do we boil the planet? Do we use up all of its resources?

21. Do we leave our descendants with a wasteland?

22. We’re Rotarians = Service above Self • We owe it to our grandchildren • There are steps we can take • Let’s be Pro-active Offer Solar Solutions Measure carbon footprint Plant trees Preserve Species

23. The Aim is to ‘De-Carbonize’ From this To this

24. and it starts HERE, with us …… Most of the solutions save us money while saving the planet

25. We can ALL do something to help • Turn un-used lights off • Use heat wisely, recirculate air • Insulate cleverly, everywhere • Fit Standby-Savers • Cut travel miles – coordinate journeys • Measure our Energy Consumption and aim to reduce it with a Smart Meter

26. Many Rotary Clubs are involved…. • Rochdale, England, Babylon Project • Perth, Australia, ‘Days of Change’. • District 1100 ‘Your Green Future’ • Mission Valley, CA, ‘Understanding Climate Change’ • Sheffield, UK, ‘Standby Energy-Savers’ • Metro Club, NY, ‘Haiti Hydro Electric’ • Fresno Club, CA, ‘Solar Cooking’ • Cutting our use of Carbon-based Fossil Fuels • Reducing CO2 emissions • Saving money • Helping others

27. The Sustainability Trustwww.TheSustainabilityTrust.org • Funded initially by 12 Clubs on 6 continents • Encourages 1.22 million Rotarians to consider Sustainability principles. • Has 800 Clubs connected to its database • Aims to be a forum to share best practice • Encourages all 34,000 Clubs to get involved • Has a 5th Test in 4-Way Test – to ask ourselves …. ‘Is it Sustainable?’

28. Ways to become involved…. • Click on the website • Become a Personal Sustaining Member US $50 to support the Trust • Make this Club a Trust Sustaining Member = US $100 • Become a Gold 50 Member Club US $1,000, payable over two years

29. Our World 2100 Flooded? It’s our responsibility Boiled? Unsustainable?

30. The Sustainability Trust Rotarians for a Sustainable Planet A Global Project by Participating Rotary Clubs To Link YOUR Club into the project go to www.thesustainabilitytrust.org To become a Sustaining Member Club, go to www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/trustmembers.htm