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Global Climate Change: 21st Century Challenge. What Does It All Mean?. Greenhouse Gases Global Warming Climate Change. Greenhouse Gases. A class of gases that accumulate near the Earth’s surface, trapping heat Additional trapped heat leads to global warming CO 2 , Methane, Nitrous Oxide.
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What Does It All Mean? • Greenhouse Gases • Global Warming • Climate Change
Greenhouse Gases • A class of gases that accumulate near the Earth’s surface, trapping heat • Additional trapped heat leads to global warming • CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide
Global Warming • Worldwide increase in temperatures • Globally, increased temperatures place unnatural pressure on climate systems
Climate Change • Gradual changes in seasonal climate, caused by unnatural pressure on climate systems • Lasting and potentially permanent, it leads to cataclysmic geological changes, as well as the extinction of plant and animal species across the globe
The Guilty • Coal-fired power plants • 14 Billion Tons of CO2 • Transportation • 80% of adults in the U.S. drive to work alone • Landfills • 1000 years for polypropylene bags to decompose
The Guilty • Livestock • 20% of greenhouse gases • 38% of all methane (25x more powerful than CO2) • Bottled water • U.S. - 28 billion bottles – 50 million barrels of oil, 80% ends up in landfills, 1000x more $$ than tap water, less gov. regulation
What Have We Done So Far at Shepard? • Recycling bins in every classroom • Shutting off the lights/computers • 2 large green bins to 7 large green bins • 1 pick-up per week to 2 pick-ups per week • The Earth Day Challenge • Re-Use a Shoe • Over 62,000 pound reduction in trash
What More Can We Do Here? • Recycling bins in front of school • Compost organic waste • Lower temperature in winter, higher temperature in spring/summer • “No Idling” Zone
What Can I Suggest at Home? • Energy Star appliances (35% less energy) • Compact FlourescentLightbulbs (CFLs) (1 ton per) • Take the car for a check-up (200 lbs. less CO2 annually) • Carpool • Buy local; Buy natural; Buy organic • Green power • eere.energy.gov/greenpower • Online bill pay • Hot to warm, warm to cold for laundry
I’m in 6th Grade, What Can I Do? • Walk • Take showers instead of baths (and make them shorter – 12.5 gallons vs. 35 gallons) • Say “no” to plastic bags (500 billion used, 3% recycled in the U.S.) • Skip the bag altogether • Recycle, recycle, recycle • 42 million tons of paper ,50% recycled (each ton saves 17 trees, 7000 gallons of H2O, 4000 kw hours of energy) • Refill your water bottle • Turn it off, shut it down • Bag the beef • Open a window or a put on a sweater
Seventh Generation • “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the next seven generations.” • - The Great Law of the Iroquois Nation
Sources/Ideas • Tim Flannery, The Weather Makers • Time Magazine, April 9, 2007, “The Global Warming Survival Guide” • www.stopglobalwarming.com • www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html • www.greenfestivals.org