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Global Warming

Global Warming. It’s Real, It’s Here, and It Creates Jobs! David Heimann Green Group Boston. The Takeaway Crisis = Danger plus Opportunity. Danger The world may become a far less comfortable place in which to live

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Global Warming

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  1. Global Warming It’s Real, It’s Here, and It Creates Jobs! David Heimann Green Group Boston

  2. The TakeawayCrisis = Dangerplus Opportunity • Danger • The world may become a far less comfortable place in which to live • The USA may remain dependent on scarce fuels from unstable unfriendly countries • Other countries may surpass us in developing the new economy, leaving us as a third-world backwater • Opportunity • We can create millions of new jobs and invigorate the economy for years to come • We can draw on renewable fuels that last indefinitely • We can live in a way that we can “Live Long and Prosper”

  3. It’s Real

  4. Background • Greenhouse effect – Light enters an enclosed space, becomes heat, and cannot readily leave. • Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (together with other gases such as methane) cause a greenhouse effect on Earth. • The more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the warmer the atmosphere becomes.

  5. Background

  6. Background • At the time of the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of GHG was 250 PPM. Since then, it has been steadily increasing. • In recent years, this increase has accelerated. In 1960 it was 315 PPM. In 1980 it was 336 PPM. In 2000 it was 370 PPM. It is now 380 PPM. • The higher the concentration, the higher is the average global temperature, and the higher is the variability around that average.

  7. Background • The decade ending in 2009 was the warmest decade on record. • 2009 itself was the second warmest year since 1880, when modern temperature measurement began. The warmest year was 2005. • Average global temperatures have trended upward by 0.36 oF per decade over the past 30 years. The variability of temperatures has also increased. Source: NASA, via NY Times January 22, 2010

  8. It’s Here

  9. So Here Is What’s Happened

  10. With This Temperature Result Source: If It’s That Warm, How Come It’s So Damned Cold? [Hansen, Ruedy, Sato, Lo]

  11. Or This, Over a Longer Time Frame Source: 2006 report of the US National Academy of Science

  12. Resulting, Already, In This • In the polar regions, especially the Arctic, the temperature rises are much higher than average. • This leads to much stronger effects than in the rest of the world. • The Arctic unwittingly serves as the “miner’s canary”.

  13. It Creates Jobs

  14. So How Does Global Warming Create Jobs? • In order to reduce global warming, less greenhouse gases must be emitted. • To do this, fossil fuel use must be strongly reduced. • How can we do this? • Use renewable energy, such as solar and wind • Creates many jobs! • Energy efficiency, such as higher-mileage cars and energy-efficient buildings • Creates many jobs! • Retrofit old power plants, buildings, machines, etc. • Creates many jobs!

  15. Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010

  16. Jobs in California • Source: Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California • David Roland-Holst – Next 10 http://www.next10.org/research/research_eeijc.html

  17. Jobs in Massachusetts Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010

  18. Jobs in New Hampshire Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010

  19. But We Can’t Wait Long! Source: New York Times, January 30, 2010 Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com)

  20. Let’s not become a third world country!

  21. So What To Do? • As a consumer • Buy energy efficient products (from light bulbs to cars and houses) • Make your home energy efficient (appliances, insulation, programmed thermostats, etc. • Take advantage of the green tax and economic incentives • As an employee • Get qualified for some really cool careers, such as • Energy auditors, green-home dealers and installers • Wind and solar dealers, installers, consultants • Software development for green industries

  22. So What To Do? • As a citizen • In your city or town • Have your locality use green facilities and vehicles • Have your stores carry green products • Encourage the use of mass transit and paratransit • In your state • Have the Legislature pass laws such as the Green Communities Act in Massachusetts • Nationally • Create a level playing field that allows all energy sources to be evaluated on their full costs and benefits, then let the free market act: • Externalize the price of global warming through actions such as a carbon charge or carbon cap • Ensure that renewable energy and efficiency receive the same level of support as do fossil fuels.

  23. So What To Do? • As a Citizen -- Call your Senators and tell them to pass strong energy and climate legislation • Massachusetts • Scott Brown, (202) 224-4543 • John Kerry, (202) 224-2742 • New Hampshire • Judd Gregg, (202) 224-3324 • Jeanne Shaheen, (202) 224-2841

  24. Live Long and Prosper!

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