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Tackling Climate Change: Solutions for a new, stronger clean energy economy City of Spokane Sustainability Task Force a

Tackling Climate Change: Solutions for a new, stronger clean energy economy City of Spokane Sustainability Task Force and Sounding Board Rhys Roth, Climate Solutions October 15, 2008. The Science of Global Warming.

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Tackling Climate Change: Solutions for a new, stronger clean energy economy City of Spokane Sustainability Task Force a

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  1. Tackling Climate Change: Solutions for a new, stronger clean energy economy City of Spokane Sustainability Task Force and Sounding Board Rhys Roth, Climate Solutions October 15, 2008

  2. The Science of Global Warming

  3. Source: IPCC 4th Assessment Report, “Climate Change 2007”, Working Group 1

  4. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- IPCC 1990: “Our judgment is that: global mean surface air temperature has increased by 0.3 to 0.6oC… (which) could be largely due to… natural variability; alternatively this variability and other human factors could have offset a still larger human-induced greenhouse warming.” 1995: “The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.” 2001: “There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.” 2007: “Most of (>50% of) the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (confidence level >90%) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (human) greenhouse gas concentrations.”

  5. Global Warming Impacts People • Destabilize the climate system  disrupt key life support systems: • Risk vital water supply • Alter agriculture • Hyper-energize storms • Rising seas • Environmental refugees • The poor, already living on the edge, are extremely vulnerable.

  6. How much do we have to reduce climate pollution? Enough to stabilize the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” How much is that? Avoid increases in average global temperature of > 2 degrees C How much is that? Stabilize the concentration of GHGs at 350-450 ppm So how much do we have to reduce climate pollution? 80% by 2050. More in the U.S. Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change – Cambridge University Press

  7. Our Global Challenge Rewire the global energy system in 40 years. Revolutionize how we produce, distribute and utilize energy.

  8. Climate Solutions and Prosperity Can (and must!) Go Hand in Hand “We see clean energy technology, given the right policy signals, as a ripe opportunity for increasing investment and job creation in our region… Clean energy can become as big and valuable to the Northwest as semiconductors, electronic and computer equipment, software and communications technology.” Nancy Floyd, Nth Power David Chen, OVP Venture Partners Stephen Saltzman, Intel Capital

  9. Carbon-Free Prosperity 2025 REPORT OVERVIEW In Carbon-Free Prosperity 2025,we highlight: • The region’s key assets (strengths) and barriers (weaknesses) • The top five clean-tech opportunities for the region, according to our interview and research findings • How the region can create between 41,000 and 63,000 direct jobs by 2025 in just five clean-tech sectors • How the region can be the first in the nation to achieve approximately 75% of its electricity supply from carbon-free sources (hydropower + renewables) by 2025 • A 10-point action plan for reaching carbon-free prosperity in Oregon and Washington

  10. The Big 5 Opportunities Solar PV Manufacturing Green Building Design Services Wind Power Development Sustainable Bioenergy Smart Grid Technologies These industries have the potential to create more than 63,000 new jobs in the Pacific Northwest by 2025 — a figure that matches the employment in Silicon Forest during its height as a chip manufacturing center

  11. Real Productivity: The opposite of ‘credit default swaps’! • Clean Tech is about: • ‘Building Things Right’ – it’s an actual export sector • Excellence in clean, efficient energy, building and transportation systems

  12. Securing Idaho’s Energy Future: Key Report Finding #1 • Energy cost Idahoans over $3.7 billion in 2007. • Most of that money leaves the state’s economy. • 80% imported from elsewhere, almost all fossil fuels. • Idahoans consume more energy per person than any other Northwest state or province.

  13. Fossil Fuels Imports: A Giant Sucking Sound as Billion$ Leave Idaho Energy cost Idahoans $3.7 Billion in 2007 80% was imported from out of state, basically all fossil fuels

  14. Idaho is Fossil-Poor, but Rich in Renewables KEY REPORT FINDING #2 : Idaho could supply ½ of its projected energy demand in 2025 (650 trillion BTUs) from in-state resources: 65 to 195 from efficiency 100 to 140 from wind power 42 to 47 from solar power 27 from geothermal electric/direct 21 to 33 from biofuels/biomass 39 to 45 from hydro (currently 38)

  15. Benefits of efficiency and renewable energy in Idaho: Buffer Idaho families, farms and businesses from volatile and escalating energy costs Keep more of the $3 billion+ Idahoans spend for energy cycling within the state economy Spread new economic development (billions of $$ in new capital investment) around the state Create new, high-wage jobs • Contribute to America’s energy independence • Keep Idaho’s water and air clean

  16. Climate Solutions Rhys Roth Director of Strategic Innovation Ph 360-352-1763, x23 rhys@climatesolutions.org www.climatesolutions.org

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