Presentation Transcript

1. Treading Lightly with Your FootprintLarry Foster

2. Today’s Map What’s a Footprint “The Culprits” Red-Faced Speaker Your Turn! - At Home & Work - Zipping Around UAA’s Turn Food Map, Please!
3. Useful Footprints Paw Print! Ecological Footprint Carbon Footprint
4. Ecological Footprint Ice Area? Amount of BIOPRODUCTIVE land & sea area in continuous production to supply all you use and absorb your waste, using prevailing technology. ------ Jim Merkel Units in acres or m2or PLANETS
5. Carbon Footprint kilograms? If you died a year ago, how better off is the atmosphere? -- esteemed scholar Larry Foster Units in CO2 lbs or kg
6. Where Does CO2 Come From? From Natural Sources From Human Activities All Natural Bear!
7. Combustion = CO2 Fossil Fuels Credit: Deborah L. Williams
8. 1000 Years of CO2 and Global Temperature Change 1.8 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.4 0 -0.4 -0.7 -1.1 380 360 340 320 300 280 CO2 Temperature Global Temperature Change (deg F) CO2 Concentration (ppm) Year 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 Global Temperature & CO2 Humans have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere by more than 35% since the Industrial Revolution. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2006) The most carbon dioxidein 650,000 years. (IPCC 2007) Source: ACIA 2004 Jennifer Allen graphic Credit: Deborah L. Williams
9. These Pollutants do What? – Global Fever Greenhouse gases cause the earth to heat up the same way that a person sleeping under a thick blanket in the summertime is too hot…or wearing a parka that is too thick. Our atmospheric “blanket” or “parka” is over 35% “thicker”. Thinner blanket is “just right”. Thick blanket traps too much heat. Credit: Allison Butler
10. Just in Case Your Were Wondering “Human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate.” ConocoPhillips “When 98% of scientists agree, who is Shell to say, ‘let’s debate the science’ [about global warming]?” Shell Oil November 2006 “Recognizing the risk of climate change, we are taking actions to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our operations.” Exxon Mobil December 2006 Credit: Deborah L. Williams
11. Danger Will Robinson – danger danger!! Who’s Will? Most models UNDER estimate impacts and OVER estimate capacity.
12. Time to Compare Experimenting with my students Call the IRB!
13. As of just three weeks ago! Math? Tons CO2 Earths
14. Message of the Day! To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Reduce Your Ecological Footprint! Seems Too Simple
15. Computing the Ecological Footprint By hand: “Radical simplicity – small footprints on a finite Earth” by Jim Merkel Web model for Ecological Footprint: http://www.myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information Do it now!
16. Computing the Carbon Footprint CO2Equivalence. Web model for Carbon Footprint: www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator oh, that gas
17. Need a victim! Just what is MY footprint? embarrassing!
18. So who cares . . . hey stupid – I do! Global Warming Ocean Acidification
19. Ocean Acidification MILLION BILLION lbs 525 BILLION tons of CO2 into the Ocean in last 200 years ½ of Human Emissions
20. But where is the Acid? 7-Up is better! pH goes from 8.21 to 8.1 in 200 years Why? Drink a COKE!
21. So what – just 0.11! Its all in the Math: 10^0.11 Looks hard!
22. 30% - yeeks! forget swimming! Its all in the Math: 10^0.11 ~ 30%
23. and Acids do what? Sea life at the bottom of the food chain need calcium carbonate. Acids bind with carbonate preventing shell formation I’m on top of this!
24. Did you flunk chemistry? Actually, an A+ Its all about TUMS. Great Web Source: Alaska Marine Conservation Council www.akmarine.org
25. Any more BAD News? Hot Chiles! Business as usual: 10^0.4 ~ 250% by end of century Miss 20 Million BCE?
26. But that’s the rest of the world! Bummer! BAD NEWS – Impacts the cold polar and sub-polar regions first!
27. Austin Post photo 1958 Matt Nolan photo 2003 Impacts in Alaska McCall Glacier Melting sea ice, glaciers & permafrost. Wildlife. Wetlands and forests Weather. People & Cultures. Credit: Deborah Williams
28. Your Turn! I’m already on it! First - Do Your Foot Prints Home Ideas Work Ideas At the Fridge! Zipping Around Going Neutral
29. At Home Off - stupid! Turn it off – turn it down Upgrade Do an audit Compost & recycle 70 times Trash
30. More Home Ideas Buy local – buy green Buy “Recycled – Post Consumer” Stop Junk Mail Don’t Forget: Reducing your Eco Print means Reducing your Carbon Print I don’t eat Greens!
31. and More Ideas for the Home “Plug It In” Engine Block Heaters & Timers Plug in when temperatures drop below 200F. Use timers to activate heaters two hours before starting. Reduces air pollution and excessive engine wear.
32. Learn for Life!
33. My Favorite - Plant a Tree!
34. At work I’m working too! Read UAA’s Energy Policy Buy Energy Star Green Purchasing Zero – Waste! “Recycle or Bust” Reduce travel
35. Work Ideas – Stay Informed
36. More Work Ideas Go Paperless Double Sided Printing Ecoware / China for Lunches Get a Water Bottle Turn off Computer Monitors Flip that Switch! Remember: Carbon follows Eco Footprint
37. At the Fridge less Meat? Eat less meat Buy local – buy organic Buy seasonal Don’t waste food Experiment with your Eco Footprint Model
38. Zipping around 4xPaw Power! Bike – walk Car / van pool Emissions ~ MPG What about flying? Bike to Work Day May 21
39. What if? Commuting Data – 18 Thousand Metric Tons of CO2 One less trip to campus / week: - Avoided: Six Moon Commutes - Carbon Footprint Reduction: 7%
40. Free Rides Hiking Across Campus Free & Dependable Transportation Services and Alternatives U-Pass Seawolf Shuttle
41. Going Carbon Neutral Seems Simple! Neutral is good if only I knew what that means! Simple – making or buying offsets TerraPass, STI, …. Tax Credits Corporations – Gov’t already moving Neutral
42. Air Travel – HUGE Footprint Carbon Offset – Easy!
43. Just in case you Forgot! Voters taste better too! Vote!!!
44. So, …, does UAA have footprint? 45 thousand metric tons! Metric ton??
45. the wicked details That’s a lot of gas!
46. Energy Friendly Practices Energy Conservation, Management and Policy Energy modules serving multiple buildings Heating set-backs De-lamping and upgrades Self-illuminating signs Electric heater amnesty Energy policy Lighting set-backs
47. More Energy Friendly Practices Using and Advancing Energy Friendly Technology Chancellor Elaine Maimon and UAA’s First Hybrid Vehicle.
48. Important Reading
49. January 2007: UAA’s Chancellor signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to reduce carbon emissions and take other actions toward sustainability. May 2007: Chancellor Ulmer reaffirms this commitment when she became UAA’s Chancellor.
50. Great UAA Resource UAA Office of Sustainability Paula Williams – Director - 786-1515 & anpw@uaa.alaska.edu uaa.alaska.edu/sustainability Building a future for UAA and the Great Land through environmentally wise, economically sound, and socially responsible actions.
51. Your Homework! Surprised ??? First - Do Your Foot Prints