Climate Change Crisis: Solutions for a Better Future

1. Senator Ken Haar (ret.) : Climate Change Educator & Activist

2. The Great Horse Manure Crisis of the 1890’s

3. The Streets of NY City circa 1900. Over 150,000 horses were employed.

5. Children playing next to a dead horse, Chicago, 1893

6. Clearly an issue for Public Health – both IMMEDIATE & for the FUTURE • What might have been Public Health’s response to the pollution? [HORSES] • ADAPT to the situation • Deal with day-to-day immediate problems • Help to clean up the mess • Advocatepolicies to MITIGATE the pollution • Get rid of the horse! Cold turkey! • Support policies to replace horses.

7. 2 Core Values PROMOTESolutions PROTECT ADAPT MITIGATE

8. Climate Change Crisis 2017 (NOW) and Beyond

9. 16 of the 17 Hottest Years on Record Have Occurred Since the Year 2001 The Hottest Year Ever Measured… 2016 2015 2014 2010 2005 2007 2013 2009 2012 2006 1998 2002 2003 2011 2004 2001 Data: NASA/GISS

10. On July 22nd, Basra, Iraq reached 129.0° F (53.9° C) Iran Iraq On July 21st, Mitribah, Kuwait reached 129.2° F (54° C) Basra, Iraq Mitribah, Kuwait Kuwait Saudi Arabia

11. Projected Changes in Nebraska’s Climate • Projected temperature changes by the last quarter of this Century: • Average temp rise of 4-5 degrees F (low emissions scenario) • Average temp rise of 8-9 degrees F (high emissions scenario) • Under both scenarios, the number of high temperature stress days above 100 degrees F is expected to increase substantially. • Little change in annual precipitation, but increase in the intensity of severe weather events • Soil moisture is projected to decrease by 5-10% by end of the century because of increased temperature, i.e., more drought. • Reduced snowpack in the central/northern Rocky Mountains   reduced Platte/Missouri river flow Wilhite, Bathke, Oglesby & Rowe, Understanding and Assessing Climate Change – Implications for Nebraska, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sept 2014.

12. Projected temperature change, 2071-2099 The largest uncertainty in projecting climate change beyond the next decade is the level of heat trapping gas concentrations.

13. Climate Change affecting Human Health

15. Climate Change is clearly an issue for Public Health – RIGHT NOW and for the FUTURE • What should be Public Health’s response to climate change? [BURNING FOSSIL FUELS] (1) Help to ADAPT to climate change (2) Advocatepolicies to MITIGATE the source of climate change [burning fossil fuels] • Stop burning fossil fuels! Cold turkey! • Support policies that move us to clean energy

16. 2 Core Values PROMOTESolutions PROTECT ADAPT MITIGATE

18. Do you believe?

19. 13% 2015 Poll by ecoAmerica. Research partners include ecoAmerica, Lake Research Partners, ASO Communications & the Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC

20. 10%

21. 77%

22. 77+%

24. POLICY

25. Vacuum cleaner >>> Cubicles at Office Conversation at home Very quiet rural area Library Whisper

26. Noise Limit at Occupied Residence (dBA) of Nebraska Counties The Nebraska Wind Energy and Wildlife Projects, 1/24/15 (Lancaster has been updated to current standard) http://wind-energy-wildlife.unl.edu/county-zoning

27. Cubicles at Office Conversation at home Very quiet rural area Library Whisper

28. Nebraska County average: 50dBL (1000 ft buffer around each address point)

29. Annoyance

31. Health hazard

32. What is the science of wind turbine sound?

33. In the 2015 report, UNDERSTANDING THE EVIDENCE: WIND TURBINE NOISE, the Canadian Academies Expert Panel said… “The evidence is sufficient to establish a causal relationship between exposure to wind turbine noise and annoyance (page xv) “The Panel stresses that, given the nature of the sound produced by wind turbines and the limited quality of available evidence (small sample sizes, small number of studies available, lack of comprehensive exposure measurement), the health impacts of wind turbine noise cannot be comprehensively assessed at this time.” (page 125)

34. 2 Core Values PROMOTESolutions PROTECT

35. “The main question in public health is to choose to do the least harm possible to the fewest people. The common public health question is, ‘Compared to what?’” • “The science is clear on the health harm that results from burning fossil fuels. The connections to health harm from exposure to wind turbines is weak or inconclusive.“ • - David E. Corbin, PhD | Emeritus Professor| Health Education &Public Health | University of Nebraska at Omaha

36. Library

37. Cubicles at Office Conversation at home Very quiet rural area Library Whisper

38. Lancaster County Board adopted: 40 dBA day (2450 ft buffer around each address point)

40. BETTER HEALTH for ALL