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Rotarians for Sustainability African Solar Cookers Project. Presentation by Craig Clarke to Rotary Club of Nanaimo Friday May 21, 2010. COPING WITH THE IMPACT. 20 M displaced by climate disasters last year, nearly 4x as many compared to conflict areas
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Rotarians for SustainabilityAfrican Solar Cookers Project Presentation by Craig Clarke to Rotary Club of Nanaimo Friday May 21, 2010
COPING WITH THE IMPACT • 20 M displaced by climate disasters last year, nearly 4x as many compared to conflict areas • Around 70% of disasters are now climate related • 2.4 billion people affected in last decade http://ochaonline.un.org/ochahome/InFocus/ClimateChangeHumanitarianImpact/ tabid/5930/language/en-US/Default.aspx
World Health Organization http://www.who.int/entity/globalchange/news/GEF_Project.pps
We Are Part of the Solution • residents responsible for 30% of BC emissions (http://www.livesmartbc.ca/learn/emissions.html) • Direct energy use by households accounts for approximately 38% of overall US emissions, and larger than the emissions of any countryexcept China. • US household emissions could be reduced by 20% within 10 yrs without major lifestyle change http://www.pnas.org/content/106/44/18452.full.pdf+html
Our Personal Emissions • Average BC household emits 5 tonnes per person • For many, the vehicle we drive has biggest effect on our emissions • BUT airline flights are very high (e.g., for 2 people): • Vancouver – Honolulu return 4.2 tonnes • Vancouver – Hong Kong return 10.4 tonnes • Recommend reducing personal emissions as much as possible, buy carbon offsets for remainder http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/
Rotarians for Sustainability http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/ • 11 Founding Member Clubs on 5 continents.
South African Solar Cooking • Promoting solar cookers in South Africa by linking Clubs in - • Cheltenham England, • Fresno California, • Grahamstown, S. Africa, • Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, S.A. and • Swaziland
The Need • Grahamstown townships have 82% unemployment with 35% HIV incidence. • Fuel costs are a financial burden. • Very poor families search for firewood, which is only available after long treks separating mothers from children. • Open fires in confined spaces produce respiratory distress.
Why Solar Cooking? • Easily & cheaply manufactured locally from recycled cardboard, glue and foil. • Ovens last for one year, with no fuel costs • Estimated savings of $200 annually. • No emissions and reduced risk of burning.
Integrated Solar Cooking • Solar ovens to reduce need for fuel wood • Six brick "Rocket" Stoves (fuel and energy efficient) • Haybasket (heat retained cooker-similar to a thermos) • Water Purification Instrument (WAPI)
The Workshop http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/doc/ solarcookerssouthafricantownships.pdf
G8 + 5 Academies Joint StatementClimate Change and low-carbon energy • Essential that world leaders agree on emissions reductions needed to combat Climate Change • Support access to low-carbon energy by developing countries • Increase investment in adaptation strategies targeted for the most vulnerable countries http://www.nationalacademies.org/includes/G8+5energy-climate09.pdf
US National Academy of SciencesAmerica’s Climate Choices • Strong credible body of scientific evidence shows that climate change is caused by human activities and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems • Future generations will have to live with consequences of decisions made today http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-reports/reports-in-brief/Science_Report_Brief_Final.pdf
Ethics of Climate Change • Weighing our prosperity against chances that CC will diminish the well being of future generations • Future generations will suffer most effects but if the economy grows, will be richer than we are http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-ethics-of-climate-change