The State of our Environment 11 out of the last 12 years rank among the 15 warmest years in history Our Carbon emissions have increased by 20% since 1990 So what!?

The Greenhouse Effect Key Point #1: The Earth is kept warm by greenhouse gases Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere The good: greenhouse gases are the reason that there is life on Earth! Without greenhouse gases, Earth would be - 18°C

The Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect

Most important greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Normally, CR/P keeps CO2 levels in equilibrium, resulting the nice, warm-but-not-too-warm plant that live has evolved on for the past few billion years. However…

Flashback to yesterday The carbon cycle is how carbon moves through ecosystems

Human Causes of Global warming Key Point #2: The carbon cycle has been destroyed by humans and we now have too much carbon in the atmosphere 1. Higher human population= more respiration 2. More factories and cars= more combustion 3. Deforestation= less photosynthesis

Humans have caused an enormous increase in CO2 concentration since industrial times

Why do we care if there is more carbon in the atmosphere? More greenhouse gases= more trapped heat= GLOBAL WARMING!

Global Warming Global warming is the increase in global average temperature over time.

What this looks like: Projected temperature rise of 2-5 °C by 2100 Asia and Africa most affected 2-5°C? SO WHAT?

Effects of Global Warming Key Point #3: If we do not do something to stop global warming, its effects will be CATASTROPHIC CATASTROPHIC!!!

Because glaciers are melting 1m sea rise will occur if temperature rises just 3°C Rising Sea Level

People who lose their homes (e. g People who lose their homes (e.g. due to rising tides) will have to flee elsewhere. Kids: during Katrina, you were ALL climate refugees. Now imagine that on a bigger scale… what do you think will happen if an entire country goes underwater? Where will the people flee? (America!) Climate Refugees

Extreme Weather Events Speaking of Katrina… L: I-10W immediately after the storm. R: Chandeleur Islands (mark the Easternmost border of LA) Extreme Weather Events

As temperature rises, tropical insects will spread into new areas, and bring tropical diseases with them Tropical Diseases

Desertification 10-20% less food produced in developing countries Much of United States farmland will become desert Massive food shortages Desertification

Key Point #4 There are many things we can do to cut down on carbon emissions and reduce global warming

Green Energy Produce energy without releasing CO2 If you want to learn exactly how these forms of energy work, take environmental science class!

Green cities Build cities so that you don’t have to drive everywhere Build homes close together Stores in the middle Protected areas outside the cities Not just ANY city, but PLANNED city Close  walk Stores in the middle  centralized, no need to drive long distances Build up, rather than out

Solutions: Green building Build homes so that they are energy efficient LED lights Insulation Green roofs Green roof is in Manhattan 21

Use LESS electricity than regular (incandescent) light bulbs LED Lights Use LESS electricity than regular (incandescent) light bulbs Only really advantageous if your normal electricity source releases a lot of CO2… which currently ours do!

Insulation Keeps the heat in the house in the winter Keep the cool air in the house in the summer Uses LESS electricity to heat and cool your house Only really advantageous if your normal electricity source releases a lot of CO2… which currently ours do!

Chicago city hall Green Roofs 24

Green Roofs What are they? What are they good for? Plants on top of your roof What are they good for? Minimize the amount of heating and cooling you need to do to your house Big in Chicago, Manhattan and the Netherland (as well as other parts of Europe) Trend started with Germany in the 1960s Summer = absorb solar energy, Winter = act as insulator 25

Stop Deforestation More trees = more CO2 uptake!

Fewer People Remember, we talked about this last week during the lesson on human carrying capacity. Education for women, birth control, and (in China) legal limits on the number of children couples may have are all methods of reducing human overpopulation.

Eat Local

Eat less red meat

Global Warming Storybook Inconvenient Truth Exemplar End product: Produce a comic book explaining… What the greenhouse effect is Why the greenhouse effect helps us Two ways humans cause global warming Two bad things that will occur if we do not slow down global warming quickly Watch the “Futurama” clip from Inconvenient Truth (start at 8:52). Students will create a storybook similar to this clip.

What the greenhouse effect is

GP/IP Rough draft: create a storyboard Sketches of each page Outline of the plot Must get Ms. S to sign off on the rough draft before you make the final Final draft: Will add more panels tomorrow, so DO NOT FORGET AT HOME!!!

Closing The Earth is kept warm by greenhouse gases Trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere CO2 Humans are further warming the Earth by increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere If we do not do something to stop global warming, its effects will be CATASTROPHIC Can you name some examples?

Exit Questions What is global warming, and why does it occur? (Hint: use the words “greenhouse gasses” and “traps”) What are TWO ways that humans cause global warming? Describe TWO bad things that will occur if we do not combat global warming now.