Human Impacts and Responses ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Do Now Human Impacts of Climate Change around the globe Do you think some populations of people more vulnerable than others? What types of climate effects are most likely to hit our region? What are some solutions to reduce CO2 emissions? ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org Who is most affected? Under-resourced areas and high poverty populations Areas that will experience more severe changes, like coast lines and islands A National Academies of Science report focusing on responding to climate change addresses the inequity inherent in climate change impacts in that those who are most impacted will have the most difficulty adapting: Climate change will affect ecosystems and human systems—such as agricultural, transportation, and health infrastructure—in ways we are only beginning to understand… In general, the larger and faster the changes in climate are, the more difficult it will be for human and natural systems to adapt. Unfortunately, the regions that will be most severely affected are often the regions that are the least able to adapt. (National Academies of Science [NAS], 2008, p. 16-17). This disparity in responsibility for and adaptability to a changing climate make it ultimately a social justice issue, with implications far outside the scientific community (e.g. Thomas & Twyman, 2005). This is a concern of international efforts that recognize the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of developed and industrialized countries in the creation and implementation of global policy to reduce carbon emissions ("Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework," 1998). Health, extreme weather, drought (resources), flooding, extreme heat, agriculture, tourism and the economy Climate refugees HOWEVER this holds true even in the US High poverty populations, even in prosperous areas ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Human Health Impacts Go to http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/impacts/effects/health.html Read about the 3 topics below, and fill in your evidence organizer. Temperature Related Illnesses Air Pollution Spreading Diseases ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Food Security/Agriculture Important for all crops, but especially for wheat, rice, soybeans, and corn ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security Increasing temperature over the next 50 years will cause decreases in yield (amount harvested): Decrease in grain ripening Decrease in spikelet fertility (not as many seeds formed) Increased water stress & respiration ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Energy Uses: Transportation, Heating, Electricity, Industry What is produced as a byproduct of this energy? (next slide) Go to: http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/impacts/effects/energy.html What’s at Stake? Remember, Washington state gets 80% of its energy from hydroelectric dams ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Where does energy come from and what does it produce?

Energy In your Evidence Organizer, record Go to: http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/impacts/effects/energy.html In your Evidence Organizer, record What is energy being used for What’s at Stake ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Do NOW What are some effects of climate change that will have an impact on your life? ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org Carbon Footprint The best estimate of the total climate change impacts of something Direct emissions: Emissions from burning of fossil fuels Driving a car Indirect emissions: Everything else Mining materials Manufacturing Transport to retailers ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Some Carbon Footprint Rankings Moderate cell phone use (per year) – 47 kg CO2e 10 pounds of trash – 3.1 kg CO2e Beef cheeseburger – 2.5 kg CO2e Pint of beer – 500g CO2e Bottle of water – 200g CO2e Cycling a mile – 100g CO2e Banana – 80g CO2e Walking through a door – 10g CO2e A web search – 2g CO2e Forest fire – 100 million tons CO2e* Having a child – 700 tons CO2e 2.5 acres deforestation – 500 tons CO2e New car – 17 tons CO2e Airplane flight (LA to Spain) – 4.6 tons CO2e New computer – 720 kg CO2e Road trip (SF to LA) – 500 Kg CO2e Light on for a year – 400 kg CO2e $100 of groceries – 62 kg CO2e ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org *CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is a way of expressing all of the different greenhouse gases as a single number

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org Historical Emissions Billions of Tons Carbon Emitted per Year 16 Historical emissions 8 We have consistent historical data for carbon emissions for the last 50 years. 1950 2000 2050 2100 ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org 14

Stabilization Triangle The Stabilization Triangle Billions of Tons Carbon Emitted per Year 16 Current path = “ramp” Stabilization Triangle Interim Goal Historical emissions 8 Flat path If business continues as usual we can project the same path for the next 50 years. Our interim goal is stabilize our rate of emissions so they don’t increase every year. This results in a triangle shape representing all the cumulative carbon that is added above a flat path. A flat path assumes no increase in rate, carbon would still be added. Eventually the goal would be decrease emissions. 1.6 1950 2000 2050 2100 ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org 15

Stabilization Triangle The Stabilization Triangle Billions of Tons Carbon Emitted per Year Easier CO2 target 16 Current path = “ramp” ~850 ppm Stabilization Triangle Interim Goal Historical emissions 8 Flat path Tougher CO2 target ~500 ppm The scenarios would result in levels between 500 and 850 parts per million of carbon dioxide. 1.6 1950 2000 2050 2100 ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org 16

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org Stabilization Wedges Billions of Tons Carbon Emitted per Year 16 Current path = “ramp” 16 GtC/y Eight “wedges” Goal: In 50 years, same global emissions as today Historical emissions 8 Flat path The triangle is divided into 8 wedges, reflecting different actions to reduce emissions. 1.6 1950 2000 2050 2100 ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org 17

Wedge Game ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org What is a Wedge? A “wedge” is a strategy to reduce carbon emissions that grows from 0 to 1.0 GtC/yr. in 50 years. The strategy has already been used successfully somewhere in the world. 1 GtC/yr Total = 25 Gigatons carbon The area of the wedge reflects all the carbon dioxide that is not emitted over the 50 time frame, building up to a savings of 1 gigaton per year. 50 years Cumulatively, a wedge redirects the flow of 25 GtC in its first 50 years. This means $2.5 trillion dollars at $100/tC. A “solution” to the CO2 problem should provide at least one wedge. ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org

Fossil Fuel-Based Strategies Renewables & Biostorage There are 15 Wedge Strategies in 4 Categories Energy Efficiency & Conservation Fossil Fuel-Based Strategies Stabilization Stabilization Triangle Triangle Renewables & Biostorage 2010 2060 Nuclear Power ©2013 Educurious Partners. All rights reserved. www.educurious.org