Greenhouse Gas Inventory: overview and workshop objectives Brian Fath Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University

Climate Science in brief EM radiation from sun and earth are different due to temperature differences Some gases in the atmosphere respond to the differences – passing sunshine, absorbing earthshine These gases are increasing in concentration Inventories can tell us where the gases originate

Evidence in the 1960s and '70s that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were increasing first led climatologists and others to press for action. It took years before the international community responded. In 1988, the IPCC was created by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme. This group issued a first report in 1990 reflecting views of 400 scientists stating that global warming was real and urged that something be done about it. The Panel's findings spurred governments to create the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It was ready for signature at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development -- the "Earth Summit" -- in Rio de Janeiro. IPCC reports played a major role in the negotiations leading to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 a second, more far-reaching international treaty on climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Scientists sound the alarm

Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory for Ohio 1990 Prepared by: Craig A. McDonald Brian D. Fath Robert Garrick Ohio Department of Development Office of Energy Efficiency 77 South High St. Columbus, Ohio 43266

Equivalent Emissions of CO 2 for Ohio, 1990 Total (excl. biomass) 413,751,931 Tons CO 2 equivalent

THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER THE UNFCCC at RIO The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16th February 2005 !! Lack of U.S. national leadership prompted much local action Kyoto signatures and ratifiers

U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement 685 as of 9/28/2007

Maryland Greenhouse gas inventory And climate action Plan

Baltimore County GHG inventory

PANEL I Completed inventories/getting started Issues in completing the inventory – how did you handle scope issues? – data difficulties? – what would you do differently? – is this an overestimation/underestimation? – Institutionalizing the process, etc

PANEL II Implementing the Knowledge Campus action plans Mitigation strategies Meeting ACUPCC goals Networking with others in the process

Long term Goals Reaching climate neutrality/sustainability Changing campus culture/ curriculum change Co-op for purchasing green energy … Other?