1. 9.3 Taking Action to Slow Climate Change

2. Agenda Take up homework Lesson 9.3 Taking Action to Slow Climate Change Read p. 370-381 Vocabulary Review Questions p. 381 # 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

3. Learning Goals Students will define the following terms: bias, carbon footprint and carbon offset. Students will discuss making decisions and recognizing bias. Students will describe a carbon footprint and identify ways to reduce it. Students will recognize the different contributions countries make to climate change. Students will identify the International initiatives in response to climate change. Students will describe the ENERGY STAR program. Students will differentiate between Cap and Trade Systems and Carbon-Tax Systems. Students will describe alternative sources of energy.

4. Taking Action to Slow Climate Change A changing climate can bring changes in our technologies, personal habits and political and economic structure. To take action to slow climate change: Educate ourselves about the factors that cause climate change. Evaluate our activities: recycle materials, bike or walk `

5. Educating Yourself About Climate Change New data about climate change is added each year. Hypotheses are revised and re-tested as new information becomes available.

6. Making Decisions About Climate Change The interpretation of scientific and non-scientific information guides how decisions are made. Organizations are suggesting many different solutions to a variety of different climate change issues. It is important to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these solutions.

7. Detecting Bias in Information About Climate Change Bias: a tendency toward a particular perspective or point of view that prevents objective assessment of a topic. Biased sources usually given information that supports one point of view.

9. To evaluate sources of information for bias consider the following: 1.Is the information in a respected scientific journal that is reviewed by professional scientists? 2.What is the source of the information- University research, government department, a private corporation or institute? 3.Does the author of the source have an agenda is the report trying to raise support for a political party or organization to influence behaviour or to sell a product or service? 4.Does the report misrepresent information or interpret it in a way that is not supported by evidence?

10. Calculating Your Carbon Footprint The main human causes of the increase in greenhouse gases are activities that: 1. produce air pollution 2.reduce the ability of natural cycles to absorb greenhouse gases.

11. Carbon Footprint Carbon footprint- measures the amount of greenhouse gases produced in units of carbon dioxide. You can calculate how many tonnes of carbon dioxide production you are responsible for in your daily life. Many websites have carbon footprint calculators that allow you to find out how your household carbon footprint compares to others. Example: http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/ http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/

12. Canada emits over 630 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Every Canadian is responsible for releasing an average of about 19.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This is 30 times more than the amount emitted by the average person in India.

13. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Individual responsibility plays an important role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. You can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing activities that reduce or eliminate the need to burn fossil fuels. Unplug your mobile phone charger when not in use. Drink tap water instead of bottled water. Take shorter showers to use less heated water.

15. Carbon Offset Carbon offset: credits an individual or an organization can purchase to compensate for performing different carbon dioxide emitting activities. Example: Someone who has travelled by plane may offset the carbon emissions of the flight by: donating money to a tree- planting program supporting the development of alternative sources of energy supporting recycling programs methane capture from landfills

17. Advocating for Actions to Slow Climate Change As an advocate, you can help educate others and influence how governments and individuals respond to the issue of climate change. The following actions can help you be an effective advocate. 1.Identify and join groups or individuals who champion actions that you support. 2.Learn about the process by which governments and advocacy groups enact and influence environmental laws. 3.Set an example by reducing your carbon footprint. 4.Write letters to corporations and government representatives to encourage them to support initiatives that slow climate change.

18. Global Contributions to Climate Change Europe, Japan, the Unites States and China emit more gas power per person and create more greenhouse gases. Poverty in Africa prevents most people from using electricity or doing activities that would emit greenhouse gases. Some developing countries contribute to the greenhouse effect by clearing forests.

19. Toronto Pearson Airport http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/12/02/pearson-airport- halves-its-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html Toronto Pearson International Airport’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have dropped nearly by half since 2006, a feat it claims is equivalent to 44,800 tonnes worth of carbon dioxide. That fact, nine years in the making, means Toronto Pearson has joined an elite league of only 10 airports in North America to be accredited as environmentally friendly by Airports Council International

20. International Initiative to Combat Climate Change Since the climate system is global and winds and ocean currents do not stop at national borders, solutions to climate change must involve international cooperation.

21. 1979- The first World Climate Conference 1985 – The United Nations Advisory Group on Greenhouse Gases (AGGG) 1987 – The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer 1988- formed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1992 – United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCC)- international treaty to stabilize gas emissions by imposing limits. 1997- The Kyoto Protocol- an update on commitment by nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 2007- IPCC Fourth Assessment Report- concluded that the global climate is warming and most of the increase was due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases. - Predicted increased heatwaves, rainfall and a rise in sea levels.

22. Educating and Empowering Consumers Governments pass laws or regulations and educate consumers to make choices that benefit the environment. Canada`s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) implemented a program called the ecoEnergy Efficiency Initiative. 1.One program provides financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to retrofit older buildings to make them more energy efficient. 2.It also provides helpful tips on buying, driving and maintaining vehicles to save fuel. 3.Ontario`s Drive Clean program requires all cars to pass strict emissions inspections.

23. An international ENERGY STAR symbol indicates that the product meets specifications for reducing energy consumption. It is found on many different products. i.e. LED light bulbs, furnaces, refrigerators

24. Economic Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade System: The government establishes a ceiling or cap on how much carbon may be produced. Corporations that produce less carbon may sell or trade their credits to companies that produce more carbon than the limit. Over time the caps are lowered. Carbon-Tax System The government levies a tax on either the source of carbon compounds or the emission of greenhouse gases. The price of anything that depends on carbon fuels goes up. As a result consumers have an incentive to buy things associated with less greenhouse gas emissions.

25. Lowering Greenhouse Emissions by Using Alternative Sources of Energy 18% of greenhouse gasses produced by Canada are a result of burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. It is important to develop and use other sources of energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other sources: Wind Solar Biomass, Hydroelectric Tidal Nuclear power

26. Success Criteria I am able to define the following terms: bias, carbon footprint and carbon offset. I am able to discuss making decisions and recognizing bias. describe a carbon footprint and identify ways to reduce it. I am able to recognize the different contributions countries make to climate change. I am able to identify the International initiatives in response to climate change. I am able to describe the ENERGY STAR program. I am able to differentiate between Cap and Trade Systems and Carbon-Tax Systems. I am able to describe alternative sources of energy.