1. 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!?

2. 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

3. The Greenhouse Effect

4. The Greenhouse Effect

5. 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…

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

7. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

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

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

20. 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

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

22. 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!

23. 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!

24. Chicago city hall
Green Roofs 24

25. 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

26. Stop Deforestation
More trees = more CO2 uptake!

27. 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.

28. Eat Local

29. Eat less red meat

30. 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.

31. What the greenhouse effect is

32. 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!!!

33. 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?

34. 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.