We may be turning the corner on action to thwart catastrophic impacts from Climate Change, but much will depend on the leadership exhibited by the next President of the United States.  If we elect a leader that recognizes the fact that 72% of the US population believe climate change is a threat to civilization and that action should be taken, we have a chance of preserving not just the standard of living we have become accustomed to enjoying – but the well-being of our entire civilization. 

If we elect a President that will take action – and exhibit leadership, I see a revolutionary change in the way we design and construct buildings, generate power, utilize our transportation system and consider out impact on global warming.   We need to take action on a similar scale as the competitive race to land a person on the moon vs. the Soviets.   Time is urgent - we have no time to navel gaze.  

Not only was 2015 the warmest year on record, but February absolutely shattered high temperature records since the origin of mankind. 

5 Major Impactors on your Carbon Footprint

The average American is responsible for about 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. To fully wrap your head around that amount, just think about the emissions created when driving a gasoline-powered card nonstop for 40,000 miles - they're the same. A thousand actions could be taken to reduce your carbon footprint, but there are five major factors should be considered first.

The place you choose to call home can have a huge impact on the amount of emissions you put into the atmosphere. Although the US is not an ideal location to minimize your carbon footprint, some places are more climate-friendly than others.

Cities, which are responsible for 75 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, cover the US however, densely populated cities tend to have smaller carbon footprints than the outlying suburbs. Location is not the only thing to keep in mind when looking for a home, the kind of apartment or house you live in matters too; making sure the home has good insulation can reduce heat loss and cut down energy use significantly. 

The second major factor is your diet. American’s are responsible for almost nine tons of carbon emissions yearly. The consumption of red meat has a carbon footprint eleven times the size of grains and vegetables. The reduction of beef consumption could actually be more effective than driving less often. Giving up beef completely is not a requirement; simply making small changes can have a huge effect.

How you commute, especially to and from work, can add pounds of carbon to your output. If you plan on using a car, try to get something fuel-efficient. However, public transportation is more efficient and can save each passenger about ten pounds of carbon emissions on an average ride.

The location of your investments is another major factor effecting your carbon footprint. Where your money goes can determine which industries grow and which do not. Activists and nonprofit organizations are encouraging investors to divert money away from the fossil fuel industry. The amount, whether big or small, will make a difference.

The fifth major factor is ultimately who you vote for. Government policies can do more to limit global carbon emissions in the long run than changing your consumer habits. “Climate change is the most systemic challenge and largest scale challenge we’ve ever faced as humanity,” he said. “Given that, it requires action on all fronts, and we need a combination of things coming from everywhere in society."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/carbon-footprint_us_56b3b650e4b01d80b24592d0

The Rise in Sea Level

Credit: www.climatecentral.org/

The impact that climate change has on the rise in sea level could be much greater than previously anticipated. According to German researchers, there are two factors that come to play in the rise - melting ice and the thermal expansion of water as it warms. Sea level expansion, now believed to be 1.4mm per year, is ever increasing as the years go by. This expansion has been greatly underestimated in the past, but now researchers are realizing just how much "heat-related expansion of the water mass in the oceans contributes to a global rise in sea level." The increase is not this cut and dry however, it can vary greatly from place to place. For example, the Philippines is said to be “rising at five times the global rate.”

The increased level of expansion is not unexpected. The rise in sea level is caused by global warming, and the average temperature has risen almost two degrees since the 1800s. Even with the global variation, climate change is the ultimate cause for increases everywhere. The harmful effects of global warming are so great that scientists have stated that if it was not a factor, sea levels may have actually fallen during the 20^th century. Climate change has been reported as the cause for three fourths of coastal flooding in the U.S. over the past ten years. Sea level increase is starting to be a big topic of conversation. “There’s a definite recognition among people who weren’t talking about sea level rise 5 years ago that it’s something to be concerned about,” said Laura Tam, a policy director at SPUR, which is an urban planning think-tank based in San Francisco. “And something that needs to be planned for.”

For more information: Climatecentral.org, Theguardian.com

Make 2016 the Year of Reducing

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a saying that has been passed down through generations of people. It happens to be a meaningful one, but more information needs to go along with it for an impact to be made. While many of us recycle, and sometimes reuse, a lot of us forget the first and most important step within the cycle, which is to simply reduce. Recycling will not save the planet; reduction is a necessity.

Recycling is still the best option when waste is already created, but everyone must start the process of reduction. Recycling still has a waste footprint and is not always a pleasant process. To recycle waste, a large amount of energy and resources must be used in the processes of “monitoring the collection sites, transporting the recyclables, and the recycling manufacturing process itself.”

A lack of education in the subject may be the reason so many people believe that recycling is all they need to do. However, once recycled, plastic can rarely be used for primary reprocessing. When plastic is exposed repeatedly to thermal and mechanical processing, its long, flexible molecules degrade and break down. So, when recycled, plastic is usually used for secondary reprocessing for the creation of items that are not typically recyclable themselves.

In the end, the only true way to reduce waste is to choose reduction in your life. Ultimately, buying less is always the way to go. Try cutting down on the number of toys in your home, the amount of cleaning supplies you buy, and even decreasing the amount of meat you eat per week will start you off on the right path.

The process of reduction can take some time, but if you start with little things it will only get easier. Start by cutting back on the amount of non-reusable products you purchase. Get in the habit of using a refillable water bottle and stop the use of paper plates, plastic silverware, etc. When going to your local coffee shop bring your own reusable mug; some places may give you a discounted price on your beverage. Be sure to bring reusable bags for necessary purchases, or simply skip bagging it all together with small purchases.

Everyone on the planet needs to actively reduce the amount of waste they create on a daily basis. The big picture always needs to be considered when it comes to reducing, reusing, or recycling; the order of the words is important. Think first.

For more information on reducing: www.theguardian.com

Damage Caused by Climate Change

Credit:  

Boston Globe

Climate change, caused by global warming, is apparent everywhere. The rise in global temperature is the cause for the melting of glaciers and ice caps worldwide, which is creating a higher sea level at a pace that has only sped up over time. The warmer climate is the cause of animals moving farther north in search for a cooler home; those areas are becoming harder and harder for them to find. Precipitation is happening at a greater occurrence and the storms are likely to get stronger, which only adds to the problem. Everyone around the globe should be concerned.

     The Great Aletsch, one of Europe’s largest glaciers, coils 14 miles through the Swiss Alps. During the lifetimes’ of people born today, this river of ice could almost disappear due to climate change. At this time, the glacier is 2,950 feet thick at one point, which is 1.9 miles thinner than it was in 1870, and the pace is only quickening at the rate the climate is changing. According to the United Nations’ panel of climate scientists, sea levels will rise up between 26 and 28 cm by the end of the current era.

     Climate change does not only affect the rise in sea level, it is also the reason for the great droughts around the globe. Droughts are accelerating in places where they have already existed and attacking places previously unharmed.

    Lake Powell on the Colorado River has been greatly affected by climate change. Now, it is only providing water at about 42% of its capacity to Nevada, Arizona and California. Severe droughts and non-sustainable withdrawals appear to be the cause for the shallow water; some parts that were once submerged now lay completely above water. The sandstone around Lake Powell has been sculpted by wind and water erosion and is clearly visible above sea level.

    All scientists have come to an agreement that the earth’s atmosphere is growing warmer due to greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity. Do you part and take action against climate change.

For more information: Earthprints

The Debate on GMO Food Labeling

Credit: http://www.justlabelit.org/dark-act/

Genetically modified foods have had their DNA altered in such a way that it produces traits not normally found; organisms become unnatural. GMOs contain the genes from different species, and are impossible to create through crossbreeding. The creation of new, unnatural organisms has definite effects on the planet around us.

     Environmental change has an extensive impact on everything, whether visible quickly or over a period of time. Widely talked about, toxicity is probably the most substantial piece of evidence against growing genetically modified foods. The abundance of chemical pesticides and herbicides surrounding these crops is worrisome because of their resistance to its effects. Genetically modified foods are considered to be toxic themselves due to the chemicals being sprayed onto them, which has been known to affect non-target organisms, such as bees and butterflies. The effect on bees is extremely alarming because of their importance to the pollination of many food crops; the absence of weed flowers will lessen the amount of nectar for pollinators. The resistance of GMOs to pesticides could cause the crops to become as persistent as weeds and pop up and invade natural settings, which is especially troublesome because of their negative affect on the nutrients in soil.

     In 2014, Vermont became the first state to require the labeling of genetically modified foods. However, in July the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was passed by the House. The debate has become intensified since, with opponents calling the bill the DARK (Denying Americans the Right to Know) Act because they feel information will become withheld from the public. This act will make the labeling of genetically modified foods not a requirement and potentially allow “natural” foods to contain genetically modified ingredients.

     The opponents’ poll numbers show that 90% of Americans are in support of genetically modified foods being labeled; they want to be aware of what they are ingesting. More than 1.4 million Americans have signed the petition urging the FDA to require labels. However, according to news articles, big food makers want the senate to pass a bill making food labels voluntary before the end of the year. It's your choice; take action and be a part of the debate. 

Information found at: Takepart.com, Justlabelit.org, Huffingtonpost.com

An Update on the Paris Climate Talks

Credit: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en

     As stated in a previous post, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change was held from November 30, 2015 until December 11, 2015 at the Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. December 12, 2015 will now be marked as a historic day for the fight against climate change because all scientists came to an agreement that the earth’s atmosphere is growing warmer due to greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity.

     The unanimous agreement has marked a turn in the right direction. The rise in temperature is to be kept below 2°C, but we should really aim for 1.5°C to insure protection for the island states. On this day, 186 countries published their action plan on ways in which they intend to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions however, the rise in temperature would still be too high. To keep the temperature from rising past 2°C, countries have been asked to check their contributions every five years from 2020.

     Other measures will be taken to keep the rising temperature down: $100 billion (in loans and donations) will need to be raised each year from 2020, and that amount will increase as needed. The money raised will go towards the financing for projects enabling countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

     Countries' obligations will differ in the fight against climate change. Industrialized countries are obligated to fund climate finance for poor countries, and developing countries may contribute on a voluntary basis. All of the funds will be put in the improved tracking system to record everyone’s efforts.

     The agreement was the first step needed to move onward in the reduction of climate change. A signing for countries will be open in New York on April 22, 2016. The agreement will be entered into force if it is ratified by 55 countries. A change is coming.

For more information on the Climate Talks: cop21.gouv