The Climate Solutions Consensus Webinar

1. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus The Climate Solutions Consensus Webinar Outline June 22 (1 p.m. EDT): • Intro to NCSE – DB • The Climate Solutions Consensus book-LW • Tour of Chapter/Topics and Action Items – • CH 4 – Ocean – LW • Action 25 – Fertilization – DB • CH 6 – Cheapest Carbon – DB • Action 6 – Efficiency and Conservation – LW • CH 12 – Glocal Action – LW • Action 31 – Communication for decisionmakers – LW • Intro to CAMEL – DB • Q&A Discussion - all

2. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Who? David Blockstein, Ph.D. • Senior Scientist, National Council for Science & the Environment, www.ncseonline.org • Executive Secretary, Council of Environmental Deans & Directors, www.ncseonline.org/cedd Leo Wiegman • Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson NY • Founder of an environmental communications firm Leo and David co-wroteThe Climate Solutions Consensus (c) 2010, Island Press (304 pages in paperback with website, $30 list price before your discount!) Write me for discount code: Leo [at] etothefourth.com

3. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus The National Council for Science and the Environment • www.ncseonline.org • Mission: Improve scientific basis of environmental decisionmaking • Approach: Foster collaboration among diverse institutions, communities and individuals. Connect scientists and educators with decisionmakers. • Programs: • National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment • Encyclopedia of Earth (EoE) • Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) • Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders • Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and e-Learning (CAMEL) • Environmentors • Campus to Careers (C2C)

4. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus 8th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment, 2008 Scientists, policymakers, industry, educators, and others develop comprehensive strategies for protecting people and the planet against the impacts of climate change. 1200+ participants 35 breakout sessions, 10 symposia, 24 workshops Presidential Candidate Forum A Blueprint for a Low Carbon Society

5. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Book’s Main Messages • “Global warming” is a misnomer; we should be calling it “global climatic disruption.” • The disruption & its impacts are now growing more rapidly than was expected just a few years ago. • The world is already experiencing “dangerous anthropogenic interference in the climate system”. The question now is whether we can avoid catastrophic interference. • Our options are mitigation, adaptation, & suffering. If we do less mitigation & adaptation, we’ll do more suffering. • In mitigation and adaptation, there is a lot of “low-hanging fruit”. • The United States must switch from laggard to leader – and sooner rather than later – if the world is to act in time. • Everyone has a part to play. We all make a difference!

6. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Our book’s 4 parts The Climate Solutions Consensus distills work of 1,200+ experts on: • Basic science on climate disruption (Pt I: chs 1-4), • Thinking about climate solutions (Pt II: chs 5-9), • Bringing stakeholders together (Pt III: chs 10-15), & • 35 Immediate Climate Actions (Pt IV: 30 pages) • Action 1 Green Buildings and Building Design; • Action 35 Engaging Public Health Community (paperback, 300 pages, Island Press www.islandpress.org $30 minus your discount!)

7. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Designed as learning tool • Opening quotes (in text with more online) for focus and inspiration • Figures and accompanying captions convey ample content to assist visual learners (about half the figures are available in color online). • Connect the Dots appears at end of each chapter to help capture the key “take aways” for the reader. • Online Resources list at end of each chapter provide more links for student research or projects. • Climate Solution Actions close each chapter and point to Part IV. • Works Cited list includes a URL for EVERY source reference.

8. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Encyclopedia of Earth http://eoearth.org Search for “Climate Solutions Consensus” • Online for every chapter: • Bonus chapter section • Online figures • Bibliography with URLs  • Relevant website lists  • Climate action items • Instructor resources

9. Rising Carbon, Rising Oceans 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus • –chapter 4– As seawater warms up, it expands,increasing the volume of the global ocean. —Gerald Meehl, et al IPCC, 2007

10. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/Tuvalu.html A Warmer Sea is a Rising Sea

11. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Source: Bindoff 2007 ar4-wg1-chapter5.pdf: www.ipcc.ch Future Sea Rise

12. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Polar Express is slowing http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/

13. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Global Water Cycle http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/

14. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Atlantic Ocean complex http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/

15. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05arctic/background/biodiversity/biodiversity.html Mighty Phyto are the Ocean’s Carbon Sink

16. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Leinen 2007 www.climos.com/publication.php Ocean acidification

17. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Action #25 Argument for: Iron’s ability to put carbon into the oceans isn’t just an opportunity, it’s a responsibility. Argument against: It’s a meager, temporary, unverifiable proposition involving private individuals dumping materials into the common waters of the world’s oceans. Middle ground: Careful experiments conducted by scientists are our best hope for learning how much carbon can be sequestered without harming the ocean ecosystem. Ocean iron fertilization to sequester carbon (Image courtesy of NASA) Source: http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/ 2007

18. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Ocean Fertilization for Carbon Sequestration • Conference Breakout Recommendations • Task 1 - International regulation • Task 2 - Monitor compliance • Task 3 - Ongoing scientific evaluation • Task 4 - Study impacts on water column & open ocean food web • Task 5 - Monitoring should include genomic approaches • Task 6 - Long-term scientific impact assessment • Task 7 - Identification of parameters and metrics

19. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus 2011 NCSE Conference

20. Cheapest Carbon 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus • –chapter 6– Doing nothing about climate change is far more expensive and risky than taking strong pro-active and immediate measures. –Sir Nicholas Stern, 2006

21. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Stabilization Wedges to Mitigate Climate Disruption • A Behavioral wedge: • Deploys quickly • With low, zero or often negative costs & minimal quality of life impacts • Uses social science knowledge • Can be assessed to develop a logical policy mix Source: Pacala and Socolow 2004

22. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Opportunities: household wedge • U.S. household & transportation emissions: • 32-41% of total U.S. emissions • 2.1 Billion tons • 8% of world total • Larger than total emissions of any nation except China • Larger than total for U.S. industrial sector Source: Vandenbergh et al. 2008

23. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Household’s Low Hanging Fruit • 7 among dozens of opportunities: • Reduce engine idling • Reduce standby power use • Faster adoption of compact fluorescents • Adjust temperate setting 2 degrees • Lower water heater temperatures • Maintain tire pressures • Replace vehicle air filters more frequently Source: Vandenbergh et al. 2008

24. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Potential Household Emission Savings Source: Vandenbergh et al. 2008

25. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Potential Impact of HH Behavioral Changes • 150 million tons of CO2 reduction by 2014 • Equivalent to: • Removing 26 million automobiles from the road, or • 75% of the new CAFE standards, or • 40% of Pacala - Socolow global stabilization wedge • Fast, Cheap and Easy: • C at $10/ton would allow investment of $1.5 B in these efforts

26. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Action #6 Boost Conservation & Efficiency Cheapest carbon is what we don’t emit. Step 1: Conserve: • What energy use can I do without? Does every pole need 2 cobra heads? Step 2: Efficiency: • How can I get same result with less energy? Can we switch to more efficient lamps?

27. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus US Energy Flows 2004 55% elec. lost in • generation • transmission, & • distribution Source: 2005 http://eed.llnl.gov

28. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus U.S. Emission Flows Building Elec & Heat = 32% of total flow of which half is Residential Source: Baumert 2005 http://www.wri.org

29. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Energy internet (aka smart grid) + + = healthier economy & planet Add monitoring feedback via internet for consumers. Expand renewables to fit into the new demand response network. Install new advanced meters to the existing grid.

30. AMI and grid technology got $3.4 billion in DOE funding for demonstration and deployment in late 2009. But 99% of this money is going to the existing players. Will innovation result? Google, GE, IBM, Opower, etc. all pursuing user technologies. But high speed internet in US lags far behind deployment in Europe and SE Asia. Renewable energy funding has increased dramatically under ARRA/DOE in 2009-2010. But variance between states is big barrier to nation-wide deployment (feed-in tariffs, RPS, REC markets, etc). 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Energy internet Report Card + + = healthier economy & planet

31. Be Glocal:Think Global,Act Local 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus • –chapter 12– All our energy problems—price instability, energy security, and climate change have the same solutions—conservation, efficiency, and clean, renewable energy. –Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson, Mayor of Salt Lake City, 2008

32. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Action #31 Communication Municipalities can and must: Ask: Reach out for information Share: Build knowledge networks with neighbors. Know: Turn emissions data & smart growth concepts into Climate Action Plans

33. 2 3 4 5 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Ask: Tap national + state orgs Taplocal expertise 33

34. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Share: work with visible efforts • We adopted a village-wide Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan & hold annual Bike Week to celebrate

35. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Share: Re-connect people with nature • 270 compost bins sold = • 190,000 lbs of waste diverted/yr = • $4,750 annual savings to village = • 12% of village composts now ecopromo.com

36. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus Know: GHG/energy costs 2007 GHG emissions by sector (%) www.crotononhudson-ny.gov

37. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus $541 $295 40% savings ($246) bulbs $ electricity $ 800 old incand. lights 1600 new LED lights Know: Information = power • 1. Use smart growth concepts in local zoning and planning; • 2. Inventory our greenhouse gas emissions; • 3. Buildknowledge networks with neighbors.  Outdoor Lighting (Holiday Lights Benedict Blvd.) 2007 (energy cost from line 4.11 on Table 2) $491 2008 (estimated cost of electricity)$500 Cost of new LED lights $1700 Annualized cost of LED light (10 year lifespan) $170 2009 (estimated electric bill of 1,600 new LED lights) $125 New annual cost$295 Savings (each year) $205 41%

38. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus CAMEL • Climate, Adaptation, and Mitigation e-Learning Community • Nationwide (and beyond) community • Educators, researchers, students Undergraduate materials—all levels and fields • Climate change causes, consequences and solutions • Funded by National Science Foundation

39. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus CAMEL Pyramid

40. 22 June 2010 Climate Literacy Networkwww.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus thanks! questions? David Blockstein david (at) NCSEonline.org Leo Wiegman leo (at) etothefourth.com Exam copies www.islandpress.org Book content @ Ency of Earth www.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Solutions_Consensus