the planet is burning climate
the climate is getting warmer and scientists warn that storms, heat waves and droughts will be more extreme.
increased levels of carbon dioxide and other human-caused emissions being released into the atmosphere have caused global surface and ocean temperatures to rise at unprecedented speed.
1.5 °C
we need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (1.5 °C). That's the level scientists say gives humanity the best chance of avoiding the worst effects of climate change. Temperatures have already risen by 1.1 °C, causing more extreme weather events such as wildfires, drought, floods and loss of species. We need to do what the scientists say we need to do and transform our energy system away from oil, gas and coal.
1.5
science BBC Our Planet Now What is climate change? A really simple guide BBC
I have an obligation to serve the planet
mobility and energy.
cars, trucks, SUVs
it's the carbon emissions. A car engine that burns fossil fuel is producing carbon emissions. Maybe drive a little less, or drive an EV, or ride an ebike.
gas stoves, home heating systems
"natural gas" aka fossil gas is methane. When burned as fuel in your home, methane is a leading source of carbon emissions.
ghg hello
toxic gases that we put in the atmosphere are creating a greenhouse effect, which is warming the planet. The sun's light shines onto the surface, while the gases trap the heat that reflects back from the surface inside the Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation energy. This warming climate will eventually make the Earth uninhabitable. The world is getting hotter and hotter by the year.
global
global warming is the result of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. def. caused or produced by humans. The carbon emissions from power plants burning coal, and people driving cars and trucks, are excelerating the build-up of greenhouse gas ghg. The ghg in the troposphere wraps the Earth like a "blanket" creating a greenhouse effect.
combined with the methane emissions estimates published by the IEA and estimates of nitrous oxide and flaring related CO2 emissions, this new analysis shows that overall greenhouse gas emissions from energy rose to their highest ever level in 2021. 36.3 Gt gigatonnes
the world has a goal of reaching net zero by 2050 and keep global temperature rise below the critical threshold of 1.5 °C.
datasets
historical datasets and complex statistical models have made it possible for researchers to show the impact of rising greenhouse gas emissions on heatwaves, for example, by making them more likely or severe.
IPCC
scientists declared, definitively and in unison, that climate change is caused by people. "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land," they wrote in the comprehensive report from the UN IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021.
the IPCC released its 2022 report, by far the most dire warning it has yet produced. The report made it very clear that we must take firm measures now, with no delay, to cut back the use of fossil fuels and to move toward renewable energy.
UN to put into place a framework to reverse climate change. economic growth and climate action are not two competing ideas.
UN SecGen Antonio Guterres Paris Agreement. low-carbon projects. global financial system.
climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.
GISS surface temperature analysis (GISTEMP v4) data nasa.gov
atmosphere
the Earth's atmosphere is filled with a combination of noxious gases; greenhouse gases ghg: carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, nitrous oxide N2O, and ozone O3, and water vapor trapping heat in the atmosphere causing global warming and climate change.
cars and trucks
are you driving an SUV to get a croissant? the average SUV weighs 5,400 lbs (2.5 tons) and can tow a boat.
power plants
the problem is that we burn dirty coal in outland power plants to produce electricity for the city; producing tons of carbon emissions like carbon dioxide and methane. The majority of the world's population now lives in cities.
cars, energy
sources of ghg: burning fossil fuels 27 cars, truck, ship, train, airplane; gas and diesel 25 electricity production 24 industry 13 commercial, res heating 11 ag food production, cows
sources of ghg emissions EPA.gov
commercial air travel accounts for 3% of total U.S. ghg emissions. Concrete is 5%. Cement mfg contributes ghg both directly in production of carbon dioxide when calcium carbonate is thermally decomposed, producing lime and carbon dioxide, and also through the use of energy, particularly from the combustion of fossil fuels.
are you driving an SUV to get a croissant?
new fuel economy standards nhtsa.gov
SUV loophole The New Yorker
ghg: CO2, CH4, N2O
the Earth's troposphere (the lowest layer of the atmosphere) is filled with a combination of noxious artificial greenhouse gases ghg:
carbon dioxide CO2 methane CH4 nitrous oxide N2O ozone O3 and water vapor
ghg is produced by humans burning fossil fuels: oil, gas and coal. We are leaking dangerously high levels of methane into the atmosphere. We have made the air so bad that it traps heat in the atmosphere causing global warming, a global emergency.
global levels of carbon dioxide CO2 passed 400ppm. 100ppm is a healthy level, and 300ppm is a hazardous concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We have exceeded all levels of global greenhouse gas emissions.
| world's largest emitters of ghg | |
| 1 | China |
| 2 | U.S. |
| 3 | India |
| ghg | |
China's greenhouse gas emissions exceeded world: China 27%, US 11%, India 6.6%, EU 6.4%
Learn more AQI air quality index airnow.gov
what is the greenhouse effect?
global warming is the result of the greenhouse effect which is the way in which heat is trapped close to the Earth's surface by greenhouse gases ghg in the atmosphere.
the sun's light passes through the atmosphere and heats the ground. The infrared rays radiate from the ground and cannot pass through the ghg layer and are reflected back to the Earth heating the atmosphere.
care for the environment
natural solutions to the greenhouse effect include planting trees or restoring soils or wetlands. Trees are like machines that can capture carbon from the atmosphere in an efficient way.
COP26: end deforestation Aljazeera Nov 2021
17sdg
1. no poverty 2. zero hunger 6. clean water 13. climate action 17 sustainable development goals UN.org
the global goals for sustainable development globalgoals.org
what can I do?
we are calling for the divestment from all fossil fuels that harm the planet and its people.
divest your money to Stop the money pipeline. Divest your money from Chase, Blackrock and Liberty Mutual.
indigenous rights and biodiversity
I want to see the advocation for indigenous rights. When you are talking about protecting the planet and environmental justice you have to talk about indigenous rights, especially when you are on stolen land.
net zero is not zero
net zero does not mean zero emissions but balancing out remaining greenhouse gases with other actions. They say they will cut emissions but clearly net zero means that some sectors are expected to still be releasing ghg in 2050.
"blah, blah, blah. Words that sound great. But so far has led to no action." Greta, Youth4climate Summit, Milan, 27Sep2021
Stop fossil fuels build 100% renewables
clean renewable energy, like wind and solar, can help us break free from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power generation and transportation.
clean energy jobs are now far outpacing fossil fuel jobs. Solar employs twice as many people as does coal.
this is a crisis and we must impose a carbon tax while eliminating federal subsidies to producers of fossil fuels.
Why we need government action
climate change will be more expensive than dealing with carbon emissions now, and reducing the carbon emissions that are causing catastrophic changes to the planet. carbon emissions are still increasing with 2021 on track to be the highest. treat the climate crisis like a crisis. governments are only spending 2% on clean energy. government and systemic action is needed as well as personal action. do what you can do as an individual. understanding about the climate crisis makes you active. Greta Thunberg was on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Wed 22 Sep 2021
carbon cycle greenhouse gases NOAA.gov
Global carbon dioxide emissions are set for their 2nd biggest increase iea.org/news
2021 July was Earth's hottest month NOAA.gov/news
"If we can't breathe the air then we die, if we can't grow food on it then we die, if we can't drink the water then we die."
the world is seeing devastating impacts
storms
more frequent and severe storms. climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms as warmer air gathers up more moisture that will be released as torrential downpours.
atmospheric rivers
Nasa.gov image, Jan 04, 2023, shows a tight arc of clouds stretching from Hawaii to California, which is a visible manifestation of an atmospheric river of moisture flowing into western states.
What the report says about atmospheric rivers and climate change: The frequency and severity of land-falling atmospheric rivers on the U.S. West Coast will increase as a result of increasing evaporation and the higher atmospheric water vapor content that occurs with increasing temperature. Atmospheric rivers are narrow streams of moisture that account for 30 to 40 percent of the typical snow pack and annual precipitation along the Pacific Coast and are associated with severe flooding events.
flooding
flooding and extreme weather.
drought
drought and extreme heat.
wildfires
wildfires and dead trees as tinder.
this dry period was preceded by a wet spring, which prompted grasses to grow, only to see them dry out, adding to the combustible situation. Marshall fire, Boulder County Dec 2021
nights
nights have been warming more than our days have been warming as a function of human caused climate change, and that is having a direct impact on fires. Climate mitigation measures can bend the curve on increasing fire weather.
live in harmony with nature in a sustainable world
imagine a world in which existing technologies are deployed for the greater good of both people and the planet.
the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (1.5 °C) by reducing greenhouse gas. This is within reach if we treat this crisis as a crisis. Curbing methane emissions from oil and gas and restoring methane rules. Tighter emission limits on cars. Tax holiday for low-carbon alternatives to dirty fossil fuel. Carbon border tariff for importing steel and concrete. Targets for expanding renewable energy. Renovate buildings that are not deemed energy efficient.
climate crisis
the climate crisis is global warming and climate change. Global climate change has had effects on the environment, effects like intense heat waves, sea level rise, storms and food shortages.
climate change describes a change in weather patterns of the planet.
human health is linked to the environment of Earth. We have to stop the destruction of our planet's life support systems.
there is no wall high enough to keep out the sky.
reducing ghg
the causes of climate change: the causes of climate change climate.nasa.gov
Trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide esrl.noaa.gov Earth System Research Laboratories
Climate change: How do we know? climate.nasa.gov
we need to change or die. The science is clear and shows that climate change is real, and caused by ghg released by human industrial activity. As the biosphere gets warmer, we increase evaporation. And as we increase evaporation, ecosystems dry out and burn. And when soils get dry due to increased evaporation, we get longer heat waves. And longer heat waves make the biosphere warmer still. A hyper climate will end humans.
storms, hurricanes, floods, drought
climate change is heating the land and the oceans which is causing bigger storms. Bigger storms, hurricanes, floods and drought. Saharan air layer NOAA
Why Amazon rainforest is on fire Bloomberg
human activity, like burning coal and driving cars, produces ghg, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, which is the cause of the current global warming. These gases include carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, nitrous oxides and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Climate chaos, like fires, storms, hurricanes, floods, and drought, is caused by high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and is already producing human suffering and will most likely lead to the end of our civilization as we know it.
we must stop the EPA's rollback of current federal environmental safeguards. EPA
Paris
in order to meet the targets in the Paris Agreement and save the planet from climate devastation, we must halt coal, oil and gas development and finance a transition towards 100% renewable energy systems.
11 countries leading in renewable energy. Germany to close all 84 of its coal-fired power plants, will rely on renewable energy. Sweden is aiming to be a fossil fuel free nation. Costa Rica has achieved 95% renewable electricity.
brt
brt is a bus system.
bicycle highway
the bicycle highway Cykelslangen in Copenhagen is for the separation of cars and bikes.
trees
trees sequester CO2 carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create oxygen.
NRDC is a nonprofit group fighting climate change.
beef burger
The environmental costs of beef Scientific American
CO2 costs of a beef burger. half pound beef production equals emissions from driving 9.81 miles. 7.40 pounds of CO2-equivalent.
The greenhouse hamburger PDF Sierra Club
Senate votes to curb methane
#cutmethane. 50% of California's methane emissions come from livestock rather than oil and gas.
| U.S. budget deficit: $2.7 trillion, 2021 | ||
| Democrats | vs. | Republicans |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ | climate crisis | No |
| ✔ | voting rights | No |
| ✔ | women's choice | No |
| ✔ | gun regulation | No |
| $28.43 trillion in federal debt | ||