“Ecosystems are usually able to
maintain themselves. But eventually they get pushed to the limit of
tolerance.”
Terry Chapin, a Biologist and professor of Ecology at the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Burning coal creates power but releases gasses that help to increase Earth’s
temperature.
Arctic regions are heating up causing glaciers to melt, dumping water in the oceans.
Severe weather including
rainstorms, flooding, droughts, and hurricanes are
disrupting lives.
Wildfires caused by parched
and arid conditions are increasing.
Droughts turn fertile land into
deserts, uprooting communities
and sparking violence.
Global sea levels have risen 4 in. to 8 in. during the 20
thcentury.
Global sea levels are anticipated to rise 19 in. to 37 in. during the 21
stcentury if the current trend continues.
If the entire Greenland
ice sheet were to melt,
the seal level would rise
an additional 23 feet.
www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Greenhouse gasses rose less than 1% in the 10,000 years before the Industrial
Revolution.
Greenhouse gasses have risen 33% since the Industrial Revolution.
The annual CO
2emission released by a typical 500-megawatt coal fired
power plant is 3 million tons.
The U.S. has 5% of the world’s people, yet it
produces 25% of the CO
2emission on the plant.
Earth has warmed 1.44º F during the 20
thcentury.
The total temperature rise that is
anticipated in the 21
stcentury is 1.98º F to 11.52º F if current trends continue.
11 out of the past 12 years have been ranked as the
warmest in modern history.
www.greenhouse.gov.au
Rain Forests
Slash and Burn methods
Send clouds of gas into the atmosphere.
Remove trees that convert CO
2into O
2. The source of many prescription drugs.
Many natural chemicals
may never be
identified.
Deserts
Higher
temperatures accelerate
desertification.
The land becomes too dry to support agriculture.
The lives and
livelihoods of people
are threatened.
Polar Regions
Glaciers and ice shelves are melting.
Sea levels will rise and many land areas may be under water.
Rising seas could
contaminate water supplies with salt.
Warmer temperatures could widen the range of disease- carrying rodents and bugs
Many species of wildlife
may go extinct.
Coral Reefs
Slight temperature changes in water can cause coral bleaching that is devoid of life.
Higher temperatures cause the polyps to
eject the algal tenants that are living within their tissues that
provide the color and nutrients the coral
need to survive.
Permafrost
Global warming is causing an accelerated melting around the globe.
Serious soil erosion can occur.
Earth’s permafrost regions contain enormous quantities of trapped methane, a powerful
greenhouse gas and other hydrocarbons.
The release of large of large quantities of these
gasses could create a feedback loop that would
accelerate global warming.
African Elephant – shrinking of range and food supply
Wild Salmon – melting permafrost pours mud
into rivers, burying gravel needed for spawning
Prickly Pear Cactus –
warming related changes
are causing disruptions in
the life cycle of plants
Harlequin Frog – climate
changes seem to make them more vulnerable to a deadly fungus
Pinon Mouse – moving their homes to higher elevations
Quiver Tree – dyeing off and moving southward
Adelie Penguin, Polar Bears,
Arctic Wolves – as polar ice melts, their habitats are
endangered
Over the past 35 years, the number of hurricanes each season has
remained
constant, but their average intensity has increased,
with the number of category 4 and 5 storms (the
most powerful)
nearly doubling.
Allergies
Plants like ragweed and other pollen sources will flourish under the warmer conditions.
Carriers
Hot weather could make the global mosquito populations (carriers of Malaria) explode.
Water Sources
As rainfall levels increase, older cities run a risk that
overflowing sewer lines may contaminate supplies of
drinking water.
Wind Farms that harness the power of
moving air can produce more and more of the world’s power supply.
Geothermal power that taps heat generated at Earth’s fiery core can be a source of energy.
Solar Energy draws energy from the
warming sunlight that threatens our planet.
Nuclear Power can be used to provide energy.
Hydrogen Power can be used to fuel
vehicles.
Change your Light Bulbs to
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL).
They use ¼ the electricity and last several years longer.
Build a “Green Home” that is Smaller
Install energy efficient appliances,
control heat, air and moisture leakage by sealing windows and doors,
Insulate the garage, attic and basement with natural, nontoxic materials,
Reduce solar heat in windows with large overhangs and double-pane glass,
Consider renewable energy sources like solar
electric systems.
Hang up a Clothesline
Over its lifetime, laundering a single T shirt can send as much as 9 lbs. of carbon dioxide into the air.
Purchase Fewer Clothes.
Every item of clothing you own has an impact on
the environment. Some synthetic textiles are made with petroleum products.
Invite friends over for a closet swap, everyone brings a few items they want to trade.
Work Close to Home.
Ride the Bus.
Public transportation saves about
1.4 billion gal. of gas annually, which
translates into about 1.5 million tons of CO
2.
Move to a High-Rise.
The smaller your home the smaller your personal carbon footprint.
Commutes, shopping trips and supply chains will be shorter.
Pay your Bills Online.
Not only does this save trees, but it also
reduces fuel consumption by trucks and planes that transport mail.
Open a Window instead of running the AC.
Ask the Experts for an Energy Audit of Your Home.
Purchase Energy Star Appliances.
Wrap your Water Heater in an Insulated Blanket.
Skip the Steak.
The international meat industry generates 18% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions.
Say NO to Plastic Bags.
They are typically made of
polyethylene and can take up to
1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills that emits harmful greenhouse gasses.
Support your Local Farmer.
Plant Bamboo, it will help
absorb more CO
2than a rosebush.
Shut off the Computer.
The average computer consumes 60 to 250 watts a day.
Use Organic Personal Care Products.
Turn off the Lights at Quitting Time.
Reduce Paper Use and Buy Recycled Paper.
Grow a Garden.
Carpool.
Check your Tires.
Keeping tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage
more than 3%.
Giving your engine a tune-up can improve gas mileage 4% or more.
Consume Less, Share More, Live Simply.
