carbon footprint
- is how much YOU contribute to the atmosphere from:
- driving, flying, riding the bus
- heating house and water
- used to produce and transport the food you eat
evidence/confidence
evidence improves confidence
direct measurement
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glacial runoff
- many communities depend on water from this
- glaciers are like a sponge -> no glaciers = no water
ozone layer hole
- the ozone layer in the atmosphere protects us and other animals from harmful UV light
- cancer
- eye cateracts
- lower plant yields
- scientists showed that the ozone layer was thinning from humans putting chemicals into the air
biological pump
- the world's oceans cover 75% of the planet's surface
- they naturally take up about one third of our CO2 emissions
- iron is the limiting nutrient in oceans
- adding iron "fertilizes" -> algae blooms that use CO2 -> reduced CO2 in atmosphere
carbon capture
capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources, such as fossil fuel power plants, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere
geological storage
- pump CO2 emitted from energy plants into depleted oil and gas fields, coal seams and deep saline reservoirs storage
injection
put CO2 in ground instead of atmosphere
can science "prove" something?
- you can't be 100% certain
- probability
- science does not answer moral or ethical questions
if science cannot prove something, why do it?
even if something isn't very probable it doesn't mean we shouldn't do something about it
what does it mean that "science is constantly under critique"?
- ideas are testable and falsifiable and observations and experimental results are repeatable
do large groups of scientists ever get something wrong?
yes
who (what group of people) usually discover how scientists got something wrong?
other scientists
when Marcia McNutt said "Never let uncertainty be an excuse for inaction" what did she mean? what is an example from daily life this could apply to?
even if something isn't very probable doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. you can apply it to studying for a test since you don't know if you won't know all the answers
what do the four squares in the grid represent?
they represent four possible futures for humans causing global warming
- humans causing global warming false and taking action - we might have hurt economy for nothing
- humans causing global warming false and not taking action - there was never a problem
- humans causing global warming and taking action - darned good we did something
- humans causing global warming and not taking action - global disaster
why does greg argue that we should not be debating whether GCC is occuring, but rather what we should be doing?
the grid allows us to make a decision using uncertain knowledge by changing the question from are humans affecting the environment to the real question of what's the wisest thing to do given uncertainties and risk?
what argument is made that the "GCC is true" should be given more weight in the risk management table?
- because two of the most respected scientific groups don't want to look stupid, they both have issued strong statements calling for big action, now, on global warming
- don't have to believe them but helps make a decision
how could ethics play into risk management?
- the cost of doing something if there is actually no risk is smaller and affects us - the richest nation on earth
- the cost of doing nothing if there is actually a risk is huge and affects the entire world - even the most vulnerable people that did not contribute to the problem!
do people ever prepare for an event even when they are not positive that it will happen? how does this question relate to gcc?
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it is one thing to do risky things that affect yourself, but another to do risky things that affect other people. how does this relate to the gcc discussion? the pope weighed in on this topic how?
- consequences of global climate change effect everyone
- the pope said that climate change is a moral issue
what are some examples of people that are not contributing to the gcc being affected by it?
- in dry areas affected by increasing frequency of droughts
- that are in lowlying areas affected by rising sea levels
- communites that depend on glacial runoff
what number and what % of indian household cook with biomass?
30% - 300,000,000
how is cow dung used?
cooking
what energy source will indians turn to as they climb out of poverty? where will they get it?
they will use coal and they already have it
what did sunita narain mean when she said "if you created the problem in the past, we will create it in the future
that america started this problem and it's affecting them
how could it affect india if the us converted more heavily to renewable energy sources?
it would help them because it will make other countries start doing it as well because they look for leadership from us
who invests more in renewable energy, the us or china?
china - 4x more
the story of half years rainfalling in 5 hours was an used as example of what?
climate change is affecting those that haven't caused it
what was the ozone hole example used to demonstrate (in relation to gcc)?
- the ozone layer in the atmosphere protects us and other animals from harmful uv light
- scientist showed that the ozone layer was thinning
- laws were passed to limit the production of cfcs. there were not enough opponents to block policy
what are three broad things individuals can do as individuals to address GCC?
- reduce our own impact
- become actively involved in issue
- vote for people that will act on issue
how many tons of co2 do americans, on average produce each year? how does this compare to the amount of garbage they produce?
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if your car gets 20 miles per gallon, how much co2 (in weight) will you produce if you go 10 miles? 100 miles?
- 1 gallon of gas produces 20 pounds of co2
- drive one mile - 100 punds of co2
some cars produce more co2 than others. why?
different cars produce different miles per gal
most ways to deduce co2 usage save money. why?
save money by not buying items that contribute to gcc, keeping temp low, walking to places, car pool, ride bikes, garden
what is the connection between palm oil and global climate change?
palm oil is used in everyday items and corporations get it by destruction of carbon rich forests which creates global climate change
is co2 a pollutant?
- Bush administration said no
- Obama administration said yes because it may endanger human health and well being
what are two big ideas to reduce co2 concentration in the atmosphere?
- geological storage
- biological pump
how do "biological pumps" work? what is the current opinion on whether they will be useful in the future?
- adding iron "fertilizers" -> algae blooms that use co2 -> reduced co2 in atmosphere
- many researchers remain skeptical about whether the process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for the long term or just for a fleeting time
- ecological impacts from long term fertilization also a concern
what is "geological storage" and how does it work?
- pump co2 emissions from energy plants into depelted oil and gas fields; coal seams and deep saline reservoirs storage