Climate ChangeSustainable Supply Chain 494

Hagemann,Nina Uranich, Kirby Jones, Bryant Hentzen, Heather Fernandez, Montserrat

De Sousa, Vini Zurabyan, Liana Bohon, Alejandra Mitchell, Victoria Robertson, Scott

Origins of Climate Change Study ● The scientific discovery of climate

change began in the early 19th century: Eastern North America changed from forest to crop lands

● Jean-Pierre Perraudin in 1815 said glaciers might be

responsible for giant boulders in the alpine valleys. Saw giant

rocks scattered around and concluded the ice carried the

boulders from the glaciers leaving stripes on land

● Joseph Fourier in 1824- Earth’s atmosphere kept planet warmer than if it had been in a vacuum. The visible light waves were transmitted from the sun effectively to Earth

● James Croll made calculations on gravitational pulls from Sun, Moon, and planets and how they affect the Earth’s motion. This changes the Earth’s cycles

Earth’s atmosphere & the moon

● Samuel Langley tried to measure the surface temperature of the moon by using infrared radiation leaving the Moon to the Earth.

● Arvid Högbom studied how industrial sources (coal) was similar to the natural sources.

● Argued since there is a low CO2 production, he thought it would take centuries & it would be beneficial for humans

● 1938- Guy Callendar studied records from 147 weather stations to show temperatures had risen over the previous century as well as CO2 concentrations rising

Pollution from industries

How the History is Studied● Tree Rings

o New layer every year

o Shows us what the tree

lived through

o Can also be affected by

solar flares, fires, parasitic

insect outbreaks, etc.

● Ice Coreso 123,000 years old in

Greenland

o 800,000 years old in

Antarctica

o Shows actual atmospheric

data from the ancient past

How the History is Studied

● Coral reef bleachingo Occurs when warm temperatures stress coral

How the History is Studied

● Atmospheric Recordso Direct, continuous

atmospheric records

only go back to

1950’s

o Ice Core samples

How the History Is Studied

1960’s & 1970’s● 1960-concern about aerosol emissions. Scientists knew humans would have an

impact on the climate in the 21st century- start to show a major concern

● A survey of the scientific literature from 1965 to 1979 found 7 articles predicting cooling and 44 predicting warming- in the 70’s trying to learn exactly what will happen with the Earth

● In 1973, James Lovelock thought chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) would have a warming effect. These created holes in the ozone layer.

● In 1988 the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to describe the current understanding of scientists and climate change.

Weather: What You Get

● More fluctuations - every hour, week,

month, season

● Associations - wind, temperature,

humidity, pressure, rain

Climate: What You Expect

● “average weather” - regular seasons

(winter) v. certain events

(tornados/floods)

o San Diego - mild climate

● Illustrates what the type of weather is for

the certain places that you

Climate vs. Weather

Climate Change

Long-term type of change in the earth’s weather, temperature, wind

patterns, etc. caused by toxic gases such as CO2 that can affect

either certain areas (local, regional, national) or across the entire

earth.

What causes it:

● Heat trapping gases like CO2 cause the earth to warm up

o Leads to rising sea levels, fires, droughts, floods, melting

snow/ice

What is Climate Change?

Impacts:

● Human health/quality of life

● Food production/agriculture

● Natural ecosystem - Life cycle for

animals, plants, and insects

● Water resources/irrigation → drought

● Our forests

Why Should We Care?

● Ice core samples

● Ocean acidification

● Carbon calcite shells

● Dendroclimatilogy (trees)

Evidence of CO2 Increases

● Ocean acidification

● Carbon calcite organisms

● Receding glaciers

● Increased frequency of severe weather

● Declined precipitation

● Sea level rise and warming

Effects of Climate Change

● Natural Causeso Solar output

o Volcanic eruptions

o Plate tectonics

o Decreased carbon sink

● Anthropogenic Causes (man) o Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions

o Land use changes Albedo changes

Causes of Climate Change

● Intensity of solar output has increasedo Faint Young Sun Paradox

● Cyclical Solar Outputs o Not fully understood

Solar Output

● Sulfur and ash block solar rays o Much more prevalent in early earth history

● Connected to plate tectonics

Volcanic Eruptions

● Deforestation

● Urbanization o Increases the earth’s

albedo

● Lead to changes to

carbon cycle o Carbon sink decreased

Land Use Changes

Human activity increase

● Carbon dioxide concentration, heat-trapping gases

● Aerosols (small particles)

● Cloudiness

● CO2 increased by 40% since industrial revolution

Activities that add to atmospheric burden of heat-trapping gases

● burning of coal oil, gas

● clearing of rainforests

HUMAN ACTIVITY INFLUENCE

● Carbon Dioxide

o Heating/Cooling

o Transportation

o Manufacturing

o Deforestation

● Methane

o Agriculture

o Natural Gas

o Landfills

● Nitrous Oxide

o Fertilization

● Halocarbons

o Refridgeration

Emissions

Think about it

● Animal-based products

● Processed foods

● Lifestyle

● Resources

● Transportation

● Trash

Ecological Footprints

http://www.earthday.org/footprint-

calculator

TAKE THE QUIZ

· Market opportunities

· Strategic opportunities

· Ahead of the curve

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR

BUSINESS

Kyoto Protocol

· Used for the most developed nations

· Started in 1997 implemented in 2005

Major feature

o Has mandatory targets on greenhouse gas emissions for the world’s leading

economies that have accepted it.

Commitments under protocol vary from nation to nation

· Example

o 5% reduction in GHG for developed countries

o 8% for European union

o 6% Canada

o 7% for U.S

Government Regulation

o Companies can compensate for carbon emission by

increasing sinks

o Sinks- afforestation and reforestation of forests which

remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

o Countries that use less emissions have the ability to

sell assigned amounts units to nations that exceed their

quota. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading#Kyoto_Protocol

Compensation for the sting of binding targets

Mission Statement

“ to protect human health and environment”

Goals

· national efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best

available scientific information

· environmental protection is an integral consideration in U.S. policies

concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy,

transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these

factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy;

EPA :Environmental Protection Agency (US)

· Set regulations and standards for both light duty cars

and heavy duty trucks.

Goal

· Cut 6 billion metric tons of GHG over the lifetimes of

the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025.

· Save families more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs

· Reduce America’s dependence on oil by more than 2

million barrels per day in 2025.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-light-duty.htm#2012-2016

EPA Projects

What Can Individuals Do?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. In 2012, CO2 accounted for about

82% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

•Walk, bike, or take public transit

whenever possible.

•Avoid short airplane trips-take a bus

or train instead.

Cleaner Transport

•Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you'll be

waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off

the engine (except in traffic). And don't take

the drive-through.

•Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep

the emission control systems operating at

peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter

monthly, and keep the tires adequately

inflated to maximize gas mileage.

Cleaner Transport- your car

•Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your

home light fixtures- and be sure to dispose of old

bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste

program.

•Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls

and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-

pane windows.

Home Energy Saving Features

•Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather

strips, and storm windows and doors.

•Insulate your water heater. Even

better, switch to a tankless water

heater, so your water will be heated

only as you use it.

•Choose energy efficient appliances.

Home Energy Saving Features

•Keep thermostat relatively low in winter

and ease up on the air conditioning in

summer. Clean or replace dirty air

conditioner filters as recommended to

keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.

•Unplug your electronics when not in use.

To make it easier, use a power strip. Even

when turned off, items like your television,

computer, and cellphone charger still sip

power.

Energy Saving Habits

•Dry your clothes outside whenever

possible.

•Make minimal use of power equipment

when landscaping.

•Defrost your refrigerator and freezer

regularly.

•Choose green electricity. Many utilities

give you the option to purchase electricity

generated by wind and solar power for a

small rate surcharge.

•Purchase carbon offsets to make up for

the energy use you can't eliminate

Energy Saving Habits

● http://myfootprint.org/en/take_action/reduce_your_footprint/

● http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/whatis.htm

● http://www.ensaa.eu/index.php/climate-change/97-defining-climate-change.html

● http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html

● http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/

● http://www.climate.gov

● http://epa.gov/climatechange/

Sources