SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR A WARMING PLANET

Jack Parker, Professor Emeritus Environmental Science, Chemistry Florida International University

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Ocean Degradation/Pollution

Tropical Deforestation,

Endangered Species

Water and Food

Resources

Population Growth

ENERGY AND

CLIMATE

CHANGE

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TROPICAL DEFORESTATION(ABOUT 15% OF GHG EMISSIONS)

Beef Cattle Grazing

Logging/Paper

Soybean production

(food/animal feed)

AMAZON: droughts/wildfires

in 2005/6: more CO2 than 10yrs of sequestering

SAVE THE RAINFOREST!

THE HOCKEY STICK GRAPHNATURAL VARIABILITY??

DENIALISTS: No Warming Last Decade DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNRoyal Society of London: criticized Exxon's funding of "organizations misinforming the public about the science of climate change"

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UP 1.6OF IN LAST 50 YRS

• LAST 12 MONTHS: WARMEST EVER RECORDED• 4 OF THE 5 WARMEST YEARS IN LAST DECADE

Up 4oC or 7oF more by 2100------>

THE CLIMATE CRISIS

MAJOR FEEDBACKSCurrent (In Models)

Melting Glaciers/Sea Ice +

More water vapor +

Future (NOT in Models) Methane from

Permafrost & Seabeds +

More clouds + or –

Climate Change Science U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES:A strong, credible body of scientific evidence shows

that climate change is occurring, is CAUSED LARGELY BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES, and POSES SIGNIFICANT RISKS FOR A BROAD RANGE

OF HUMAN AND NATURAL SYSTEMS

97% OF RESEARCH CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SURVEYED SAID HUMANS ARE CAUSING

GLOBAL WARMING

OBSERVATIONSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

SURPRISES:RECENT INCREASE IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

AUSTRALIA

500 YEAR FLOOD

FLOODING IN PAKISTAN(2010 AND 2011)

EXPECT MORE PRECIPITATION IN SHORT PERIODS

THAILAND 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT!

ANTARCTICA WARMING

ARCTIC SEA ICE NEW ALLTIME LOW 2012

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC!

EXTREME HEAT, DROUGHT, FIRE

JULY 2011:Oklahoma & Texas Hottest monthly temperature ever recorded

July 2012: United States Hottest month ever recorded

2011/12: United States Hottest 12 months ever recorded

Worst Heat/Drought and Wildfires

since 1930’s

BALLPLAYER ON STEROIDS

SEA LEVEL RISE NEXT TWO DECADES

Well-field Area

MIAMI BEACHFLOODING

FROM SFWMD

FLORIDA 2080?

Saltwater Intrusion, 2009

OCEAN and COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

“FUNDAMENTAL AND IRREVERSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONS”

Temperature up over 1oF Ocean Acidification

impact on calcifiers Rapid decline in

Phytoplankton

CORAL REEFS

BLEACHING

MANGROVES

SOLUTIONS80% REDUCTION IN CO2 BY 2050

MIAMI-DADE 2% SOLUTION

<------Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change------>

Up 4oC or 7oF more by 2100------>

HIGHEST PRIORITY: STOP BURNING COAL

REPLACE WITH CHP AND NATURAL GAS

FRACKING

CLEAN COAL??? WHEN???

REDUCE NON-CO2 GHG’S(OFTEN MORE EASILY REDUCED THAN CO2)

METHANE Landfills

• Recycle• Compost• Methane capture

Meat production

Eat less beef!

REDUCE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION

“Save the Rainforest”

SOOT From cooking,

waste burning, forest fires, diesel engines, ocean ships

20% REDUCTION IN SOOT & CO2

FOOD/YARD WASTES

PERSONAL CO2 EMISSIONSCARBON FOOTPRINT

UNITED STATES

20% of World’s Emissions

22 TONS

CO2/person/year

Car ~ 7 tons CO2/yr

Airplane ~ 2-3 tons CO2/yr

House ~ 13 tons CO2/yr

WORST IMPACTS ON POOREST COUNTRIES, WOMEN, FOOD SECURITY

DROUGHTS INAFRICA

IMPACTS ON WORLD FOOD SUPPLY

CARBON OFFSETS SOLAR ELECTRIC LIGHT FUND (SELF.org)

SOLAR IRRIGATIONHaiti: Solar Electricity and Lighting for Partners in Health Clinics

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE COFFEE

FAIR TRADED/ORGANIC/SHADE GROWN

Reducing pesticides and fertilizers: Reduces

fossil fuel inputs/water pollution Use agricultural waste

to make BIOCHAR

BIOCHAR

…BUY LOCAL

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

ELEVATED BUS

URBAN DESIGNTREE-SHADED SIDEWALKS

BIKING/WALKING GREEN ROOF

BUSTUBE CURITIBA

REDUCING YOUR TRANSPORTATION CARBON FOOTPRINT

NEW U.S. Standards27.5mpg 35.5mpg by 2016

54.5mpg by 2025

Average Car ~1#CO2/mile Conservation

Empty the trunk Inflate to max psi on tire

(usually 35psi) Combine trips

Car/Truck Purchase: each extra mpg:

700#CO2/yr

2010 Prius-50 mpg

2012 PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID ~90MPG

BIKE SHARING

CITY CAR

REDUCING THE UHI

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY COMMUNITY HOMESTEAD

WHITE REFLECTIVE ROOFSAND ENERGY EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING

AUTOMOBILE FUEL ALTERNATIVES??

Canadian Tar Sands—low net energy, high pollution, high CO2

Hydrogen Car NOT an energy source, 30 X

more costly Not within 20 yrs, maybe never;

need fuel cell breakthroughs High pollution if made from coal Clean and renewable if made

from solar/wind

Biofuels—Ethanol, Biodiesel

SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS

Substantial reductions in CO2 emissions

Use plant/agricultural Wastes or algae grown in eutrophic water

Minimal competition

with food production Uses sustainable

agriculture, preserves

soil

CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT

ALGAE IN WASTEWATER

SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITYEnergy Efficiency

and Conservation Cogeneration--

Combined heat and power—80 GW

Biomass—Agricultural and municipal wastes, wood

WindSolar—local and

utility scale Geothermal

Ocean Energy—Tidal, Waves

EFFICIENCY/CONSERVATIONTHE GREENEST ENERGY

Saves money Lowers trade deficit and increases national

security Increase in jobs (particularly local jobs)

Energy Efficient Lights CFL LED

HANDOUT ON RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Hot Water: Low-flow Showerhead, Solar

Electronics/Computers/Cable Boxes: turn off when not used

Energy-efficient Appliances:

1. FRONT-LOADING CLOTHES WASHER2. REFRIGERATOR3. DISHWASHER

Reduce Air Conditioning by 50%

SMALL, HIGH-EFFICIENCY (SEER 16) AIR CONDITIONER White Reflective Roof or Radiant Barrier More Insulation and weather-stripping Plug Duct Leaks A.C Thermostat up 1oF (saves ~5%) Ceiling Fans

(particularly in bedrooms)

ENERGY EFFICIENT

LANDSCAPING

ENERGY-EFFICIENT LANDSCAPINGREDUCES AIR-CONDITIONING BY 20-40%

Drought-resistant Shade Tree: 60#CO2/yr sequestered BUT 600#/yr if energy-efficient landscaping

Plant on East, South and West so that MATURE CANOPIES ARE ADJACENT TO BUILDING

WALL UP TO 25oF COOLER

6o cooler

WIND ENERGY

Increasing almost 30%/yr for last two decades, very large potential

World: 240,000MW, most in Europe, China, and U.S. (Texas, Mid-west)

Major advances in Carbon-fiber blades,Variable speed turbines, Tubular towers

Low Environmental Impacts (birds, aesthetics) Renewable and NO CO2 Costs: 6-10c/kwh, boon to

ranchers

OFFSHORE

WIND & SOLAR WERE TWO THIRDS OF NEWEUROPEAN POWER, 2011

SOLAR HOT WATER & ELECTRICITY

SOLAR PV CELLS Increasing about 40%/yr, Minimal environmental impacts,

NO CO2 But High Costs/Low Efficiency:

12c/kwh 26c/kwhZero-energy Habitat-For-Humanity House

SOLAR HOT WATER

GREEN JOBS

CENTRALIZED SOLAR(10-15c/kwh)

Photovoltaics Concentrating Solar

Power/Solar Thermal trough systems, dish/engine systems,

and power towers.

SOLAR ENERGY AND CHEMISTRY

SOLAR LEAF (Silicon Wafer)

H2O O2 + H2

ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS8% EFFICIENT

Global Warming is

“BREATHTAKING OPPORTUNITIES DISGUISED AS INSOLUBLE

PROBLEMS” John Gardner,

Founder, Common Cause

IMPACT ON HURRICANES

IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE

Longer growing season in cold areas

More frequent heavy down-pours

More intense droughts, heat waves

More pest, weeds

SUMMER 2012

WIND ENERGY: KITE,ROOFTOP AND SKYSCRAPER WINDMILLS

Urban Ecologyparking lots, EMPTY MALLS

CITIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

URBAN TREES AND SUSTAINABILITYSOCIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION

Florida Urban Forestry Council Award: Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group

Health Impacts

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Ocean Degradation/Pollution

Tropical Deforestation,

Endangered Species

Water and Food

Resources

Population Growth

ENERGY AND

CLIMATE

CHANGE

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