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Global Warming

It’s Real, It’s Here, and It Creates Jobs!

David Heimann

Green Group Boston

August 2010

The TakeawayCrisis = Danger plus Opportunity

• Danger– The world may become a far less comfortable place in which to

live– The USA may remain dependent on scarce fuels from unstable

unfriendly countries – Other countries may surpass us in developing the new

economy, leaving us as a third-world backwater

• Opportunity– We can create millions of new jobs and invigorate the economy

for years to come– We can draw on renewable fuels that last indefinitely– We can live in a way that we can “Live Long and Prosper”

It’s Real

Background• Greenhouse effect – Light enters an enclosed space, becomes

heat, and cannot readily leave.• Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (together with other gases

such as methane) cause a greenhouse effect on Earth.• The more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere, the warmer the atmosphere becomes.

Background

Background• At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (1750), the

concentration of GHG was 280 PPM. Since then, it has been steadily increasing.

• In recent years, this increase has accelerated. In 1960 it was 315 PPM. In 1980 it was 336 PPM. In 2000 it was 370 PPM. It is now 390 PPM.

• The higher the concentration, the higher is the average global temperature, and the higher is the variability around that average.

Background

• The decade ending in 2009 was the warmest decade on record.

• 2009 itself was the second warmest year since 1880, when modern temperature measurement began. The warmest year was 2005.

• Average global temperatures have trended upward by 0.36 oF per decade over the past 30 years. The variability of temperatures has also increased.

Source: NASA, via NY Times January 22, 2010

It’s Here

So Here Is What’s Happened

With This Temperature Result

Source: If It’s That Warm, How Come It’s So Damned Cold? [Hansen, Ruedy, Sato, Lo]

Or This, Over a Longer Time Frame

Source: 2006 report of the US National Academy of Science

Resulting, Already, In This

• In the polar regions, especially the Arctic, the temperature rises are much higher than average.

• This leads to much stronger effects than in the rest of the world.• The Arctic unwittingly serves as the “miner’s canary”.

It Creates Jobs

So How Does Global Warming Create Jobs?

• In order to reduce global warming, less greenhouse gases must be emitted.

• To do this, fossil fuel use must be strongly reduced.• How can we do this?

– Use renewable energy, such as solar and wind• Creates many jobs!

– Energy efficiency, such as higher-mileage cars and energy-efficient buildings• Creates many jobs!

– Retrofit old power plants, buildings, machines, etc.• Creates many jobs!

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010

Jobs in California

• Source: Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California• David Roland-Holst – Next 10 http://www.next10.org/research/research_eeijc.html

Jobs in Massachusetts


Jobs in New Hampshire


But We Can’t Wait Long!Source: New York Times, January 30, 2010

Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com)

Let’s not become a third world country!

So What To Do?• As a consumer

– Buy energy efficient products (from light bulbs to cars and houses)

– Make your home energy efficient (appliances, insulation, programmed thermostats, etc.

– Take advantage of the green tax and economic incentives

• As an employee– Get qualified for some really cool careers, such as

• Energy auditors, green-home dealers and installers• Wind and solar dealers, installers, consultants• Software development for green industries

• As a citizen– In your city or town

• Have your locality use green facilities and vehicles• Have your stores carry green products• Encourage the use of mass transit and paratransit

– In your state• Have the Legislature pass laws such as the Green Communities

Act in Massachusetts

– Nationally• Create a level playing field that allows all energy sources to be

evaluated on their full costs and benefits, then let the free market act:– Internalize the price of global warming through actions such as

a carbon charge or carbon cap– Ensure that renewable energy and efficiency receive the same

level of support as do fossil fuels.

So What To Do?

So What To Do?

• As a Citizen -- Call your Senators and tell them to pass strong energy and climate legislation–Massachusetts• Scott Brown, (202) 224-4543• John Kerry, (202) 224-2742

– New Hampshire• Judd Gregg, (202) 224-3324• Jeanne Shaheen, (202) 224-2841

Live Long and Prosper!