Transcript Green Economy - "G. Galilei" – Pescara

Liceo Scientifico «G. Galilei»
Pescara
A. S. 2012-2013
Davide D’Addario
Class II A
presents:
UDA: Global Warming
Green Economy
English Teacher: Prof.ssa Miscia Roberta
Green Economy
Green Economy increases human well-being
& social equity, significantly reducing
environmental risks & ecological scarcities.
In other words…
It reduces carbon emissions and pollution,
enhances
efficiency
and
sustains
biodiversity and ecosystem services.
What is “Green Economy”?
• It is a new economic paradigm that can drive growth of
income and jobs, without creating environmental risks.
• It was born out of the multiple crises of the last decades
(crises in climate, biodiversity, food, fuel and water, and
more recently, the financial crisis) accelerating resources
scarcity.
• Existing policies and market incentives have contributed
to the problem.
• Green Economy is the economic vehicle for sustainable
development.
• Green Economy has strategies to end the persistence of
poverty.
What is wrong with the economy that
the world is currently pursuing?
• Rapid increase of human population.
- 2007 ~ 6.7 billion people (projection 2050 ~ 9.2 billion)
• Rapid increase of financial capitals
• Resource consumption, degradation, depletion
Possible results:
- Huge amounts of pollution and waste
- Disrupting economies
- Loss of species, farming lands, water supplies
- Climate changes
- Political fallout
The effects: natural capital degradation
HUMAN IMPACT ON THE GLOBE: EMERGENCY MEASURES
• Very high environmental costs
• 30% loss of biodiversity, loss of fish stock,
deforestation, water scarcity, pollution and so on.
Growth , income and employment for
green economy must come from...
• Reduced carbon emissions and pollution
• Enhanced energy and resource efficiency
• Preventing the loss of biodiversity
ecosystem services
and
GROWING UP WITH “GREEN”
Hungry for energy
• The Americans produce and consume more energy
than any other nation and consume more energy per
capita than most of the nations.
• The U.S. are the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse
gases in the world, after China. Europe is the third.
• Traditional energy sources (gas, oil) are becoming
scarcer and they will be eventually exhausted.
PRESIDENT OBAMA
ON ENERGY POLICY
«I am convinced that whoever
builds a clean energy economy,
whoever is at the forefront of
that, is going to own the 21st
century
global
economy.
Last year, we made the largest
investment in clean energy in
our history.
President Obama at Meeting with Governors on
Energy Policy. February 3, 2010
It's an investment that's
already leading to new jobs
and new businesses across
the country».
OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION
GREEN ENERGY GOALS
1. Job Creation
2. Reduction
of
energy
consumption
diversification of energy sources
3. Reduction of greenhouse gases emissions
&
OBAMA’S ENERGY POLICY:
STATE OF THE UNION 2011
«We’ ll invest…in clean energy
President Obama gave the annual “State of the
Union” speech on January 26, 2011
technology – an investment
that
will
strengthen
our
security, protect our planet,
and create countless new jobs
for
our
people.
We’ ve begun to reinvent our
energy policy…We’ re issuing a
challenge.
We’ re telling
America’s
scientists
and
engineers that if they assemble
teams of the best minds in their
fields, and focus on the hardest
problems in clean energy, we’ ll
fund the Apollo projects of our
time».
OBAMA’S GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES
• Target of reducing emissions 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050
• 25% of electricity from renewables by 2025 (80% by 2035)
• The largest U.S. consumer of energy (the U.S. government) to
reduce its emissions 28% by 2020
• Target of 1 million electric vehicles
• Call on Congress:
– to pass Clean Energy Legislation to cut emissions
– Call on Congress to cut billions of $ in subsidies to oil companies by 2015
– Call on Congress to explore and promote all kinds of alternative wind energy
• 40% increase in vehicle fuel efficiency by 2020
• Five-fold increase in biofuel supply by 2022
• Tax credits and other incentives for wind, solar, and nuclear power
A global issue
• The U.S.A, Europe, China, Japan, India and Brazil
have a decisive influence
• Emerging markets with great energy demand
increase carbon emissions
• Can global interest be reconciled with national
priorities?
• How will the recession and financial crisis affect
energy choices?
Useful tips
1. How many people leave their bedroom lights on when they
are not in their room?
Turning off lights saves energy and money.
2. How many people circulate in their private cars today,
instead of walking, riding bicycles or taking public transport to
go to work ?
Our reliance on cars that burn fossil fuels is one of the major
causes of increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
and of urban smog.
3.How many people throw the cans of their soft drinks into the
garbage bin?
Throwing away any kind of containers wastes energy and
resources and adds to our waste problems.
THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY:
WHAT ARE WE DOING TOGETHER?
•Italcementi is a leader in American production of a new
concrete “smog-eating” engine – used in U.S. highways &
roads
•General Motors is working with the “Politecnico” in
Turin to develop more efficient diesel engines
•The Green Building Council in Italy has launched an
Italian version of U.S. sustainable building standards
(LEED) to be used in Italy
These ones are only some of the many more examples of
the U.S. and Italian cooperation to develop clean
technology…
THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY –
FUTURE PLANS
• Continue to expand research exchanges, travel by
local policymakers, and trade delegations
• Increase green sector joint ventures, especially for
small and medium-sized businesses
• Strengthen the U.S.-Italian venture capitals and
private equity investments
Are we really ready
to change the way we live?
The climate crisis can be solved!!!
Carbon emissions can be reduced
Let’s
start from
healthy
food
Blowing
Up Your
World
How many people among us eat canned or
frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones?
Fresh vegetables cook more quickly and are
usually more nutritious than frozen or canned
foods. Canned and frozen vegetables are often
over-processed, contain additives, contribute
to air pollution (transport and packaging) and
add to our waste problem.
Domestic energy waste
• How many people among us use a hairdryer or other
energy-consuming
convenience
appliances,
especially in the morning?
• Hairdryers use a lot of energy especially in the
morning so plenty of the energy demand is put on
our grids. Power companies have to find other
sources of energy to meet the morning rush hour.
Eating “toxic”
• How many people eat take-away or cafeteria
food that is served in foam or plastic
containers?
• Polystyrene and other plastic containers are
made of petrochemicals which do not
decompose in landfills and release toxic gases
when they are burnt in incinerators.
Deforestation
• How many people among us use tissues
instead of handkerchiefs or use paper
towels instead of cloth towels?
• Paper comes from trees. The more we use
it, the more trees keep on being cut down.
Saving energy
• How
many
people
change
incandescent bulbs for new compact
fluorescent bulbs?
Changing one bulb can save 150
pounds of carbon dioxide per year!
Let’s get ready to change our lifestyle
It is time to take important steps forward to protect
our planet. Our “green tomorrow” starts now!