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Global Warming
It’s Real, It’s Here, and It Creates Jobs!
David Heimann
Green Group Boston
The Takeaway
Crisis = 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 time of the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of
GHG was 250 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 380 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
Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010
Jobs in New Hampshire
Source: Job Rapido (www.jobrapido.com), August 2010
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
So What To Do?
• 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:
– Externalize 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?
• 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!