What Do We Do Now?

byDr. JoBea Holt

JPL Climate SymposiumOctober 16, 2010

Ok, if we accept that global warming is real and that we’re causing it, isn’t the problem so big

that we can’t possibly fix it?

Where Does the CO2 Come From?

Carbon’s Pathway

More People, More Technology, More CO2

How Do We Turn the Curve Down?

What Do I Use In a Day?One 40 Watt lightbulb uses 1kW-h energy per day

Personal ActionDrive 30 miles (25 mpg)Fly RT to London (once/year)Light, heat, cool house (hot shower=2)Gadgets FoodStuff (water bottle = 2)Infrastructure Total

Energy (kW-h)40

30 45 5 156055

250

MacKay, David, 2010, Sustainable Energy-Without the Hot Air, Caltech e&s.

What Could I Use in a Day

Personal ActionDrive EV 30 miles Fly RT to London (once/two years) Fluorescent bulbs, shorter shower...Unplug gadgetsEat less meatReuse, use tap water....VoteTotal

Energy (kW-h)10 1520

3103050

138

Can We Solve It With Renewables?

Renewable EnergyWindEnergy cropsSolar panel farmsSolar concentrators

% Land126062

Renewables InvolveLand-Use

MacKay, David, 2010, Sustainable Energy-Without the Hot Air, Caltech e&s.

http://www.withouthotair.com

Renewables to Power the US

Will We Get It Right the First Time?

People Drive the Flow of Carbon

Focus on the negative, or...

...be part of making our planet sustainable.

“...I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”