CLIMATE CHΔNGEA primer for business

Sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere where some bounces into space and some is absorbed by greenhouse gas (GHG) molecules and

re-radiated towards Earth, warming the average global temperature

Increasing GHGs from human activity are causing change in this system too quickly

Source: NASA

1900 2014

10 of the last 15 years have been the warmest since records began in 1880

Source: NASA/GISS

Source: IPCC/PNAS/NASA/GISS

97% of climate scientists agree that climate trends are“extremely likely” due to human activities

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Cumulative greenhouse gas levels are at historic highs and continue to climbRoughly 62% of US emissions come from the corporate sector

Source: NOAA/WWF/CDP/McKinsey

The Arctic polar ice cap is dissolving before our eyes, changing seasonal weather patterns around the globe. The National Climate Assessment shows Alaska has already warmed twice as fast as the rest of the nation.

Arctic summer sea ice is receding faster than previously projected and is expected to virtually disappear before mid-century.

© Florian Shulz

Polar bears on floating ice in Svalbard, Artic Ocean. The Arctic region plays an important role in regulating and moderating

global climate.

Climate change is decreasing water supplies and agricultural production in arid regions.

Snowpack and streamflow levels are in declining in parts of the region decreasing water reliability for residents, commercial use, and ecosystems. Droughts also increase the likelihood of wildfires.

© Audra Melton

Russia’s 2010 heat wave resulted in economic losses estimated at $15 billion USD as drought and wildfires destroyed crops,

particularly wheat

Our oceans absorb most of the warming causing both expansion and sea-level risewhile additional CO2 increases ocean acidity.

These factors cause bleaching of coral reefs and driving stronger storms. More acidic oceans also threaten shelled organisms fundamental to the marine food chain.

© Global Warming Images / WWF-Canon

Coral bleaching in the Red Sea off Egypt shows a stressed and failing ecosystem that can’t support aquatic life that fisheries

and industries rely on

People in cities and towns across the US are facing more extreme weather linked to climate change.

Heat waves, heavy downpours, wildfires, floods and droughts. In various regions of the country, these events are all growing in frequency or intensity or both, creating human suffering and costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

© New Jersey Governor's Office/Tim Larsen

Economic devastation from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 were estimated by NOAA at roughly $50 billion USD

Between $66 billion and $106 billion worth of

existing coastal property will likely be below sea

level nationwide

2-3 times the average annual number of 95+°F days we've seen over the

past 30 years

Bread basket states risk up to a 50% to 70% loss in

average annual crop yields (corn, soy, cotton, and

wheat)

Early estimates of American economic risks by 2050 require action

Source: Risky Business Report (2014)

Setting GHG targets aligned

with science-based

methodologies such as

The 3% Solution provide a

pathway for corporate

America to save up to $190

Billion in 2020.

Energy efficiency tied with

strong renewable energy

targets can help meet both

climate and bottom line

corporate earnings goals.

2020

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