G R O W I N G G R E E N T O G E T H E R

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Coulee Partners for Sustainability

Fall Newsletter 2010

Living respectfully, responsibly and reverently with one another and with Earth.

10.10.10

350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 392ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to below 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.

There are three numbers you need to really understand global warming, 275, 392, and 350.For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules to all of the molecules in the atmosphere. 275 ppm CO2 is a useful amount—without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

So we need some carbon in the atmosphere, but the question is how much? Beginning in the 18th century, humans began to burn coal and gas and oil to produce energy and goods. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise, at first slowly and now more quickly. Many of the activities we do every day like turning the lights on, cooking food, or heating or cooling our homes rely on energy sources like coal and oil that emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. We're taking millions of years worth of carbon, stored beneath the earth as fossil fuels, and releasing it into the atmosphere.

By now—and this is the second number—the planet has 392 parts per million CO2 – and this number is rising by about 2 parts per million every year. Scientists are now saying that's too much – that number is higher than any time seen in the recorded history of our planet—and we're already beginning to see disastrous impacts on people and places all over the world. Glaciers everywhere are melting and disappearing fast—and they are a source of drinking water for hundreds of millions of people.

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Mosquitoes, who like a warmer world, are spreading into lots of new places, and bringing malaria and dengue fever with them. Drought is becoming much more common, making food harder to grow in many places. Sea levels have begun to rise, and scientists warn that they could go up as much as several meters this century. If that happens, many of the world's cities, island nations, and farmland will be underwater. The oceans are growing more acidic because of the CO2 they are absorbing, which makes it harder for animals like corals and clams to build and maintain their shells and skeletons. Coral reefs could start dissolving at an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 450-500 ppm. These impacts are combining to exacerbate conflicts and security issues in already resource-strapped regions. The Arctic is sending us perhaps the clearest message that climate change is occurring much more rapidly than scientists previously thought. In the summer of 2007, sea ice was roughly 39% below the summer average for 1979-2000, a loss of area equal to nearly five United Kingdoms.

Propelled by the news of these accelerating impacts, some of the world's leading climate scientists have now revised the highest safe level of CO2 to 350 parts per million. That's the last number you need to know, and the most important. It's the safety zone for planet earth. As James Hansen of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the first scientist to warn about global warming more than two decades ago, wrote recently:

"If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm."

That will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that means we need to stop burning so much coal—and start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy –while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop. If we do, then the earthʼs soils and forests will slowly cycle some of that extra carbon out of the atmosphere, and eventually CO2 concentrations will return to a safe level. By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and improving agricultural and forestry practices around the world, scientists believe we could get back below 350 by mid-century. But the longer we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the more likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts.With your help, we can spread this important piece of information to our fellow citizens, communities, countries, and the world. For more in-depth information on climate science, policy, and solutions, please see our list of recommended resources below.

• A Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Nature 461, 472-475 (24 September 2009) | doi:10.1038/461472a; Published online 23 September 2009

• Hansen, James, et al. Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? Submitted April 7, 2008. NASA climate scientist James Hansen's paper about the 350ppm target.

• Hansen, James, et al. Target Atmospheric CO2: Supporting Material. Submitted April 7, 2008.• The IPCC 4th Assessment Report – link to the latest report by the Nobel-prize winning United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change, supported by the world's leading climatologists.• Baer, Paul, Tom Athanasiou and Sivan Kartha. "The Right to Develop in a Climate Constrained World: The Greenhouse Development

Rights Framework" - an important policy framework for how to mitigate climate change while ensuring an equitable path to development for the Global South.

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - link to the official UNFCCC website with information about the UN climate policy process.

• NASA - scientific reports, interactive maps, resources for kids, and more• RealClimate.org - a blog of climate science, written by climate scientists• Climate Safety - a very useful new report about current climate science, policy, and solutions• Pew Center on Climate Change - helpful information about climate science and international policy

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Prior to 10.10.10 Join the Northwest Earth Institute’s EcoChallenge Make a pledge to yourself and the Earth

Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability, you have the option of being creative with the EcoChallenge. For this category, you can create your own EcoChallenge and goals and research the ways you will achieve your goals. Ideally, youʼll choose at least one measurable goal so that you can measure your success. There are no limits on what you choose—so exercise your eco-creativity!

Water Conservation

Reducing your individual or household water use can help save the planet—and save you money.Use this list of suggestions to choose the ways that you want to conserve water. And donʼt forget to update your profile and tell your friends and family about the ways you are achieving your EcoChallenge!I Will:

• Save 20 gallons of water per day by limiting shower time to 5 minutes• Save approximately 12 gallons of water by following the slogan ʻIf its yellow let it mellow, if its brown

flush it downʼ at least three times a day• Not buy bottled water and will rely on water filters and tap water (keep a container of cold water in the

fridge to avoid running water unnecessarily while waiting for it to cool)• Limit the number of dish and clothes washing loads by only running the machines when they are full • Collect rain water in rain cisterns and use this water for outdoor water needs• Start a compost pile and refrain from using the sink disposal• Do dishes by hand in a sink basin instead of the dishwasher –unless I have a water efficient

dishwasher and am running a full load• Harvest household gray water for appropriate water needs (re-using just 5 gallons of water a day will

save 75 gallons of water during the EcoChallenge)• Seriously consider investing and researching water saving appliances (shower heads, faucets, toilets,

dish and clothes washers)-- front load clothes washers save up to 7,000 gallons of water annually and over $100 a year in energy costs!

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and gutters instead of using a hose • Wash cars at the car wash- itʼs more efficient than doing it at home• Look into using toilet tank banks or float boosters to reduce the amount of water flushed • Put mulch around the base of your trees to prevent water runoff and increase absorbency• Plant drought resistant plants, shrubs, and trees • Insulate water pipes to avoid wasting water while waiting for the water to heat up• Put up signs in the office bathroom with a phone number or email to report water leaks and running

toilets• Install low-flow toilets and faucet aerators at the office• Examine the landscaping at your business-- reduce the amount of lawn, choose native plants and

create bioswales

Energy Efficiency

Reducing your individual, household or workplace energy use is a great way to save money and reduce your impact! Use this list of ideas to put your house or office on an electricity diet, and achieve your EcoChallenge goal of being more energy efficient.  Remember to update your profile on the EcoChallenge website to tell your friends and family about the ways you are achieving your EcoChallenge!

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I Will:• Turn off the lights when not in use (this may seem obvious, but a lot of people still leave them on when

they leave a room)  • Wash clothes on the cold water setting and dry them outside on the line• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs) or LEDs• Uplug appliances and electronics when not in use, many of them still draw electricity even when they

are turned off (laptops, cell phone chargers, etc. all use power when plugged in) • Plug my appliances (computers, toaster ovens etc.) into a power strip and turn it off in between uses • At work, plug computers, printers, etc. into a power strip and turn it off at the end of the day• Enable the energy saving settings on my computer at work and/or reduce the amount of time before

the equipment reverts to power saving mode• Say no to screen savers--they use 28% more energy, instead put the computer to sleep when away

from it • Cut my "screen time" in half and save the energy used to power my TV, DVD player and computer• Purchase a solar charger and use it to charge my small electronics (like cell phones, ipods, and

cameras)• Share a networked printer with coworkers• Find out if my utility company has a clean energy purchase option• Naturally heat and cool the house using fans, curtains and blinds  • Insulate my water heater and pipes• Look for energy efficient models when replacing appliances • Replace inefficient heating and cooling units, upgrade uninsulated windows, and fix the roof to reduce

energy use• Install a home alternative energy system (e.g. photovoltaic or solar electric systems)• ʻOffsetʼ my environmental footprint with renewable energy credits (RECs)

Sustainable Food Options

There are many options to consider when choosing your food. Is it organic?  Is it locally produced? Is it in season? Sometimes it is hard to distinguish what is a good choice for you—and the planet. As a consumer you are a powerful and influential player in our food systems. We encourage you to “vote with your dollars” when making food choices—during the EcoChallenge and in the future. (And donʼt forget to bring your reusable shopping bags when you go to the store.) Pick from the list below to create your personal plan to fulfill your EcoChallenge.I will:

• Only eat meat twice per week (if I eat meat)• Purchase most of my produce & fruit from the farmers market• Visit a nearby farm, learn about what they produce and pick my own fruits and veggies• Purchase 90% of my food from locally produced and/or organic sources• Eat only food that has been raised and cultivated within a hundred mile radius of where I live,  known

as The 100 Mile Diet (http://www.takepart.com/lists/food-inc-hungry-for-change/10420). Youʼll take eating locally to the next level if you try this one!

• Plant an herb windowsill or herbs in pots (this can be done at any point during the year)• Try cooking 5 new recipes that feature organic and/or local products• Choose sustainable seafood options every time I eat fish during the EcoChallenge• Choose local, organic and sustainable foods when purchasing food for meetings and events at work• Consider joining a community garden• Try something I havenʼt done with food before such as canning, drying, or jamming local foods

  or baking bread• Participate in planting and growing food-- either in my own or a friend’s garden or at a

community garden

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• When eating out ask where the restaurant sources their ingredients and choose and encourage local and organic options

• Get up to speed on food legislation and share your opinion to your representatives • Research and become involved in a local group/campaign such as providing sustainable food in

school cafeterias • Organize NWEIʼs ʻMenu For The Futureʼ Discussion Course—organize friends, neighbors or

coworkers to form a new discussion group• Watch a documentary film about food with friends, to get them involved in sustainable eating too

(some suggestions include: Food Inc., The Future of Food, Supersize Me, and King Corn)

Alternative Transportation

Many of us rely on our vehicle to get us from point A to point B, and itʼs a habit that is hard to break. Do your body and the environment a favor by using alternative transportation! Youʼll probably end up saving money too. Use this list of suggestions to choose ways to accomplish your challenge, and donʼt forget to update your profile on the EcoChallenge website to tell your friends and family about the ways you are achieving your EcoChallenge!I Will:

• bike or walk to run errands within 1 mile of my house or work• use alternative transportation methods to get to work• minimize my car trips by “chaining” together errands or by running errands on my way to/from work,

instead of making a separate trip• cut my average weekly mileage by 25%• take the 2 mile challenge: Iʼll bike or walk whenever I am going to be within a 2 mile radius• take the train or streetcar 3 times a week on a trip where I would normally take my car• carpool to work/school/party etc.• cut out the commute--work from home occasionally and bypass the commute entirely• try a virtual meeting, instead of traveling for business set up a video conference• take my gym routine outside and exercise outside during the   EcoChallenge instead of driving to the

gym• have a picnic and walk or biking to my destination• use human powered transportation for the entire 15 days of the EcoChallenge• purchase offsets for any air travel I need to do--for work or pleasure• examine the vehicles used by my company and advocate for fuel efficient vehicles and trucks

Trash ReductionLiving by the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) reduces our need for new sources of plastic, paper, metals, and other finite resources. It also cuts down on the amount of garbage that needs to be buried in landfills. Reducing trash output can save you money too (on new products and trash pickup) and ease strain on our ecosystems. Pick and choose from this list to create a plan that will work for you.I will: 

• Bring my own reusable mug every time I buy coffee/tea on the go• Bring my own bags every time I shop during the EcoChallenge• Refrain from buying bottled water/juices/liquids and instead use a reusable mug or thermos• Make sure that my office has reusable cups/mugs/plates and silverware to minimize disposables• Refrain from buying new clothes, appliances, etc.

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• Start a compost to reduce the amount of trash my household or workplace produces• Recycle and select products that are made from recycled materials--consider this for office supply

purchases as well• If there isnʼt one already in place, set up a recycling center at work• Clean out my home of unused appliances, items, clothes and donate them• Use only natural or organic cleaning products • Reuse 100% of non-recyclable plastics• Reuse office supplies, like binders, folders, rubber bands, etc.• Send inner-office mail in reused envelopes• Buy 90% of foods that are available in bulk from the bulk bins, in order to reduce the packaging that I

buy and bring home• Buy used whenever possible (garage sales, Craigslist, Freecycle, and secondhand stores are all great

resources)• Borrow, rent or share things you donʼt use often-- for example, share a lawnmower or rent a carpet

cleaner if you need one• Resist consumerism, weigh purchases carefully, always asking “do I need this?”• Buy milk in glass bottles that can be washed and reused• Choose durability and buy quality products. Maintain your things and repair items that can be repaired

instead of replacing them.• Reuse paper and print on both sides• Take action to reduce the amount of unwanted mail you receive• Maintain your vehicle so that it lasts as long as possible• Reuse a water bottle instead of buying bottled water• Buy products that are minimally packaged, or that use packaging that can be reused or recycled• Buy larger packages when possible- for example, one large bottle of detergent uses less plastic three

smaller bottles• Donʼt buy single serving goods or foods• Cook at home rather than eating take-out, which generally requires excessive packaging• Buy used electronics if possible, such as a refurbished laptop or recycled cell phones and

rechargeable batteries• Talk to others about reducing their waste

Field Trip: Go To the Dump or Landfill It is easy to be unaware of the sheer enormity of waste we produce. We put our trash out in the morning and come afternoon it is magically gone. This system shields us from the process and visual evidence of how much trash is being sent to landfills. By going to a dump you may find inspiration to further cut down your own waste stream- or engage your friends and family in taking action to reduce their trash output.

These activities were provided by Northwest Earth Institute for more information or to join go to:

# ://www.ecochallenge.org/about_the_challenge/choose_your_ecochallenges

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Complete Streets Workshop

Learn how Complete Streets (Wisconsin’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation Law) can make your community a better place to live

Where you live impacts your ability to be physically active. Complete Streets provide safe access for all users and modes of transportation. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street.

Join Us: Tuesday, October 5 Myrick Hixon Eco Park 789 Myrick Drive, La Crosse

1:00-4:45 p.m. - Session 1: Planners, engineers, council members, policy makers and health professionals 4:45-5:15 p.m. - Break and hors d’oeuvres 5:15-6:30 p.m. - Session 2: Recap and summary/community workshop for policy makers, advocates and general public

Speakers include: Tom Lynch/Thomas Huber ~ Wisconsin Department of Transportation Kevin Hardman ~ Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Arthur Ross ~ City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division

Brought to you by the La Crosse County Health Department/Wisconsin Department of TransportationRSVP by September 21, 2010 to Jack Zabrowski (info below)

Phone: 608-785-5656 Fax: 608-785-9846 E-mail: zabrowski.jack@co.la-crosse.wi.us

Join CPS for Second SundaysCoulee Partners For Sustainability is happy to present to you Second Sundayʼs a series of presentations for 2010-2011 being held at the Eco Park. Each presentation is on the second Sunday of the month, 3:00-4:00 pm.

Hillview Greenhouse and other Local Foods Initiatives

The initiatives are working to provide nutritious and locally produced food to all Coulee Region residents on October 10 at 3:00. Immediately following, an open house will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hillview Greenhouse Life Center, located at 727 24th Street North. Learn more about La Crosse's Food Future: At Hillview, Fifth Season Cooperative, “Smart Eats” La Crosse County Farm-to-School Food Program.

How Focus on Energy can help!

Join the Focus on Energy presentation on November 14th at the Myrick-Hixon Eco Park. Lisa Fox, a representative with Focus on Energy will be there to answer questions and explain what is available from Focus on Energy to help you save energy and money.

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Northwest Earth Institutes Discussion Courses 2010-2011

The following two courses can be taken individually or in any combination. Viterbo University offers each individual course for one credit for those interested. Each course requires participants to purchase a book at a cost of $16.50 per discussion course.

    Healthy Children - Healthy Planet is a course for addressing how the pervasive effects of advertising,# # # # # # # media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.

        Discussion Course Goals: # # # # # • To understand how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and # # # # # # our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world. # # # # # • To discover ways to create meaningful family times and healthful ## # # # # environments for children. # # # # # • To explore ways to develop a child's connection to nature, and to ## # # # # foster creativity.

          DATES: Tuesdays- November 2, 9,16, 30, December 7, 14 & 21# # # # # CREDIT: Viterbo University 1CR $90.00# # # # # LOCATION: Myrick-Hixon Eco Park 3:30 pm-5:30 pm.

    Menu for the Future is a course exploring the connection between food and sustainability.

# # # # Discussion Course Goals: # # # # # • To explore food systems and their impacts on culture, society and ## # # # # ecological systems. # # # # # • To gain insight into agricultural and individual practices that promote # # # # # personal and ecological well-being. # # # # # • To consider your role in creating or supporting sustainable food systems.

          DATES: Tuesdays-January 4,11,18, & 25, February 1, 8, & 15# # # # # CREDIT: Viterbo University 1CR $90.00# # # # # LOCATION: Myrick-Hixon Eco Park 3:30 pm-5:30 pm#       Contact us if interested in taking any of these courses. $ $ $ Carolyn & Glen Jenkins cgjenks@earthlink.net 608-782-5727

Local Foods & Sustainable Agriculture (LEFSA)Local Foods & Sustainable Agriculture (LFSA) task force will soon be launching their own website - www.lfsalax.com - that will have information on: area farmers markets, CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) that provide weekly distributions to La Crosse area residents during the growing season, community gardens, tips on growing your own vegetables, and local foods initiatives.  The website will also include information on how to be a "conscientious food consumer" by providing a listing of  books, DVD's, websites and other resources on the importance of eating locally grown and sustainable foods.  

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The Worst Summer Ever?

'Dark Side of Climate Change' Seen in Record Setting Night-time Temperatures

• Get document in pdf• View map of record temperatures with Google Earth (kmz)

Summer 2010 set temperature records across the country and around the world. NRDC's analysis of June, July, and August 2010 US temperature data from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Historic Climatology Network reveal that this summer set heat records in many parts of the country. In fact, of the 1,218 weather stations in the contiguous United States, with data going back to 1895, 153 locations recorded their hottest summer on record and nearly one in three stations recorded average temperatures among their five hottest on record.

Even more telling is that nighttime lows were the hottest ever recorded at nearly one in four weather stations in NOAA's Historic Climatology Network. This means that at 278 stations the average nighttime low temperatures for June, July and August 2010 were hotter than at any time since 1895. More than half the stations recorded average nighttime low temperatures among their five hottest on record. Nighttime temperatures are more sensitive to the buildup of heat-trapping pollution in the atmosphere than daytime temperatures because increases in atmospheric aerosols and cloud cover have counteracted some of the warming effect of greenhouse gases during the day. Hot, stagnant nights can prove even more harmful than daytime highs as vulnerable populations (particularly the elderly) are unable to cool down and get relief from the stress of the daytime heat.

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Summer 2010 Temperatures from Weather Stations in NOAA's Historic Climatology Network, by State

Record Temperatures Seen in 37 States: State Maps and Table of Weather Stations

Alabama - Kentucky ↓Louisiana - New York ↓North Carolina - Wisconsin ↓

While it is difficult to know for certain how many people experienced health effects of one kind or another due to record-high temperatures this summer, it is possible to estimate how many people may have been exposed to extreme temperatures by counting the populations in those counties where average and nighttime temperature records were set. The accompanying tables show how many people in each state where records were set live in counties where one or more weather stations recorded record average or nighttime summer temperatures. This examination reveals that nationwide, over 28.5 million people live in counties where this summer's average temperature set records, and over 36 million people live in counties where the hottest summer nights were recorded this summer. (Record-setting temperatures source: NRDC fact sheet "Hottest Summer Ever". Population data source: http://www.census.gov/popest/datasets.html.)

• State Population Residing in Counties Where Summer Average Temperature Records Were Set (pdf)• State Population Residing in Counties Where Summer Nighttime Temperature Records Were Set (pdf)

The record heat experienced in the United States in the summer of 2010 is no isolated event. Global temperature data compiled by NASA show that the first seven months of 2010 was the hottest such period on record. This comes on top of the warmest decade on record (2000-2009), which surpassed the previous record set by the 1990s, which itself supplanted the 1980s as the warmest decade on record at that time.

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CPS 3rd Annual Harvest DinnerA good time was had by everyone that attended the this years Harvest Dinner. A great meal of local food was provided by The Root Note. Friends of sustainability were able to re-connect or make new friends. We all left with a renewed commitment to save the Earth!

Related NRDC Webpages:

Press Release: "Dark Side of Climate Change" Seen in Record Setting Night-Time Temperatures in 37 U.S. States in Summer Of 2010

OnEarth Magazine: Summer of Misery

Streaming audio replay of the news event

Related Websites:

National Climatic Data Center: State of the Climate August 2010

National Climatic Data Center: The USHCN Version 2 Serial Monthly Dataset

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Become a Member of:

Coulee Partners for SustainabilityLiving respectfully, responsibly and reverently with one another and with Earth.

NAME: ______________________________________

ADDRESS: ______________________________ City: ________________ STATE: ______ ZIP: _______________

PHONE: _______- _______- _____________

EMAIL ADDRESS: _________________________________

_______$15 Individual _______$25 Family _______$100 Business/Institution _______$10 Student

Would you like to get involved in CPS sustainable projects? (please check all that apply)

_____Occasionally for specific projects! ______Planning or Administration

Study Circle Facilitating: _____The Natural Step _____Northwest Earth Institute_____Film/Other Books

Join a Committee: _____ Local Foods & Sustainable Agriculture (LASA)

! ! _____ Neighborhoods/Housing Task Force

! ! _____ Business/Green Economy Task Force

Suggestions for CPS: ____________________________________________________________________________

Send to: CPS, c/o Glen Jenkins, 2642 Hackberry Lane, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

CPS is a 501-C3 non-profit, organization. All contributions are tax deductible.

Purpose: Promote sustainable practices in the Coulee Region.

Business: Advocate Natural Step Principles:• Educate• Foster and showcase sustainable practices• Facilitate “Green Group” networking

With the realization that human welfare is directly dependent on the health of the planet and that our welfare cannot be achieved at the expense of the planet. Coulee Partners for Sustainability will work with individuals, environmental organizations, educational institutions, businesses and governmental bodies to educate and create environmentally sustainable practices.