Climate ChangeSustainable Supply Chain 494
Hagemann,Nina Uranich, Kirby Jones, Bryant Hentzen, Heather Fernandez, Montserrat
De Sousa, Vini Zurabyan, Liana Bohon, Alejandra Mitchell, Victoria Robertson, Scott
Origins of Climate Change Study ● The scientific discovery of climate
change began in the early 19th century: Eastern North America changed from forest to crop lands
● Jean-Pierre Perraudin in 1815 said glaciers might be
responsible for giant boulders in the alpine valleys. Saw giant
rocks scattered around and concluded the ice carried the
boulders from the glaciers leaving stripes on land
● Joseph Fourier in 1824- Earth’s atmosphere kept planet warmer than if it had been in a vacuum. The visible light waves were transmitted from the sun effectively to Earth
● James Croll made calculations on gravitational pulls from Sun, Moon, and planets and how they affect the Earth’s motion. This changes the Earth’s cycles
Earth’s atmosphere & the moon
● Samuel Langley tried to measure the surface temperature of the moon by using infrared radiation leaving the Moon to the Earth.
● Arvid Högbom studied how industrial sources (coal) was similar to the natural sources.
● Argued since there is a low CO2 production, he thought it would take centuries & it would be beneficial for humans
● 1938- Guy Callendar studied records from 147 weather stations to show temperatures had risen over the previous century as well as CO2 concentrations rising
Pollution from industries
How the History is Studied● Tree Rings
o New layer every year
o Shows us what the tree
lived through
o Can also be affected by
solar flares, fires, parasitic
insect outbreaks, etc.
● Ice Coreso 123,000 years old in
Greenland
o 800,000 years old in
Antarctica
o Shows actual atmospheric
data from the ancient past
How the History is Studied
● Coral reef bleachingo Occurs when warm temperatures stress coral
How the History is Studied
● Atmospheric Recordso Direct, continuous
atmospheric records
only go back to
1950’s
o Ice Core samples
How the History Is Studied
1960’s & 1970’s● 1960-concern about aerosol emissions. Scientists knew humans would have an
impact on the climate in the 21st century- start to show a major concern
● A survey of the scientific literature from 1965 to 1979 found 7 articles predicting cooling and 44 predicting warming- in the 70’s trying to learn exactly what will happen with the Earth
● In 1973, James Lovelock thought chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) would have a warming effect. These created holes in the ozone layer.
● In 1988 the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to describe the current understanding of scientists and climate change.
Weather: What You Get
● More fluctuations - every hour, week,
month, season
● Associations - wind, temperature,
humidity, pressure, rain
Climate: What You Expect
● “average weather” - regular seasons
(winter) v. certain events
(tornados/floods)
o San Diego - mild climate
● Illustrates what the type of weather is for
the certain places that you
Climate vs. Weather
Climate Change
Long-term type of change in the earth’s weather, temperature, wind
patterns, etc. caused by toxic gases such as CO2 that can affect
either certain areas (local, regional, national) or across the entire
earth.
What causes it:
● Heat trapping gases like CO2 cause the earth to warm up
o Leads to rising sea levels, fires, droughts, floods, melting
snow/ice
What is Climate Change?
Impacts:
● Human health/quality of life
● Food production/agriculture
● Natural ecosystem - Life cycle for
animals, plants, and insects
● Water resources/irrigation → drought
● Our forests
Why Should We Care?
● Ice core samples
● Ocean acidification
● Carbon calcite shells
● Dendroclimatilogy (trees)
Evidence of CO2 Increases
● Ocean acidification
● Carbon calcite organisms
● Receding glaciers
● Increased frequency of severe weather
● Declined precipitation
● Sea level rise and warming
Effects of Climate Change
● Natural Causeso Solar output
o Volcanic eruptions
o Plate tectonics
o Decreased carbon sink
● Anthropogenic Causes (man) o Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions
o Land use changes Albedo changes
Causes of Climate Change
● Intensity of solar output has increasedo Faint Young Sun Paradox
● Cyclical Solar Outputs o Not fully understood
Solar Output
● Sulfur and ash block solar rays o Much more prevalent in early earth history
● Connected to plate tectonics
Volcanic Eruptions
● Deforestation
● Urbanization o Increases the earth’s
albedo
● Lead to changes to
carbon cycle o Carbon sink decreased
Land Use Changes
Human activity increase
● Carbon dioxide concentration, heat-trapping gases
● Aerosols (small particles)
● Cloudiness
● CO2 increased by 40% since industrial revolution
Activities that add to atmospheric burden of heat-trapping gases
● burning of coal oil, gas
● clearing of rainforests
HUMAN ACTIVITY INFLUENCE
● Carbon Dioxide
o Heating/Cooling
o Transportation
o Manufacturing
o Deforestation
● Methane
o Agriculture
o Natural Gas
o Landfills
● Nitrous Oxide
o Fertilization
● Halocarbons
o Refridgeration
Emissions
Think about it
● Animal-based products
● Processed foods
● Lifestyle
● Resources
● Transportation
● Trash
Ecological Footprints
http://www.earthday.org/footprint-
calculator
TAKE THE QUIZ
· Market opportunities
· Strategic opportunities
· Ahead of the curve
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR
BUSINESS
Kyoto Protocol
· Used for the most developed nations
· Started in 1997 implemented in 2005
Major feature
o Has mandatory targets on greenhouse gas emissions for the world’s leading
economies that have accepted it.
Commitments under protocol vary from nation to nation
· Example
o 5% reduction in GHG for developed countries
o 8% for European union
o 6% Canada
o 7% for U.S
Government Regulation
o Companies can compensate for carbon emission by
increasing sinks
o Sinks- afforestation and reforestation of forests which
remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
o Countries that use less emissions have the ability to
sell assigned amounts units to nations that exceed their
quota. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading#Kyoto_Protocol
Compensation for the sting of binding targets
Mission Statement
“ to protect human health and environment”
Goals
· national efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best
available scientific information
· environmental protection is an integral consideration in U.S. policies
concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy,
transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these
factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy;
EPA :Environmental Protection Agency (US)
· Set regulations and standards for both light duty cars
and heavy duty trucks.
Goal
· Cut 6 billion metric tons of GHG over the lifetimes of
the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025.
· Save families more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs
· Reduce America’s dependence on oil by more than 2
million barrels per day in 2025.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-light-duty.htm#2012-2016
EPA Projects
What Can Individuals Do?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. In 2012, CO2 accounted for about
82% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
•Walk, bike, or take public transit
whenever possible.
•Avoid short airplane trips-take a bus
or train instead.
Cleaner Transport
•Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you'll be
waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off
the engine (except in traffic). And don't take
the drive-through.
•Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep
the emission control systems operating at
peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter
monthly, and keep the tires adequately
inflated to maximize gas mileage.
Cleaner Transport- your car
•Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your
home light fixtures- and be sure to dispose of old
bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste
program.
•Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls
and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-
pane windows.
Home Energy Saving Features
•Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather
strips, and storm windows and doors.
•Insulate your water heater. Even
better, switch to a tankless water
heater, so your water will be heated
only as you use it.
•Choose energy efficient appliances.
Home Energy Saving Features
•Keep thermostat relatively low in winter
and ease up on the air conditioning in
summer. Clean or replace dirty air
conditioner filters as recommended to
keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
•Unplug your electronics when not in use.
To make it easier, use a power strip. Even
when turned off, items like your television,
computer, and cellphone charger still sip
power.
Energy Saving Habits
•Dry your clothes outside whenever
possible.
•Make minimal use of power equipment
when landscaping.
•Defrost your refrigerator and freezer
regularly.
•Choose green electricity. Many utilities
give you the option to purchase electricity
generated by wind and solar power for a
small rate surcharge.
•Purchase carbon offsets to make up for
the energy use you can't eliminate
Energy Saving Habits
● http://myfootprint.org/en/take_action/reduce_your_footprint/
● http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/whatis.htm
● http://www.ensaa.eu/index.php/climate-change/97-defining-climate-change.html
● http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html
● http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators/
● http://www.climate.gov
● http://epa.gov/climatechange/
Sources
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