Treading Lightly with Your Footprint Larry Foster Todays

Treading Lightly with Your Footprint Larry Foster

Today’s Map n n n What’s a Footprint “The Culprits” Red-Faced Speaker Your Turn! - At Home & Work - Zipping Around UAA’s Turn Food Map, Please!

Useful Footprints n Ecological Footprint n Carbon Footprint Paw Print!

Ecological Footprint n n Amount of BIOPRODUCTIVE land & sea area in continuous production to supply all you use and absorb your waste, using prevailing technology. -----Jim Merkel Units in acres or m 2 or PLANETS Ice Area?

Carbon Footprint n n If you died a year ago, how better off is the atmosphere? -- esteemed scholar Larry Foster Units in CO 2 lbs or kg kilograms?

Where Does CO 2 Come From? n From Natural Sources n From Human Activities All Natural Bear!

Combustion = CO 2 Fossil Fuels Credit: Deborah L. Williams

Global Temperature & CO 2 Ø The most carbon dioxide in 650, 000 years. (IPCC 2007) Credit: Deborah L. Williams 1. 8 Global Temperature Change (deg F) Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2006) 1000 Years of CO 2 and Global Temperature Change 1. 4 380 1. 1 360 0. 7 0. 4 CO 2 Temperature 340 0 320 -0. 4 300 -0. 7 -1. 1 1000 CO 2 Concentration (ppm) Ø Humans have increased carbon dioxide (CO 2) in the atmosphere by more than 35% since the Industrial Revolution. (National 280 1200 1400 1600 Year 1800 2000 Source: ACIA 2004 Jennifer Allen graphic

These Pollutants do What? – Global Fever Greenhouse gases cause the earth to heat up the same way that a person sleeping under a thick blanket in the summertime is too hot…or wearing a parka that is too thick. Our atmospheric “blanket” or “parka” is over 35% “thicker”. Thinner blanket is “just right”. Credit: Allison Butler Thick blanket traps too much heat.

Just in Case Your Were Wondering “Human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate. ” Conoco. Phillips “When 98% of scientists agree, who is Shell to say, ‘let’s debate the science’ [about global warming]? ” Shell Oil November 2006 “Recognizing the risk of climate change, we are taking actions to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our operations. ” Exxon Mobil December 2006 Credit: Deborah L. Williams

Danger Will Robinson – danger!! Who’s Will? n Most models UNDER estimate impacts and OVER estimate capacity.

Time to Compare n Experimenting with my students Call the IRB!

As of just three weeks ago! 80 Math? 70 Tons CO 2 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 Earths 10

Message of the Day! To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Reduce Your Ecological Footprint! Seems Too Simple

Computing the Ecological Footprint n n By hand: “Radical simplicity – small footprints on a finite Earth” by Jim Merkel Web model for Ecological Footprint: http: //www. myfootprint. org/en /visitor_information Do it now!

Computing the Carbon Footprint oh, that gas n n CO 2 Equivalence. Web model for Carbon Footprint: www. nature. org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator

Need a victim! n Just what is MY footprint? embarrassing!

So who cares. . . n Global Warming n Ocean Acidification hey stupid – I do!

Ocean Acidification n 525 BILLION tons of CO 2 into the Ocean in last 200 years n½ of Human Emissions MILLION BILLION lbs

But where is the Acid? n p. H goes from 8. 21 to 8. 1 in 200 years n Why? Drink a COKE! 7 -Up is better!

So what – just 0. 11! n Its all in the Math: 10^0. 11 Looks hard!

30% - yeeks! n Its all in the Math: 10^0. 11 ~ 30% forget swimming!

and Acids do what? n Sea life at the bottom of the food chain need calcium carbonate. n Acids bind with carbonate preventing shell formation I’m on top of this!

Did you flunk chemistry? Actually, an A+ n Its all about TUMS. n Great Web Source: Alaska Marine Conservation Council www. akmarine. org

Any more BAD News? Hot Chiles! n Business as usual: 10^0. 4 ~ 250% by end of century Miss 20 Million BCE?

But that’s the rest of the world! Bummer! n BAD NEWS – Impacts the cold polar and sub-polar regions first!

Impacts in Alaska n n Melting sea ice, glaciers & permafrost. Wildlife. Wetlands and forests Weather. People & Cultures. 1958 2003 Credit: Deborah Williams Matt Nolan photo n Austin Post photo Mc. Call Glacier

n. First Your Turn! - Do Your Foot Prints n Home Ideas n Work Ideas n At the Fridge! n Zipping Around n Going Neutral I’m already on it!

At Home n Turn it off – turn it down n Upgrade n Do an audit n Compost & recycle n 70 times Trash Off - stupid!

More Home Ideas n n Buy local – buy green Buy “Recycled – Post I don’t eat Greens! Consumer” Stop Junk Mail Don’t Forget: Reducing your Eco Print means Reducing your Carbon Print

and More Ideas for the Home “Plug It In” Engine Block Heaters & Timers Plug in when temperatures drop below 200 F. Use timers to activate heaters two hours before starting. Reduces air pollution and excessive engine wear.

Learn for Life!

My Favorite - Plant a Tree!

At work n Read UAA’s Energy Policy n Buy Energy Star n Green Purchasing n Zero – Waste! n “Recycle or Bust” n Reduce travel I’m working too!

Work Ideas – Stay Informed

More Work Ideas Go Paperless n Double Sided Printing n Ecoware / China for Lunches n Get a Water Bottle n Turn off Computer Monitors n Flip that Switch! Remember: Carbon follows Eco Footprint n

At the Fridge n Eat less meat n Buy local – buy organic n Buy seasonal n Don’t waste food n Experiment with your Eco Footprint Model less Meat?

Zipping around n Bike – walk n Car / van pool n Emissions ~ MPG n What about flying? Bike to Work Day May 21 4 x. Paw Power!

What if? n n Commuting Data – 18 Thousand Metric Tons of CO 2 One less trip to campus / week: - Avoided: Six Moon Commutes - Carbon Footprint Reduction: 7%

Free Rides Hiking Across Campus Free & Dependable Transportation Services and Alternatives U-Pass Seawolf Shuttle

Going Carbon Neutral is good if only I knew what that means! n Simple – making or buying offsets n Terra. Pass, STI, …. n Tax Credits n Corporations – Gov’t already moving Neutral Seems Simple!

Air Travel – HUGE Footprint Carbon Offset – Easy!

Just in case you Forgot! n. Vote!!! Voters taste better too!

So, …, does UAA have footprint? 45 thousand metric tons! n Metric ton? ?

the wicked details That’s a lot of gas!

Energy Friendly Practices Energy modules serving multiple buildings Energy Conservation, Heating set-backs Management and Policy De-lamping and upgrades Self-illuminating signs Lighting set-backs Electric heater amnesty Energy policy

More Energy Friendly Practices Using and Advancing Energy Friendly Technology Chancellor Elaine Maimon and UAA’s First Hybrid Vehicle.

Important Reading

n n January 2007: UAA’s Chancellor signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to reduce carbon emissions and take other actions toward sustainability. May 2007: Chancellor Ulmer reaffirms this commitment when she became UAA’s Chancellor.

Great UAA Resource n n UAA Office of Sustainability Paula Williams – Director - 786 -1515 & anpw@uaa. alaska. edu/sustainability Building a future for UAA and the Great Land through environmentally wise, economically sound, and socially responsible actions.

Your Homework! First - Do Your Foot Prints Surprised ? ? ?