What you need to know

1
GLOBAL WARMING... WHAT IS IT AND HOW
CAN WE PREVENT IT!?

• What you need to know
• By the children of P.S.173

2
What is Global Warming?

• Global Warming is an increase of the average
  temperature of our earths atmosphere, especially
  a sustained increase able to cause climatic
  change.

3
Why should we care?

• Because the earth is getting so warm, its
  destructing things. For instance
• In 2002, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon endured
  their worst wildfire seasons ever.
• Also that same year, droughts were creating
  severe dust storms in Montana, Colorado, and
  Kansas and floods caused hundreds of millions of
  dollars in damage in Texas, Montana, AND North
  Dakota!
• Since the 50s, snow fall has decreased about
  60 and winter seasons have shortened in some
  areas of the Cascade Range in Oregon and
  Washington.
• In 2003, heat waves killed over 20,000 people
  in Europe and more than 1,500 deaths in India.
• And in the Arctic area, the perennial polar
  ice cap is declining at a rate of 9 per decade!

4
Whats going to happen if we dont try to stop
it?

• If we dont try to put a stop to all the
  madness, many things may occur like
• Melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe
  droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages
  in the American West
• There will be rising sea levels that will lead
  to coastal flooding on the Eastern seaboard in
  Florida, and in other areas, such as the Gulf of
  Mexico.
• There will be a lot of trouble in forests,
  farms, and cities that have to do with more
  mosquito diseases and other pests.
• And worse of all, there will be a disruption
  of habitats such as coral reeds, and alpine
  meadows that could drive many plant and animal
  species to EXTINCTION!

5
What are the natural causes of Global Warming?

• There are many causes of global warming such as
  
• Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is
  being collected in the air acts like a thickening
  blanket
• It traps the suns heat and causes the entire
  planet to warm up
• Coal burning power plants are the largest U.S.
  source of carbon dioxide pollution they produce
  over 2.5 billion tons each year.
• Automobiles also cause carbon dioxide
  pollution

6
Is there any good news to this?

• Yes there is! There is
• Technology the technology that lives today
  makes the cars run cleaner and burn less gas now
  thats smart!
• It also modernizes power plants and generates
  electricity from nonpolluting sources that cuts
  our electricity use through energy efficiency
• The only thing is can we put these solutions
  to use?!

7
What is the government doing about it?

• In February of 2004, consultants to the
  Pentagon released a report showing the
  possibilities of impacts of abrupt climate change
  on national security. The study also concluded
  that global warming could make large areas of the
  world un-livable and could cause massive food and
  water shortages, giving widespread migrations and
  war!
• Many of global warming attacks effects are
  already going under high investigation.

8
Which country is the largest source by global
warming pollution?

• The United States is the largest source of
  global warming! Although Americans make up only
  4 of the worlds population, we can produce up
  to 25 of the carbon dioxide pollution from
  fossil-fuel burning the largest share of any
  country.
• In fact the United States emits more carbon
  dioxide than China, India, and Japan combined.
  Apparently America needs to take a time out and
  think about what theyre doing! And they should
  start doing something about it.

9
What is the Greenhouse Effect?

• It may be hard to believe that people may change
  the earths average temperature. Scientists think
  that the things we do affect Earth, letting out
  Greenhouse Gases. The Greenhouse effect is
  important. Without the Greenhouse effect, the
  Earth would not be warm enough for humans to
  live. But if the Greenhouse effect becomes
  stronger, the Earth may become warmer than the
  temperature that usually occurs. Even a little
  extra heat can cause harm to us, animals humans
  and plants.

10
How can we cut this stuff short?

• Its actually quite simple. By just
  reducing the amount of pollution from vehicles
  and power plants we can make the world a better
  place. Right away we should put good existing
  technology to good use, you know, building
  cleaner cars and more modern electricity
  generators into widespread use. We could increase
  our reliance on renewable energy sources such as
  wind, sun, and geothermal. And we can manufacture
  more efficient appliances and conserve energy.

11
Why isnt the technology more commonplace now?

• Even though the technology is around, the
  corporate and political will to put them into
  widespread use does not exist. Many companies in
  the automobile and energy businesses put pressure
  on the White House and Congress to stop the new
  laws and regulations as they would not make the
  business they do now. They dont want to have
  such changes because then the amount of money
  would go down rather than up. It would totally
  destroy their industries. If we want progress,
  were going to have to demand it and be a little
  more persuasive.

12
Is it even possible to cut power plant pollution
short and still have enough electricity?

• Of course! First we must use more efficient
  appliances and equipment in our homes and offices
  to reduce our electrical needs. We can take out
  the old, and bring in the new, you know? For
  example
• We can take out the coal-burning power plants
  that generate most of our electricity and use
  cleaner plants instead.
• We can increase our use of renewable energy
  sources such as the wind and sun. Some states are
  moving in that direction, actually. California
  has required its largest utilities to get 20 of
  their electricity from renewable sources by 2017,
  and New York has pledged to compel power
  companies to provide 25 of the states
  electricity from renewable sources by 2013.

13
How can we cut car pollution short?

• There is in fact technology to reduce the global
  warming pollution from cars and light trucks of
  all sizes are available at this moment! Theres
  no point to just sit around and hope that
  hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will solve the
  problem in the future. Hybrid gas-electric
  engines can cut global warming pollution by
  one-third or more today. Honda and Toyota have
  hybrid sedans on the market, and minivan and SUV
  models will soon be on the market from numerous
  companies.
• Unfortunately, automakers arent doing all
  they can do. Theyve being using a legal loophole
  to make SUVs less fuel efficient than they could
  be. And its not like it doesnt matter because
  the model isnt big the model is HUGE! The
  popularity of these vehicles has generated a 20
  increase in transportation-related carbon dioxide
  pollution since the early 1990s. Closing the
  loophole and requiring SUVs, minivans and pick-up
  trucks to be as efficient as cars would cut 120
  million tons of carbon dioxide pollution a year
  by 2010. If they used the technology they have at
  this moment to raise fuel economy standards for
  new cars and light trucks to a combined 40mpg,
  carbon dioxide pollution would eventually drop
  650 million tons per year as these vehicles
  replaced older models.
• For more information you can go to
• http//www.nrdc.org/breakthechain/howto1.asp.Or
• http//www.nrdc.org/air/energy/ffuelcl.asp.

14
What can WE do?

• Ok, so now you know what they can do but what
  can WE do? You can do a lot of things a couple
  things are
• Make your voice louder. We need laws that will
  bring our nation to the important solutions of
  global warming.
• Choose an efficient vehicle A car that gets 20
  mpg (miles per gallon) will emit about 50 tons of
  carbon dioxide over its entire lifetime. A car
  getting 40 mpg will emit half that much. When
  buying your car you should make sure that you buy
  the least-polluting car.
• Drive smart. Get your engine fired up and keep
  your tired inflated at all times. Those things
  will definitely help energy.
• Drive less. When you can, pick alternatives such
  as public transportation, biking, walking, and
  maybe even carpooling.
• Replace your light bulbs with compact
  fluorescent bulbs. They might be more expensive
  than the incandescent bulbs most people use, they
  last 10 times longer!
• Choose renewable energy over everything else.
  If you live in a state that you can pick the type
  of energy you want, you should pick renewable
  energy.
• Join NRDC. You can help secure the changes that
  will stop global warming by joining NRDC, one of
  the most effective environmental groups in the
  country.

15
Thank You

• I hope after listening to the few but true
  points you make the right choice. There is so
  much that can be done for this town, this state,
  this country, but most importantly this world.
  Living on this earth you notice the little things
  like daisies growing on fresh green grass, or the
  clouds forming into your favorite past-time
  favorite characters from baby books you read in
  kindergarten. The world has done so much for you,
  now its time you do something for the world.
• Thank you for your
  cooperation.