Download Climate Change?

Climate change
climate change
Climate Change
• The most urgent issue of our time
• Not ‘just’ an environmental issue
• It threatens our health, our jobs, our
way of life
What is Climate Change?
• Climate change is a process that involves global
warming and the enhanced greenhouse effect
• The greenhouse effect is a process where
greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun
What are greenhouse gases?
• Gases that absorb and trap heat
• Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide
Without
Greenhouse
Gases
Without Greenhouse Gases18°C
-18°C
Greenhouse Gases in Action
Atmosphere
15°C
So What Is Global Warming?
• Larger amounts of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere are trapping more of the sun’s
heat than normal
Global Warming In Action
Atmosphere
16, 17, 18, 19, 20°C?
As carbon dioxide increases so does the
global temperature
Global temperatures will
keep rising
• Climate change is already visible
• The greater the temperature increases the
more severe the consequences will be
• Temperature rise is estimated to be between
2oC and 5.8oC if we continue to pollute as we
are
what causes
Climate Change?
• Human beings are causing the
planet to heat up
• Burning fossil fuels is the main
cause of this global warming
In Australia, there are 3 main
sources of carbon dioxide
1. Coal power stations producing
electricity
Most of Australia’s energy
comes from coal power
• Coal is the most
greenhouse polluting
electricity source
2. Traffic
Australians often drive
when they don’t have to
• Over 1/3 of car
journeys in
Australian cities are
less than 3km
3. Deforestation
About 1/7 of Australia's
greenhouse gas emissions
are created by land clearing
• Forests absorb carbon
dioxide from the air
• Burnt and rotting timber
gives off greenhouse gases
what are
the consequences of
What are the consequences of
Climate
Change?
Climate
Change?
Water shortage
Three times more
drought by 2070
Rising tides
Rising sea levels,
up to 1m by 2100
will cause millions
to lose their homes
• 150 million climate
refugees within 50
years
• Parts of XXXX
may be under
water
Coral Reefs
Elevated sea
temperatures can
cause coral
bleaching
• The Great Barrier
Reef may be dead
within 20 years
Loss of biodiversity
• Most of the world’s wetlands are
threatened
• Up to 37% of all species may be
extinct by 2050 from climate change
alone
what are the solutions to
Climate Change?
Energy efficiency and reduction
A change in behaviour can change a lot:
• Ride your bike
• Turn off lights
• Use energy saving light globes
• Turn down you hot water system
• Turn down your air conditioner
• Turn things off at the switch
Saving energy saves money
• Use cold water for washing clothes
$75
• Reduce standby energy use
$35
• Use 4 low energy light globes
$60
• Install a water saving shower head
$47
• Installing proper ceiling insulation
$150
• Use gas instead of electricity
$83
• Energy efficient washing machine and fridge
$52
• Cycle 40 km’s a week instead of driving
$770
Total
$1337
Renewable energy
A source of energy that
uses a regenerative
natural process:
• Solar
• Wind
• Hydroelectric
• Biomass
• Wave technology
• Geothermal
Renewable energy - a comparison
Renewable energy will have created nearly
one million jobs in Europe by 2010:
• Sweden already uses 48% renewable energy
• Spain already uses 26% renewable energy
• Denmark will uses 29% renewable energy by
2010
Australia uses 8% renewable energy
A common question…
If the wind or sun stops, doesn’t the electricity
stop?
• The short answer is no. Different locations are not
affected by exactly the same wind or sun patterns
• Also, in Germany wind forecasters can tell 48 hours in
advance how much electricity they will generate
• Biomass and wave power are constant like coal power
Will nuclear power stop
climate change?
What is nuclear power?
• Nuclear power involves splitting a uranium atom
• This produces loads of energy and multiple different
atoms which decay and release radiation
• Radiation may be released for hundreds of thousands of
years
Will nuclear power stop climate change?
Too dirty - Greenhouse gas emissions from mining,
enrichment, transport and infrastructure
Too slow - It takes at least 15 years to build a nuclear
power reactor
Too dangerous - Nuclear waste is dangerously radioactive
now and for hundreds of thousands of years. There is no
safe way to store it and there are security threats posed
by terrorists
Too expensive - For example, it is seven times more
expensive than energy reductions
Will nuclear power stop climate change?
“Nuclear power and the uranium mining
industry are neither financially or
environmentally sustainable … The positive
greenhouse impacts could be equally
obtained … in the renewable energy sector”
- AMP Capital Investors
WE CAN ALL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
• Ride your bike or catch public transport
• Get your home or school to purchase Green
Power – energy from renewable sources
• Organise a ‘ride to school’ day or get recycling at
school
• Tell politicians you care – write them letters
or call them