Past Climate Change Changes in climate are not new Earth has experienced long cycles of

global warming and cooling Scientists have theories about why the

climate changes over long periods of timeSun intensity, earth’s tilt, etc.

The past 1000 years have been very stable – but the last century has encountered extremely unusual trends

Greenhouse Effect The sun and the greenhouse gasses in the

earth troposphere keep earth warm and hospitableWater, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide

The greenhouse effect keeps us alive Last century greenhouse gas emissions have

skyrocketed More greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere

trap the heat of the solar rays that reach earth So, the more greenhouse gasses the more

heat stays on earth

Human Impact of Climate Change Clear link between our emissions and the

rise in global temperature Industrial Revolution sent CO2 emissions

and the global temperature on a rapidly increasing trend

We add to global warming by:Using fossil fuels, burning coal for electricity,

cutting down forests, burning waste, and in tons of other ways – these are the most common and easily understood ways

Indicators of Climate Change The earth is the hottest it has even been in 1000

years Since 1900, the average global temperature has

risen .6-.8°C with most of this increase since 1980 10 warmest years since the 1800s has been since

1990 In the last 50 years, arctic temperatures have risen

twice as fast as the temperature over the equator Glaciers and sea ice are melting at alarming rates “Permanent” Permafrost is melting in Alaska and

Siberia Over the last century the sea level rose 20cm

Some Effects of Climate Change Melting snow and ice Will cause sea levels to rise and throw off currents

Rising sea levels Will displace millions and harm our ability to produce food

Changing ocean currents Will alter weather patterns and make inhabited areas uninhabitable and farmable

areas useless Warmer and more acidic seas

Will also alter weather patterns and have catastrophic effects like those of the changing ocean currents

Changes in weather Will make inhabited areas uninhabitable or un-farmable

Lowering of biodiversity Will cause extinctions – the extinction rate is already 1000x what it was 1000

years ago Overall decrease in farming and fishing

Lower our ability to produce food and feed the growing population Increase death rate Severely harm people’s way of life

Rising Sea Levels By 2100

High projection +88cmMedium projection +50cmLow projection +10cm

Flooding of coastal areas with massive populations:Ex. New York, London, Buenos Aires,

Shanghai, etc. Submerge low-lying islands in Pacific

Ex. Maldives

Rising Sea Levels Continued Contaminate coastal aquifers with

saltwaterWould leave many developing countries

without water Flood agricultural lowlands and deltas in

southeast AsiaDisplacing millions of peopleDestroying Asia’s main food source (rice)

Disrupt other food sourcesAgriculture and Fisheries

Effects on People Heat stress will be more frequent and kill more and more

people – especially elderly and sick The spread of malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever will

increase – especially in developing countries More insects, and pests that will harm human populations

and food sources Flooding and drought will produce 150-250 million

environmental refugees An estimated 150,000 people die from a cause linked to

climate change Number expected to double by 2030 Number expected to be in the millions by the next century

Cultures are being destroyed and populations, especially in developing countries, and starting to feel the effects of climate change, but this is only the beginning

Highland Dwelling People of Peru

The potato is a very important crop for the highland dwelling people of Peru

Climate change has lead to warmer temperatures for this region which has made the potatoes susceptible to a plant disease that caused the Irish potato famine

Similarly to Ireland, for these people the potato is not just a food but it is a part of their culture and a necessity that they cannot live without

Communities in the mountains of Peru that are being effected by the loss of the potato are being forced to move – those who are not are facing many deaths in their communities due to lack of food

Indigenous Tribes of the Amazon

Deforestation in the Amazon to make roads not only eliminates trees that clean CO2 out of the atmosphere but also aids in the spread of Malaria

The road construction creates puddles that are perfect habitats for infected mosquitoes

This is a prime example of how the contributors of global warming such as deforestation and air pollution not only cause global warming but hurt people as well – this is a very common trend in global warming contributors

Greek People of Crete This summer a heat wave

hit Crete that the islanders will never forget

Temperatures caused wildfires, electricity blackouts and deaths

Farmland on the island has dried up, some of which has not recovered for this years farming season

This is a great example of how a slight change in weather patterns can greatly impact a community

Kenyan Tribes Water is becoming scarcer in

many parts of Africa due to an increasingly dryer climate due to climate change

Kenya is one place where water is becoming a source of conflict

Kenyan tribes are battling and raiding each other’s villages killing tons of people for access to resources

The resources are shrinking and water wars are not just anticipated, they have started

Tuareg Tribes of the South Sahara

The Tuareg people have a culture of being nomads who wander around Africa just south of the Saharan desert

They live off their animals and survive by breeding and trading them

Recently, the Tuareg people have been forced to settle down and farm in one place due to drought caused by an increasingly dryer climate in northern Africa – their traditional way of life is no longer sustainable

This is a good example of how climate change can even destroy cultures and traditional ways of life

Residents of the Niger Delta

Nigeria is Africa’s top oil exporting nation The gas companies located in Nigeria

have been burning off unwanted natural gas released during oil production

This flaring of unwanted gas emits more CO2 and greenhouse gases more than any other single source in Africa south of the Sahara

The residences living around the area are feeling the effects of the oil companies doing this

Many chronic health and environmental problems have been increasingly problematic in the surrounding areas

The burning off of this unwanted gas is ruining lives and adding to global climate change – a very common trend

Tibetan Buddhists The Mingyong glacier is melting on the

Tibetan plateau. Scientists project that the glacier is

receding at about 150 feet per year The residences of a small village

surrounding the glacier are Buddhist, and the glacier is one of the most holy peaks in the Buddhist tradition

The disappearance of this holy place will be a disaster for the Buddhist religion

In addition, if the glacier shrinks or disappears, the number of people that will go through the village will diminish and the village’s source of income will be gone

This is an example of how even a religion can be hurt as an effect of climate change and global warming

People of the Maldives The Maldives is a nation

in the Indian Ocean made up of small low-lying islands

80% of the 1,192 islands that make up the nation lie less than 1 meter above sea level

If sea levels rise at the project rate, the country will be under water and its 295,000 inhabitants will be forced to migrate

Urban Populations of Developed Countries

70,000 Europeans died during a heat wave four summers ago

Chicago, London, Athens and Tokyo have had epidemics of fatal heat stroke

These heat waves will become more and more frequent and become more and more intense as climate change continues

Large cities toward the equator will be hit the hardest, but the heat will spread north and south from the equator

The developed world is not exempt from the effects of global warming though we have resources to make it less of a bother

Farmers in Australia Australia is the driest

inhabited continent Most of Australia is getting

even drier, putting most ranchers at risk of their farmland becoming useless while a few ranchers are actually seeing an increase of rain on their farm

This is common and a trend that will be seen around the world – some may actually benefit from the changes (i.e. Canada), but most will not

The cons heavily outweigh the pros

Venetians Venetians no longer live on

the ground floor Rising sea levels have

caused the entire city to move upstairs

The water is now 11 inches higher than it was 100 years ago

This has caused many of the buildings to flood and become useless

A vital part of Italian culture will soon have to be abandoned if climate change continues on its current path

Dealing With Global Warming Cutting fossil fuels Shift to more efficient energy sources Transfer energy efficiency to developing

countries Reduce deforestation Use more sustainable agriculture Reduce poverty Slow population growth

What You Can Do Drive a fuel-efficient car, bike, carpool, and use

mass transit Use energy efficient windows Use energy efficient appliances and lights Heavily insulate your home Use compact fluorescent light bulbs Plant trees Wash laundry in warm or cold water Use low-flow shower head Buy products from companies who support the

environmental movement Demand that government make climate change an

urgent priority

Our Duty We are the one’s who are capable of making this

change It is our duty to do so for the sake of all those who

will be the most greatly impacted – the impoverished

We do not feel the consequences, but it is our duty to ameliorate the situation

Do your part, in every way you are helping prevent climate change you are helping the impoverished people of the world

It is all of our duties to be a steward of the earth Take part in a mission trip through your own home

– go green!

Sources http://www.npr.org http://www.epa.gov http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/

aboutcc/ www.edf.org www.globalwarming.org www.cosum.org/global_warming_as_a_stewardship.html

Living Justice and Peace