This is a presentation that CLimate Reality Leader Scott and San Diego CRP Chair, Cherry did on 6/3/19 for the Roosevelt Middle School.
As always, it was and adventure.
:~)
San DIego Climate Reality Leaders meet with Congressman, Scott Peters
On Thursday, May 30, Climate Reality Leader Scott Murray met with fellow Climate Reality Leader, Congressman Scott Peters. With Members of the Sunrise Movement and San Diego 350, Scott requested that Congressman Peters cosponsor the Green New Deal resolution, agree not to accept contributions from the fossil fuel industry, and to host a town hall meeting to discuss climate change. There was agreement on the importance of addressing the climate crisis, but some differences in the scope and scale of approaches needed toward the solutions. Congressman Peters agreed to consider the contribution request and the town hall meeting.
With Climate Reality Leadership Training you realize you are part of a much larger group of people concerned about the climate crisis. Through activism, you can increase your impact, working with other groups to speak truth to power. Those are valuable skills that make a positive difference in this crisis. We have the tools available right now to stop the damage from polluting fossil fuels. We need even more caring people to help fight as if your world depends on it. Because it does!
A Brief Climate Change interview with Climate Leader, T. Brian Jones
I was recently asked if I could help some students with a Climate Change research project. They had a list of questions that I answered for them, and I thought the general discussion would be great to share here. I could answer any of these questions with pages of information, but this was my quick response to their team.
What is your occupation? Credentials, titles, schooling?
Volunteer Chair of Business Education for the San Diego chapter of The Climate Reality Project. Chief Technology Officer of a Software Company. Former manufacturing Engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Science communicator on Zengineering Podcast (many climate change interviews and episodes).
What are the major influences of climate change? Is it really caused by humans?
Climate change as is discussed right now is a direct result of pollution humans have released into the atmosphere since the start of the industrial revolution. It's specifically caused by Carbon in the form of CO2 from the combustion and general processing of Fossil Fuels for use in fuels, fertilizers, construction, energy production, etc., etc... Methane from industrial agriculture is another big contributor as are some other greenhouse gasses, but Carbon is the major threat.
It's important to recognize that all types of pollution are NOT contributors specifically to global warming and climate change. The primary concern and main cause of warming the planet and the oceans, and ocean acidification, is the release of more Carbon into the atmosphere than is naturally cycled by the planet's biosphere.
How does climate change affect human health?
The excess carbon being released into the atmosphere and the bi-products of combustion are extremely harmful for your health and our environment. As are many other products that come from these industries: plastics, building materials, industrial use of petroleum based fertilizers, etc. Imagine breathing exhaust from a car. You won’t survive long.
Global warming itself is currently and already creating extreme weather conditions that will continue to make parts of the planet that are currently inhabited, uninhabitable. It is also contributing to mass migrations (plants, animals AND humans) that will interrupt global geopolitical stability. It is very hard to scientifically attribute these affects directly to Carbon emissions, but it is indisputable in my mind that the connection is there. The Syrian civil war was in part forced by mass migrations from extreme drought in the region, for example, which is absolutely contributed to, in some degree, by global climate change.
It’s important not to overstate the correlations here, but generally speaking, there are a lot of very unhealthy industrial, commercial, and individual activities that are enabled by our reliance on fossil fuel based infrastructure. This answer requires more detail and subtlety than I’m able to give in this short response.
How does climate change affect environments? Biodiversity? Resources?
Climate change makes it more difficult or impossible for life to thrive in the way it has been accustomed to. This means animals and plants that can't move or successfully adapt will suffer and or die in those regions. The entire biosphere is being affected. One of the problems is that changes like what we're experiencing right now, have happened many times throughout the Earth's history, but they are today happening at a rate that is more equivalent to a major global natural disaster. It's hard for life of all kinds to adapt that quickly (think, hundreds of years rather than millions of years to migrate and evolve). Many plants and animals will die. Many will actually thrive in new areas too. Life will unquestionably continue on earth, but its form and diversity will be altered dramatically and forever.
What are ways we as individuals can prevent further damage?
Have this conversation every day and make every decision with the planet and the health of our environments in mind. Reduce waste. Eat less beef, sheep, chicken, and fish (in that order). Do everything you can to reduce your carbon footprint by using less energy and buying fewer NEW things. Spend money on experiences that employ other humans rather than on stuff for your house. Vote for policy and leaders that understand climate change and are working to change global behaviors. Realize that to solve this problem will require massive efforts from global governments and businesses, and some new technological innovations that simply are not available yet. Massive investment in these areas will be required.
If our individual carbon footprint won’t create a big change why should anyone bother?
Global Policy won't change if individual behavior doesn't change because individuals won't educate themselves or care. That means your purchases won't drive businesses in sustainable directions, and your votes won't be cast for leaders that will govern for change. Think globally but act locally. Additionally, many of the largest projects in the United States are being driven by states, cities, towns, and universities. Do not overlook the impact a major city, for example, can have when it makes changes that clean up its environment, improves the health of its citizens, and creates environmentally sustainable business opportunities.
Why is it that a significant part of the population disregards climate change?
EDUCATION and TRIBALISM. Some people don't understand what's going on and the complexity and fear surrounding the topic is too much for them to accept. The nature of climate change means that everything the modern world is built upon is contributing in some manner to what is happening. This means the problem is vast and scary, and the science and technology is extraordinarily complicated. It's hard to believe that little tiny humans can affect this giant planet.
Humans also naturally form extremely polarized social environments where people believe whatever the group they associate with tells them to believe even when they don't have enough information to form an honest opinion. This serves a purpose sometimes, but is dangerous. Do your own research. Make up your own mind. Stand up as an individual and take responsibility for your world and the lives of the people around you.
How does the education system stand in providing curriculum regarding climate change?
It does an ok job. I find that the concept of climate change is rolled up in a confusing way with the general topic of environmentalism. Pollution in the oceans, and extinction of animals, and recycling, etc. etc… are all part of the conversation, but the dramatic global existential threat to our world is very specifically TOO MUCH CARBON POLLUTION IN OUR ATMOSPHERE. Getting plastics out of the ocean solves a symptom of the real problem. Both need to be addressed, but one is more immediately important.
Very specifically, I believe we also need to teach more history of the Earth. Understanding geologic timeframes and the changes the Earth has been through in the past will help people understand the dramatic affect we're having on the current biosphere of the planet, and how to address the problems.