A Loss of more than just Agriculture

           Robin McKie, a science editor for the Observer, part of the Guardian, recently released an article entitled 'Climate Change 'will make hundred of millions homeless'' informing us of the carbon dioxide levels indicating a rise in temperatures leading to continental agricultural failure.  He tells us that millions will eventually be displaced from their current homes as an effect of global warming and climate change.  Temperatures are likely to rise up at 5 degrees Celsius which will cause a disruption in normal weather patterns including precipitation and drought.  There has been news of carbon dioxide levels reaching an astonishing 400 parts per million (ppm) with rates rising since the 1960's, now at 2.1 ppm/year.  Eventually these rising carbon dioxide emissions will create a feedback loop of rising temperatures to melting ice to loosing coastal lands and so on and so forth.  Changes need to happen and they need to happen soon.

The article can be found here: The Guardian | The Observer




McKie, Robin. " Climate change 'will make hundreds of millions homeless' | Environment | The Observer ." Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian . N.p., 11 May 2013. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/12/climate-change-expert-stern-displacement>.

President's Climate Commitment

           Westfield State University, unknowingly to most, is a part of The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), an effort for universities and other colleges to addressed global climate issues.  Those who are a part of the ACUPCC must have an emissions inventory, set milestones in orer to become climate neutral,  reduce greenhouse gas emissions using short-term actions, have sustainability in the curriculum, and create an action plan, inventory and progress reports, all publicly available.

           I think that the campus is making an effort toward reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.  We need to get our reports into the committee and possibly get more people actively involved in these steps.  I also believe that we have also begun to work towards more of the tangible actions that haven’t been listed on their website.  We have implemented the use of solar panels on the roofs of some of the academic buildings on campus, as well as putting in a new cooling system on Wilson Hall.  The solar panels are hooked up to monitors within Wilson Hall that gives you a reading of the amount of energy being generated as well, for all to see. 


           In the ACUPCC 2009 annual report Westfield State University was not in good standing as of December 31, 2009.  In the 2011 annual report Westfield State was in good standing with the President’s Climate Commitment, but they had no paid their membership dues for the 2010-2011 academic year.  On their website for reporting institutions Westfield State was supposed to have a greenhouse gas report in by January 15, 2013 and that is marked off in red, for not being in.  On the actual implementation profile for our campus there are two tangible actions that we have elected to move forward with, out of six options.  There is the establishment of a policy that new campus constructions will be built, at least to, U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standards, or equivalent.  We have written in that all new construction is required to build under the LEED Plus standards of Massachusetts Executive Order 484, and will be working on a similar policy for all local and campus construction projects.  The other tangible action is the encouragement of, and providing of, public transportation for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors of the institution.  The campus has a contract with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) for full transportation to and from the college on established routes and schedules during the academic school year (Figure 1).  They are looking to extend this to faculty and staff.  WSU is also a member of MassRide and works with them for rideshare incentives to reduce drive-alone trips.

ACUPCC. "Mission and History | Presidents' Climate Commitment." Home | Presidents' Climate Commitment.
                N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://presidentsclimatecommitment.org/about/mission-history>.

ACUPCC. "ACUPCC 2009 Annual Report."Home | Presidents' Climate Commitment. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2013. <http://www2.presidentsclimatecommitment.org>.

ACUPCC. "ACUPCC 2011 Annual Report."Home | Presidents' Climate Commitment. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2013. <http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org>.

ACUPCC. "ACUPCC Reports · Implementation Profile for Westfield State University." ACUPCC Reports · Reporting Institutions. N.p., 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 May 2013. <http://rs.acupcc.org/ip/8/>.

ACUPCC Reporting System. "ACUPCC Reports · Reporting Institutions." ACUPCC Reports · Reporting Institutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2013. <http://rs.acupcc.org/search/?abs=&q=Westfield%20State%20University>.

An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth was a movie released in 2006 that was a documentary from Al Gore on his campaign about the issue of global warming world wide.  He uses emotional images such as glacier size changes, nuclear bombs, and the destruction of Hurricane Katrina to evoke the viewers.  He also uses many metaphors and analogies throughout the film as well.  Such include flooding causing droughts, the earth breathing, and a frog in boiling water.  There is a bit of fluff throughout the movie as he puts into play random tidbits of his own life throughout the film but there is a good amount of information on this global disruption.

I think that in some cases the movie may be a good teaching tool, but at the same time I think it would be best for a specific crowd.  Maybe for people who already have an interest in the subject it would be a good way to further educate them on the matter.  It may be possible to have other people watch the movie and realize that there is a problem, but it isn’t for certain what would happen because everyone is so different.  


IMDB. "An Inconvenient Truth (2006)."IMDb - Movies, TV and Celebrities. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/>.

Wiki. "An Inconvenient Truth." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth>.

Books Books Books, pt 2

Throughout the past semester quite a few books about climate change, global warming, economy, and more have been suggested for some summer reading; here are some more:

The Tipping Point: How Little Things can Make a Big Difference

Malcolm Gladwell

Global Warming and Political Intimidation: How Politicians Cracked Down on Scientists as the Earth Heated Out

Raymond Bradley 

Paleoclimatology, Volume 68, Second Edition: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary 

Raymond Bradley

Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto

Stewart Brand

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why we Need a Green-Revolution - and How it Can Renew America

Thomas Friedman

Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming of Climate Catastrophe and Our Chance to Save Humanity

James Hansen

Where does the money go?

http://www.kulfoto.com/funny-pictures/24839/debt-crisis-third-world-and-climate-change

The cartoon illustrates how climate change has been on the back burner in comparison to other global issues that not only affect the United States, but the Earth.  As of lately, the debt crisis has been the center of peoples’ attention, causing other issues to be ignored.

Books Books Books

Throughout this past semester quite a few books about climate change, global warming, economics, and more have been suggested for some summer reading; here are a few:

Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet

Mark Lynas

 

Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization

Lester Brown

Can We Afford the Future?: The Economics of a Warming World

Frank Ackerman

The Global Deal: Climate Change and the Creation of a New Era of Progress and Prosperity

Nicholas Stern

The Green Initiative

     Holy Name Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School, located in Worcester, MA, has a green initiative project in the form of a wind turbine.  Kevin Schulte said that the site that was picked is perfect for a wind turbine and that it will be used for both educational purposes in future years but it will also get awareness about the need for renewable energies throughout the United States.  The project cost was $1.5 million dollars but the goal of the project is to be able to provide the school with electricity so it isn't bought through the grid.  More information about the Holy Name Green Initiative can be found here.

More Information: http://www.worcestermag.com/city-desk/top-news/Wind-Power-Partnership-celebrated-at-Holy-Name-165471466.html

Holy Name. "Holy Name - Green Initiative." Holy Name Junior Senior High School | What a 21st Century Catholic Schools Should Be . N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2013. <http://www.holyname.net/green/index.html>.

A Green Economy

      Paul Krugman was the winner of the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science.  He is also a columnist for The New York Times and has written multiple books.  Krugman is also a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

      In Krugman’s article, Building a Green Economy, he discusses negative externalities.  Negative externalities are costs that economic actors impost on others without paying a price for their actions.  In regards to climate change negative externalities refers to environmental legislations.  Such legislations include those that began in the 1970’s in regards to emission standards for cars and factories dumping into waterways.  There was also a recommendation of new coal-fired plants having scrubbers in order to remove sulfur dioxide from emissions in order to prevent acid rain.  These actions have helped to slow climate change and also to lower emissions.

       There is uncertainty about long-term forecasts of our future climates and they make the case for action in-fact stronger rather than weaker.  No one truly knows how much damage could result from the rising temperatures around the globe.  The risk of a catastrophe, even if it is a slight chance, should be a dominating factor in our decision making actions.  Projections that are seen now, without any action being taken, have been seen to be close to ‘doomsday’ predictions.  If there is any chance of something like this happening it isn’t too early to say that change needs to happen.  Older predictions of our current rise in temperature have been correct and it is time to take action for the future.

Source:  Building a Green Economy

Krugman, Paul. "Climate Change - Building a Green Economy - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. The New York Times, 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 6 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/magazine/11Economy-t.html?pagewants=all&_r=0>.