Through the glass darkly- uncertainty, climate chaos & Water policy reform challenges
Climate Chaos
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Transcript of Climate Chaos
Climate ChaosClimate Chaos
Climate Chaos – A BIG Aussie Issue
Nicky Ison
The briefest of brief intro’s to The briefest of brief intro’s to climate change scienceclimate change science
Caused by increasing amounts of Caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmospheredioxide in the atmosphere
This causes a COThis causes a CO22 blanket around the blanket around the earth, trapping the heat earth, trapping the heat
Increased heat changes the Earth’s Increased heat changes the Earth’s climatic systemsclimatic systems
Some Climate Change StatisticsSome Climate Change Statistics
In 100 years the Earth has warmed by ~ 0.7ºC. In 100 years the Earth has warmed by ~ 0.7ºC.
The concentration of COThe concentration of CO22 in the atmosphere has in the atmosphere has increased from 280ppm to 380ppm in the last 100 increased from 280ppm to 380ppm in the last 100 years – 31% increase. years – 31% increase.
The difference in global temperatures between now The difference in global temperatures between now and the last ice age ~ 5ºC and the last ice age ~ 5ºC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts temperatures will rise between 1.4 – 5.8ºC. predicts temperatures will rise between 1.4 – 5.8ºC.
In AustraliaIn Australia
We are addicted to fossil fuels:We are addicted to fossil fuels: Subsidised annually to the tune of $9 billionSubsidised annually to the tune of $9 billion Largest coal exporting nation – 29% of Largest coal exporting nation – 29% of
global coal exportsglobal coal exports
We have energy intensive export We have energy intensive export industries – aluminum industries – aluminum
Stationary energy (electricity) accounts Stationary energy (electricity) accounts for 48% of our emissionfor 48% of our emission
ASEN Clean Energy CampaignASEN Clean Energy Campaign
Why?Why?
We are students – Universities and We are students – Universities and education institutions are our sphere of education institutions are our sphere of influenceinfluence
Universities are huge energy consumers, by Universities are huge energy consumers, by changing their systems we can changing their systems we can significantly influence the energy sector. significantly influence the energy sector.
ASEN is campaigning forASEN is campaigning for
Purchasing Renewable EnergyPurchasing Renewable Energy
Onsite Renewable Energy GenerationOnsite Renewable Energy Generation
Increased energy efficiencyIncreased energy efficiency
Green-buildingsGreen-buildings
Reduction in Universities’ greenhouse gas Reduction in Universities’ greenhouse gas emissionsemissions
Some SuccessesSome Successes
Monash University – 20% energy Monash University – 20% energy reduction by 2010, $300,000 per reduction by 2010, $300,000 per year energy fund, staff position to year energy fund, staff position to focus on energy reductionsfocus on energy reductions
ANU – 20% purchase of Greenpower ANU – 20% purchase of Greenpower by end 2006by end 2006
ASEN Climate Working groupASEN Climate Working group
On the ground campus campaignsOn the ground campus campaigns
National initiatives to support these National initiatives to support these campaigns campaigns Campus Climate Challenge ScorecardCampus Climate Challenge Scorecard National Call in day to the Australian National Call in day to the Australian
Vice Chancellor’s CommitteeVice Chancellor’s Committee
We need a paradigm shiftWe need a paradigm shift
““Warming (and warming alone), through its primary antidote Warming (and warming alone), through its primary antidote
of withdrawing carbon from production and consumption, is of withdrawing carbon from production and consumption, is
capable of realizing the environmentalist’s dream of an capable of realizing the environmentalist’s dream of an
egalitarian society based on rejection of economic growth egalitarian society based on rejection of economic growth
in favor of a smaller population’s eating lower on the food in favor of a smaller population’s eating lower on the food
chain, consuming a lot less, and sharing a much lower level chain, consuming a lot less, and sharing a much lower level
of resources much more equally” (Ray Evans, Nine Lies of resources much more equally” (Ray Evans, Nine Lies
about Global Warming)about Global Warming)
Clean Energy RevolutionClean Energy Revolution
With Climate Change as the imperative With Climate Change as the imperative we can create a clean energy future!we can create a clean energy future!