CLIMATE CHANGE Impacts, Vulnerabilities and EPA WHAT IS CLIMATE - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CLIMATE CHANGE

Impacts, Vulnerabilities and EPA

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

noun a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE?

Climate change: How do we know?

This graph, based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides

THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING

IT’S CHANGING AT AN INCREASINGLY RAPID RATE…

OUTSIDE THE RANGE TO WHICH SOCIETY HAS ADAPTED IN THE PAST…

The past is no longer a good predictor of the future

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING?

1983-2013 Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters By State (CPI-Adjusted)

SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1951 – 1980

Frequency of Occurrence

Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012

Deviation from Mean

1 2 3 4 5

• 1
• 2
• 3
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Cooler than average Average Warmer than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1981 – 1991

Frequency of Occurrence Deviation from Mean

1 2 3 4 5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Cooler than average Average Warmer than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean

Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012

Extremely hot

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1991 – 2001

Frequency of Occurrence Deviation from Mean

1 2 3 4 5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Cooler than average Average Warmer than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean

Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012

Extremely hot

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 2001 – 2011

Frequency of Occurrence Deviation from Mean

1 2 3 4 5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Cooler than average Average Warmer than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean

Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012

Extremely hot

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

The “extreme” temperature events used to cover 0.1%

• f the Earth. Now

they cover 10%.

Percent increases in Very Heavy Precipitation Events (1958-2011)

OCEANS

OCEAN HEAT AND ACIDITY

Oceans have become warmer since 1955, though the rate of change can vary from year to year

Ocean Heat Content, 1955-2009

Ocean carbon dioxide levels have risen in response to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in acidity (that is, a decrease in pH)

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Relative Sea Level Changes Along US Coasts, 1960-2011 Relative sea level rose along much of the U.S. coastline between 1960 and 2011, particularly the Mid-Atlantic coast and parts of the Gulf coast, where some stations registered increases of more than 8 inches.

Data Source: NOAA, 2012

Sea Level

Average Rate ~ 1.8 mm/year 0.8 mm/year 2.0 mm/year 3.2 mm/year

Accelerating Sea Level Rise

Source: Church and White 2006, GRL 33:L01602 Courtesy R.S. Nerem

CURRENT SEA LEVEL

3 FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE

6 FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

„ Food production and agriculture „ Water resources „ Sea level rise and coastal areas „ Health „ Climate sensitive diseases „ Air quality (ozone, aeroallergins) „ Weather-related illness/death

(e.g., heat waves, storms)

„ Wildfires

POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS FOR THE SE Climate Changes

Temperature Sea Level Rise Precipitation

v Forestry resources v Energy, infrastructure, and settlements v Ecosystems and wildlife

SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IS REPRESENTED AS THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS THAT INFLUENCE A COMMUNITY’S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO, COPE WITH, RECOVER FROM, AND ADAPT TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.

ECOSYSTEM VULNERABILITY

AWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN

„ Reducing carbon pollution from

power plants

„ Building a 21st century

transportation sector

„ Cutting energy waste in homes,

businesses, and factories

„ Reducing methane and HFCs „ Preparing the U.S. for the

impacts of climate change

„ Leading international efforts to

address global climate change

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RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE – GENERALLY SPEAKING

Adapted from J. Penney, 2008, “Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Strategies,” Clean Air Partnership

Both

(leverage efforts that both reduce GHGs and build resiliency)

Mitigation

(efforts to reduce GHG emissions and atmospheric GHG concentrations)

Adaptation

(efforts to build resiliency to climate change impacts)

Example Activities

• Regulatory Action
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Carbon Sequestration

Example Activities

• Water management Plans
• Heat wave shelters
• Resilient roads/bridges
• Plans for migration

Examples Activities

• Green Roofs
• LEED Buildings
• Urban Forests

R e s e a r c h Sustainability

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This proposal will:

„ Reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants, for which there are

currently no national limits.

„ Maintain an affordable, reliable energy system. „ By 2030, reduce nationwide carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, from the power

sector by approximately 30% from 2005 levels.

„ Significant reductions begin by 2020. „ Cut hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful particle pollution, sulfur dioxide

and nitrogen oxides as a co-benefit.

„ Provide important health protections to the most vulnerable, such as children

and older Americans.

„ Lead to health and climate benefits worth an estimated $55 billion to $93

billion in 2030.

„ From soot and smog reductions alone, for every dollar invested through the

Clean Power Plan – American families will see up to $7 in health benefits.

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Clean Power Plan Summary

EXAMPLES OF HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS EFFECTING HOW EPA DOES BUSINESS

FLOODING

• Sewer Overflow
• Stormwater
• Pesticide Runoff

Drought/ Wildfires

• Particulate

Matter

• Low flow

streams Higher Temps.

• Air Quality
• Pesticide use
• Increased temps

for lakes and streams

OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT EPA CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN

http://epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/EPA-climate-change-adaptation-plan-final-for-public- comment-2-7-13.pdf

Ø Part 1: Vision of the Future EPA Ø Part 2: Known Vulnerabilities to EPA’s Mission from Climate

Change

Ø Part 3: Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in EPA:

Agency-wide priorities

Ø Part 4: Measuring and Evaluating Performance

Outline for EPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan

EXECUTIVE ORDER ON CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS

Goals:

1) Federal family is to review its policies and funding opportunities and insure that we are encouraging smart climate resiliency planning and reducing vulnerabilities to extreme weather events, and supporting the efforts of regions, States, local communities, and tribes, all agencies. 2) The second goal of the President’s Order is the creation of two committees - Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience and a State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. 3) Federal partners are to work together to develop and provide authoritative, easily accessible, usable, and timely data, information, and decision-support tools on climate preparedness and resilience. Released on November 1, 2013, this Executive Order directs Federal agencies to take a series

• f steps to make it easier for American communities to strengthen their resilience to extreme

weather and prepare for other impacts of climate change.

CLIMATE CHANGE EXERCISE

Vulnerability Assessment Of Coastal Community

HOW WILL MY DEPARTMENT BE EFFECTED?

Consider: ►Droughts ►Hurricanes ►Flooding ►Extreme Heat ►Sea level rise ►Ocean Acidity

Vulnerable Populations – Elderly, Children, Poor, Minority Health Department – Hospitals and Disease Control Tourism Board – Beach, rentals properties, hotels, deep sea fishing, restaurants Environmental Services – wetlands & marsh, drinking water, surface water, air quality

Fish & Wildlife – Endangered Species, National Forests and Parks, indigenous fish and animals Road & Infrastructure - Bridges, sea wall, wastewater facility, sewer system Agriculture – plant and animal, worker safety, pesticides Emergency Services – evacuation routes, ER visits, public safety

QUESTIONS