Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves: We Really Can Create a Sustainable World Louis Berger Washington, D.C. May 10, 2017 Ellen Moyer, Ph.D., P.E. Greenvironment, LLC
Purpose Purpose • Big picture • Big picture • We can succeed • We can succeed • Thrive • Thrive • Bust some myths • Bust some myths • Inspire action • Inspire action
My Story My Story • Environmental consultant • Environmental consultant • Biomass power plants • Biomass power plants • Upgrade urgently needed • Upgrade urgently needed This? Or this? This? Or this?
Where Are We? • Skyrocketing • Plummeting • Human population • Wildlife • Farm animal population • Plants • Greenhouse gases • Topsoil • Toxic chemicals • Aquifers • Chronic disease
“There are no plans at all for my grandchildren and my great grandchildren.” – Kurt Vonnegut, 2005
Today is the most exciting, most dangerous, and most important time to be alive in all of human history • Environment, health, economy, society at risk • Fear is natural • Remember the good stuff • Problems caused by success!
In Crisis Lies Opportunity In Crisis Lies Opportunity Medieval London Medieval London • Waste • Waste • Plague • Plague • War on filth • War on filth • New ways • New ways • New jobs • New jobs • Transformation • Transformation
In Crisis Lies Opportunity • Empire
In Crisis Lies Opportunity • Similar transformations • Paris 1700s • New York City 1800s • Today • GHGs and toxic chemicals • Chronic disease
One Action - Many Impacts Biomass Power Plant Protecting Forests Hurts climate Helps climate Hurts plants, animals, soil Helps plants, animals, soil Pollutes air Cleans air Pollutes water Cleans water Depletes water Protects supplies Hurts economy Helps economy Harms communities Can empower communities Hazardous jobs Healthy jobs
Already Have Full Toolbox • Decide what we want • Use our tools • Actions you can take • Actions we can take Time is our scarcest resource
Actions You Can Take • Minimize footprint • Maximize handprint • Health • Caring • Goals • Grow • Act
Actions We Can Take Actions We Can Take • Green our technology • Green our technology • Green our economy • Green our economy • Reclaim our power • Reclaim our democracy • Create social equality • Create social equality
Example Actions - Food You can • Choose organic • Less meat This? • Waste less food We can • Eliminate subsidies • Close revolving doors • Full disclosure • Ban toxics Or • Promote local, organic, humane this? • Gardens at schools • Share science
Focus on Climate • Dire • Global • Involves other areas
We Are Sacrificing Now • Death • Disease • Dislocation • Money • How we feel Costs will grow
Global GHG Sources Mostly carbon dioxide Plus: Methane Nitrous oxide Fluorinated gases
Example Climate Change Solutions • Technically easy • Don’t require sacrifice • Help climate • Also help • Other env. areas • Health • Economy
1 - Stop Subsidizing Fuel Burning • International Monetary Fund • Worldwide subsidies for fossil fuels in 2015: $5.3 trillion • Elimination: reduce global CO 2 emissions by 17%
2 - Stop Subsidizing Agriculture • Big industrial producers • High GHG emissions • Not local, fruits, veg, organic • Worldwide switch to organic • Ag could become carbon neutral • Reduce GHGs by 13%
3 - Stop Subsidizing Logging • U.S. forests remove 12% of U.S. GHG emissions • Reduce GHG emissions • Increase CO 2 uptake
4 - Provide Access to Modern Contraception • 2012 world population: • Growth = 80 million • Unintended pregnancies = 80 million • Population would stabilize • Reduce global C emissions 8% to 15%
5 - Energy Efficiency “One of the easiest and most cost -effective ways to combat climate change.” – U.S. DOE • Examples: • Improve the electric grid • Reduce standby power • Transportation, buildings, equipment
Barriers to Action • Inertia, busy • Not informed • Gradual nature • Overwhelmed • Time lag • Lack leadership
Barriers - continued • Confusion • “Technological evangelism” • Limiting beliefs • Destroy environment for economy • Special interests • Steer government • Citizens disillusioned
Why We Can Succeed • Awesome resumé • Vast experience living sustainably • Hardwired to care and cooperate • Longer and larger lives than ever • Amazing toolbox • Democracy • Intellectual freedom
Why We Can Succeed • Desire change • Abundant universe • Low-hanging fruit • We can choose hope • Helping feels good • Change already underway
Cities Pledging 100% Clean Energy • Aspen, Colorado • Copenhagen, Denmark • San Diego, California • Bonaire, The Caribbean • San Jose, California • Munich, Germany • San Francisco, California • Isle of Wight, England • Frankfurt, Germany
81 Companies Signed American Business Act on Climate Pledge • >9 million employees • >$3T in annual revenue • Examples: • Apple • General Mills • Proctor & Gamble • Walmart
81 Companies – Example Actions • Reduce GHG emissions • Invest and research • Sustainably sourced materials • Advocate • Make greener products • Collaborate • Long-term plans • Help environmental NGOs
81 Companies – Example Actions • Reduce waste • Plant trees • Increase recycling • Disclose performance • Use recycled-content materials • Green buildings • Use less water • Beneficial agriculture
Create an Economic Boom? Create an Economic Boom? • Current path • Current path • Widening income inequality • Widening income inequality • 1 in 5 dollars in U.S. spent on health care • 1 in 5 dollars in U.S. spent on health care • Green economy • Green economy • Short- and long-term wealth • Short- and long-term wealth • Health • Health • Put people to work implementing solutions • Put people to work implementing solutions
Historical Precedent Great Depression • New Deal, World War II • Economic boom • Throw-away society Great Recession • War on GHGs • Economic boom Restore America’s “can do” attitude • Green society
We Can Do This! • Technically easy solutions • Numerous benefits • Create an economic boom • Commitment • Action • Thrive now and later
Ellen Moyer, Ph.D., P.E., LEED Principal Greenvironment, LLC www.ellenmoyerphd.com ellenmoyer@em-green.com (413) 862-3452
Questions?
Large Engineering Firm • Sustainability reports • Green projects • Efficiency • Organizations • Two-sided printing • Green building improvements • Teleworking • Energy-efficient equipment • Recycling • Durable items • Recycled content • Conserve water • Talks and papers • Develop staff
Photo and Graphic Credits Slide 2: Ellen Moyer Slide 3: http://maforests.org/ Slide 3: Chris Matera Slide 7: http://www.traveldarkly.com/plague-pits-london/ Slide 8: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Palace_of_Westminster%2C_London_- _Feb_2007.jpg; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Queen_Victoria_1887.jpg Slide 11: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toolbox_(226362564).jpg Slide 12: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ripples_on_a_Woodland_Pond_-_geograph.org.uk_- _1690526.jpg Slide 14: Istockphoto.com/Bubbers13; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pamela_Ronald_and_Raoul_Adamchak_on_the_UC_Davis_certified_ organic_farm._Photo_credit_Pico_van_Houtryve,_picophotos.jpg Slide 15: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photo- like_view_of_Earth_is_based_largely_on_observations_from_MODIS.jpg Slide 16: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Dimmitt_Tornado1_-_NOAA.jpg Slide 17: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html Slide 18: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AlfedPalmersmokestacks.jpg
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