Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves: We Really Can Create a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Our Earth, Our Species, Our Selves: We Really Can Create a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Oct 12, 2022 348 likes •765 views

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

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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

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SLIDE 2

Purpose

  • Big picture
  • We can succeed
  • Thrive
  • Bust some myths
  • Inspire action

Purpose

  • Big picture
  • We can succeed
  • Thrive
  • Bust some myths
  • Inspire action
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SLIDE 3

My Story

  • Environmental consultant
  • Biomass power plants
  • Upgrade urgently needed

This? Or this?

My Story

  • Environmental consultant
  • Biomass power plants
  • Upgrade urgently needed

This? Or this?

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  • Plummeting
  • Wildlife
  • Plants
  • Topsoil
  • Aquifers

Where Are We?

  • Skyrocketing
  • Human population
  • Farm animal population
  • Greenhouse gases
  • Toxic chemicals
  • Chronic disease
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SLIDE 5

“There are no plans at all for my grandchildren and my great grandchildren.” – Kurt Vonnegut, 2005

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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!
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In Crisis Lies Opportunity

Medieval London

  • Waste
  • Plague
  • War on filth
  • New ways
  • New jobs
  • Transformation

In Crisis Lies Opportunity

Medieval London

  • Waste
  • Plague
  • War on filth
  • New ways
  • New jobs
  • Transformation
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SLIDE 8

In Crisis Lies Opportunity

  • Empire
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SLIDE 9

In Crisis Lies Opportunity

  • Similar transformations
  • Paris 1700s
  • New York City 1800s
  • Today
  • GHGs and toxic chemicals
  • Chronic disease
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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

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Already Have Full Toolbox

  • Decide what we want
  • Use our tools
  • Actions you can take
  • Actions we can take

Time is our scarcest resource

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Actions You Can Take

  • Minimize footprint
  • Maximize handprint
  • Health
  • Caring
  • Goals
  • Grow
  • Act
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Actions We Can Take

  • Green our technology
  • Green our economy
  • Reclaim our power
  • Create social equality

Actions We Can Take

  • Green our technology
  • Green our economy
  • Reclaim our democracy
  • Create social equality
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Example Actions - Food

This? Or this?

You can

  • Choose organic
  • Less meat
  • Waste less food

We can

  • Eliminate subsidies
  • Close revolving doors
  • Full disclosure
  • Ban toxics
  • Promote local, organic, humane
  • Gardens at schools
  • Share science
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Focus on Climate

  • Dire
  • Global
  • Involves other areas
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We Are Sacrificing Now

  • Death
  • Disease
  • Dislocation
  • Money
  • How we feel

Costs will grow

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Global GHG Sources

Mostly carbon dioxide Plus: Methane Nitrous oxide Fluorinated gases

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Example Climate Change Solutions

  • Technically easy
  • Don’t require sacrifice
  • Help climate
  • Also help
  • Other env. areas
  • Health
  • Economy
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1 - Stop Subsidizing Fuel Burning

  • International Monetary Fund
  • Worldwide subsidies for fossil fuels in 2015: $5.3 trillion
  • Elimination: reduce global CO2 emissions by 17%
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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%
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3 - Stop Subsidizing Logging

  • U.S. forests remove 12% of U.S. GHG emissions
  • Reduce GHG emissions
  • Increase CO2 uptake
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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%
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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
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Barriers to Action

  • Inertia, busy
  • Not informed
  • Gradual nature
  • Overwhelmed
  • Time lag
  • Lack leadership
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Barriers - continued

  • Confusion
  • “Technological evangelism”
  • Limiting beliefs
  • Destroy environment for economy
  • Special interests
  • Steer government
  • Citizens disillusioned
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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
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Why We Can Succeed

  • Desire change
  • Abundant universe
  • Low-hanging fruit
  • We can choose hope
  • Helping feels good
  • Change already underway
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Cities Pledging 100% Clean Energy

  • Aspen, Colorado
  • San Diego, California
  • San Jose, California
  • San Francisco, California
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Bonaire, The Caribbean
  • Munich, Germany
  • Isle of Wight, England
  • Frankfurt, Germany
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81 Companies Signed American Business Act on Climate Pledge

  • >9 million employees
  • >$3T in annual revenue
  • Examples:
  • Apple
  • General Mills
  • Proctor & Gamble
  • Walmart
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81 Companies – Example Actions

  • Reduce GHG emissions
  • Sustainably sourced materials
  • Make greener products
  • Long-term plans
  • Invest and research
  • Advocate
  • Collaborate
  • Help environmental NGOs
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81 Companies – Example Actions

  • Reduce waste
  • Increase recycling
  • Use recycled-content materials
  • Use less water
  • Plant trees
  • Disclose performance
  • Green buildings
  • Beneficial agriculture
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Create an Economic Boom?

  • Current path
  • Widening income inequality
  • 1 in 5 dollars in U.S. spent on health care
  • Green economy
  • Short- and long-term wealth
  • Health
  • Put people to work implementing solutions

Create an Economic Boom?

  • Current path
  • Widening income inequality
  • 1 in 5 dollars in U.S. spent on health care
  • Green economy
  • Short- and long-term wealth
  • Health
  • Put people to work implementing solutions
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Historical Precedent

Great Depression

  • New Deal, World War II
  • Economic boom
  • Throw-away society

Great Recession

  • War on GHGs
  • Economic boom
  • Green society

Restore America’s “can do” attitude

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We Can Do This!

  • Technically easy solutions
  • Numerous benefits
  • Create an economic boom
  • Commitment
  • Action
  • Thrive now and later
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Ellen Moyer, Ph.D., P.E., LEED Principal Greenvironment, LLC www.ellenmoyerphd.com ellenmoyer@em-green.com (413) 862-3452

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Questions?

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Large Engineering Firm

  • Sustainability reports
  • Efficiency
  • Two-sided printing
  • Teleworking
  • Recycling
  • Recycled content
  • Talks and papers
  • Green projects
  • Organizations
  • Green building improvements
  • Energy-efficient equipment
  • Durable items
  • Conserve water
  • Develop staff
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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_

  • rganic_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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Photo and Graphic Credits

Slide 20: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:36_Pike_Place_Market_very_long_display_of_fruits_and_vegetables.jpg Slide 21: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Forest#/media/File:FatuIva_TropicalRainForest_20061111.jpg Slide 22: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lange-MigrantMother02.jpg Slide 24: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=red+traffic+light&title=Special:Search&go=Go&uselang=en&searchTok en=n7tpj33btcm6j91glocorurz#/media/File:Redtrafficlight.svg Slide 25: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Confusion#/media/File:%22Problems,_problems...%22_(70- ies)._(6548084971).jpg Slide 26: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Search&limit=250&offset=0&profile=default&search=green+traffi c+light&searchToken=gnshxtp3fc3qzmo224dcwhjz#/media/File:Green_traffic_signal.svg Slide 27: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Low_hanging_fruit#/media/File:Low_hanging_fruit_(grapes).jpg Slide 28: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=san+diego&title=Special:Search&profile=default&fulltext=1&uselang=e n&searchToken=8mfev7xe2s8a8g5pnzhase5j1#/media/File:San_Diego_Skyline_Night_JD081107.jpg Slide 33: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_War_II_era_planes_fly_over_Washington,_DC,_seen_from_Arlington_Natio nal_Cemetery_150508-A-ZZ999-001.jpg Slide 36: Sandra Costello Photography Background photos: Ellen Moyer