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
1983-2013 Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters By State (CPI-Adjusted) WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING?
SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1951 – 1980 0.5 Cooler than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean Average 0.4 Warmer than average Frequency of Occurrence 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012
SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1981 – 1991 0.5 Cooler than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean Average 0.4 Warmer than average Frequency of Occurrence Extremely hot 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012
SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 1991 – 2001 0.5 Cooler than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean Average 0.4 Warmer than average Frequency of Occurrence Extremely hot 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012
SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED 2001 – 2011 0.5 Cooler than average Baseline (1951 - 1980) mean Average 0.4 The “ extreme ” Warmer than average Frequency of Occurrence temperature events Extremely hot used to cover 0.1% 0.3 of the Earth. Now they cover 10%. 0.2 0.1 0 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., “Perceptions of Climate Change,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10.1073, August 2012
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)
Sea Level 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. 18 Data Source: NOAA, 2012
Accelerating Sea Level Rise 3.2 mm/year 2.0 mm/year 0.8 mm/year Average Rate ~ 1.8 mm/year 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
POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS FOR THE SE v Forestry resources Food production and agriculture v Energy, infrastructure, Water resources and settlements Sea level rise and coastal areas v Ecosystems and wildlife Health Climate sensitive diseases Air quality (ozone, aeroallergins) Climate Changes Weather-related illness/death (e.g., heat waves, storms) Temperature Sea Level Rise Wildfires Precipitation
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 21 st 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 30 ¡
RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE – GENERALLY SPEAKING Sustainability Adaptation Mitigation Both (efforts to build resiliency to (efforts to reduce GHG (leverage efforts that climate change impacts) emissions and atmospheric both reduce GHGs GHG concentrations) and build resiliency) Example Activities Examples Activities Example Activities Regulatory Action Green Roofs Water management Plans • • • Energy Efficiency LEED Buildings Heat wave shelters • • • Renewable Energy Urban Forests Resilient roads/bridges • • • Carbon Sequestration Plans for migration • • R e s e a r c h Adapted from J. Penney, 2008, “Emerging Climate Change Adaptation Strategies,” Clean Air Partnership
32 ¡
Clean Power Plan Summary 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 (CO 2 ) 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. 33
EXAMPLES OF HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS EFFECTING HOW EPA DOES BUSINESS • Sewer Overflow • Stormwater FLOODING • Pesticide Runoff • Particulate Drought/ Matter Wildfires • Low flow streams • Air Quality • Pesticide use • Increased temps Higher 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
Outline for EPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan 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
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS Released on November 1, 2013, this Executive Order directs Federal agencies to take a series of steps to make it easier for American communities to strengthen their resilience to extreme weather and prepare for other impacts of climate change. 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.
Vulnerability Assessment Of Coastal Community CLIMATE CHANGE EXERCISE
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
Recommend
More recommend
