HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE agenda 111317AGENDA
Orange County Commission for the Environment
November 13, 2017
7:30 p.m.
Animal Services Building, 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill
Time Item Title
7:30 I. Call to Order
7:32 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
7:35 III. Approval of Draft Minutes — October 9t", 2017
The CFE will consider approval of minutes from the last meeting. (Attachment 1)
Action needed.
7:40 IV. SOE 2019
Brennan Bouma will lead a discussion regarding the development of the State of the
Environment report, including the involvement of UNC capstone students. The CFE will consider
various alternatives and make broad decisions. (Attachment 2) Action needed.
8:30 V. Annual Work Plan
The group will discuss the draft Annual Work Plan for submittal to the BOCC. (Attachment 3)
Action needed.
9:00 VI. Updates and Information Items
Staff and /or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:
➢ Continuing Action Items from previous CFE meetings
o SOE 2019 Planning
➢ Climate Change Q&A (Attachment 4)
➢ Any other new information from CFE members and staff
9:15 VII. Adjournment
• Next Meeting; December 11, Richard Whined
Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough
CFE Meeting Ground Rules (Adopted 9112111)
1. Keep to agenda topic under discussion
2. Share relevant information
3. One person speaks at a time after recognition by the Chair
4. Everyone is invited to participate in discussions / no one person should dominate
discussions
,. Strive to reach consensus first before voting
Activities the CFE expects to carry out in 2017:
• Continue to write news articles on environmental issues of importance to Orange
County, including climate change, energy conservation, and other important topics
• Continue to explore ways to improve the County's ability to foster local sustainable
energy production and energy efficiency strategies, including making Orange County an
even better place for appropriately -sited solar energy generation, including developing
incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new construction
• Recommend ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint" and implement the County's
Environmental Responsibility Goal (BOCC Priority #10)
• Continue to help with public outreach and management efforts related to hydrilla in the
Eno River
• Participate in a County effort to identify and preserve important landscape corridors that
connect significant natural areas and open space (BOCC Priority #1)
• Co- sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange)
• Help plan for and participate in County's annual Earth Evening event
Concerns or emerging issues the CFE has identified for 2017:
• The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food waste
pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream
• The CFE remains interested in developing incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new
construction
• The CFE will continue to learn more about environmental justice matters and incorporate
relevant information and considerations in the next State of the Environment report (2020)
and its other activities
• The CFE will continue to follow the Solid Waste Advisory Group's discussions of how to
improve the handling and disposal of Orange County's solid waste, and will advocate for
better long -term solutions
• The CFE will continue to advocate for increased efforts to gather information related to water
resources in Orange County and to increase public awareness and understanding of water
supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to maintain or improve
the quantity and quality of Orange County water supply resources
• The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for Orange
County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment report, which include
potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non - native, plant and animal species; b) reductions
in State -led collection of water resources data; c) potential drilling for natural gas in the Deep
River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE support for e) the responsible deployment of clean and
appropriately -sited renewable energy and reductions in energy use to help fight climate
change
Attachment 1
Orange County Commission for the Environment
IIIIIVIII'° IIII ° ° ° " "" "1111' "" Meeting Summary
October 9, 2017
Whitted Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough
Present: Lynne Gronback (Chair), Bill Kaiser (V- Chair), Bill Newby, Marshall Gray,
Sheila Thomas- Ambat, Matt Crook, May Becker, Jeremy Marzoula,
Bradley Saul
Absent: Peter Cada, Jeanette O'Connor, Alan Perry, Will Stanley
Staff: Kim Livingston, Brennan Bouma
I. Call to Order - Gronback called the meeting to order at 7:34.
Additions or Changes to Agenda — Livingston requested that the group
nominate a CFE member to the Intergovernmental Parks Working Group to fill a
current vacancy. Kaiser offered before the meeting began; therefore, this item
was not added to the agenda.
Approval of Draft Minutes from September 11, 2017. Kaiser motioned to
approve the minutes as written. Gray seconded. Minutes were approved
unanimously.
IV. Lands Legacy Action Plan Update - Livingston clarified the background
information on the Lands Legacy Plan update. Primarily through the effort of
Marzuola and Kaiser, the CFE has provided a good amount of text guidance for
the update that staff may need to pare down. Kaiser and Marzuola give consent
for condensing the text and Gronback joined them in highlighting the content that
was the most important to them to emphasize. The CFE agreed that the
priorities in the text provided by Marzuola and Kaiser are the top CFE priorities
for the next Lands Legacy Action Plan.
V. Recruitment — Kaiser reported that there are currently two vacancies and
Becker and Cada will go off the CFE in December creating two additional
vacancies. He stressed the importance of recruiting qualified candidates to fill
the vacancies. Kaiser suggested that the ad for CFE membership should be
posted on the website and social media more often. He suggested that all
current members recruit others that they may know who are qualified, and if they
are not interested, ask if they could suggest others. Kaiser suggested making it
part of a CFE members job to recruit new members.
Bill Ward (guest interested in becoming a member) recommended providing as
much information to applicants as possible. Bouma clarified that some positions
are restricted to certain technically expertise but not geographically restricted.
Attachment 1
Kaiser suggested that applicants need to provide more information /specificity to
their applications.
Multiple members stated that they had put up flyers in various locations.
Gronback offered to hang flyers in her place of business. Bouma offered to hang
flyers in extension offices, community centers, and agricultural centers in an
attempt to attract a variety of candidates, such as farmers. Marzoula sent the
most current flyer to the group via email. Crook suggested adding language to
the CFE advertisements that asks people to reach out to others they know that
might be interested in becoming a member.
Gronback suggested having a meeting with an open invitation to people who are
interested in joining.
Bill Ward gave information about himself and stated he was interested in joining
the CFE.
VI. UNC Capstone Students to Assist with SOE Report - Bouma stated that two
important aspects of the SOE are the letter grades for the specific indicators and
the format of the report as it relates to whom it is for and how they would like to
receive it. He brought to the CFE a potential opportunity to work with 8 -10 UNC
undergraduate students in a capstone course from February to April 2018 to
develop aspects of the SOE 2019. Bouma asked if the CFE would like the
assistance from the students to collect data for the SOE 2019. This data would
then be used by the CFE to create the report. Bouma stressed the importance of
providing the students with a solid foundation and as much upfront information as
possible. He suggested we identify who the audience will be and the purpose of
the SOE 2019.
Marzoula recommended that climate change and environmental justice be added
to the indicators. Gronback asked how climate change would be added to the
report; would it be in each category or an overarching category? Kaiser
suggested noting how each of the indicators will impact climate change. Crook
stated that indicators need a quantitative measure and asked how to measure
qualitative indicators. Bouma stated that there are groups that provide ways to
quantify that type of data.
How indicators are measured was discussed by the group. Newby recommended
that the CFE plug into different planning department's data to provide information
for indicators. Bouma suggested the students could look into these data
sources.
Bouma asked Becker to provide the group with any insight from the previous
SOE development. Becker advised identifying the current conditions and the
trends. She urged the group to continue with the trends to assess change over
time from previous SOEs.
Saul suggested the CFE record in the SOE what data needs to be collected that
is currently unavailable.
Attachment 1
Gronback stated that the next meeting will focus on clarifying the audience and
the purpose of the SOE 2019.
VII. CFE Committee Meetings - Committees had breakout meetings and discussed
indicators for the SOE 2019.
VIII. Updates and Information Items — information on the following items was
provided:
Continuing Action Items from previous CFE meetings
SOE 2019 Planning
Climate Change Q &A
IX. Adjournment — Kaiser motioned to adjourn, and Marzoula seconded. Meeting
adjourned at 9:25.
Attachment 2
Orange County State of the Environment 2019 — Context and Workplan: III': IIItXIII "III
History:
• 5 past reports starting in the year 2000— find them at this link
• Now on a 5 -year update cycle
• 19 main indicators
• Several indicators have been tracked since the first report in 2000
Context:
• What other SOE models are there?
• Mecklenburg County
• Others?
• Who else might be tracking the state of Orange County's Environment?
• OC Annual Sustainability Scorecard
■ County operations focused
• Orange County Lands Legacy Plan
• LCC — South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
• Triangle Regional Transportation Model - MPOs /RPOs
■ Air quality and socioeconomic models for next 30 years
• Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project - TAWSMP
■ 30 year trends on water quality in triangle
• UNRBA
• Jordan Lake Rules
• Jordan Lake One Water — future group that may be forming
• UNC — CH Collaboratory — Jordan Lake Watershed Study
• Others?
Scope:
• Only Orange County geography
• County operations focus?
• County as a whole?
Purpose:
• As written in 2014:
• "Describe the current status of Orange County's natural environment;"
■ Education - For whom?
• "Provide measures to monitor and evaluate progress toward a cleaner, healthier
environment;"
■ Monitoring -This is the monitoring report. Is someone else monitoring in
between?
Attachment 2
• "Highlight the major environmental challenges facing the County; and"
■ Education - More focused restatement of first bullet
• "Recommend actions to confront those challenges."
■ Recommendation - Who do we hope will use the SCE to take action?
• Pros: Broad, methodical
• Cons: Slightly repetitive, Sets out a huge task, only possible if not comprehensive and only once
per 5 years, resulting report lacks focus for implementation
o Critical Issues and Highlighted Recommendations are good policy suggestions
• Both are hard to scan
• Both not seen until pages 10 and 11 of pdf
o No summary scorecard!
■ No ratings or trends at all until page 16 of the pdf, then one at a time
• Recommendations for discussion:
o If this is meant to deliver evidence to support recommended actions to protect
environment...
• Use a more narrowly defined audience to focus the effort
• Who do we hope will use the SCE to take action?
• What information and format do they want to see?
• How many actions can we expect them to take?
• Move our mission to increase broad understanding to other efforts — e.g.
ongoing news media outreach
• OR
• If this is primarily meant to be a broad reference on status and trends of air, energy,
water, and land, then we should let users decide what to do with the information.
• We still may do well to keep in mind who will be motivated to read /use the SOE.
• Among all the other sources of reference material at their disposal, why
will they choose this one?
• Follow up with aggressive distribution to the Commissioners, schools, other
advisory boards
• Move away from making recommendations
Primary Audience:
• Board of County Commissioners
• Must be written in direct, concise, non - technical terms
• Focus on things they can control
• Maybe we should ask them?
• Schools and /or Environmental Educators
• UNC- Chapel Hill
• Durham Tech Orange County Campus
• CHCCS and OCS - Secondary level
• Others?
Attachment 2
Format:
• Written Report?
o Existing format
• Interactive Map?
o http: / /compass.durhamnc.ov/
o EJ Screen
• Dashboard on County website with supporting text?
o Requires website structure and know -how
• Infographic with supporting text?
o Requires a model (Mecklenberg ?) or graphic design assistance
• Series of news articles?
Student Workplan:
• Calendar of CFE meetings — Students to meet with us at beginning, middle, end
o 7:30pm every second Monday of the month
• Dates to choose from: Jan 8th, Feb 12th, Mar 12th, Apr 91h, May 14th?
• Communicate with committees over email in between meetings
• Brennan to act as central liaison
Order of main tasks:
1. Understand existing SOE and new directions
2. Look for other models and other pre -made analyses of Orange County's environment
• Decide if authoritative and applicable to Orange County's geography
• If not go to the raw data
3. Lit review on best indicators"
o True canaries in the coal mine
4. Propose new indicators
5. Propose new format
6. Update indicators with new info
"What makes a good indicator/ data source?
• Authoritative source
• Regularly updated (based on the rate of change of what's measured)
• Well -known and used
• History of data
• Geographic scope and specificity
• County - collected
• Data quality — model versus direct measurement
• Replicability in the future
Commission for the Environment
NAME OF BOARD /COMMISSION
Report Period:
Attachment 3
Commission for the Environment
2017-2018
ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
ANNUAL REPORT / WORK PLAN FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Commissioners welcomes input from various advisory boards and
commissions in preparation for its annual planning retreat. Please complete the following
information, limited to the front and back of this form. Other background materials may be
provided as a supplement to, but not as a substitute for, this form.
Board /Commission Name: Commission for the Environment
Persons to address BOCC at work session and contact information:
Chair: Lynne Gronback
Vice Chair Bill Kaiser
Primary County Staff Contacts:
919- 219 -3219 Igronback@gmail.com
919 - 933 -979 w_mckaiser @hotmail.com
Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
Tom Davis (Water Resources Coordinator) 245 -2513 tdavis(7a,orangecountync.gov
Kim Livingston (Land Conservation Manager) 245 -2514 klivingston@orangecountync.gov
Assessment Management Department
Brennan Bouma (Sustainability Coordinator) 245 -2626 bbouma(7a orangecountync.gov
How many times per month does this commission meet, including any special
meetings and sub - committee meetings?
One meeting per month (2nd Monday); committees meet as needed during meeting
Brief Statement of Commission's Assigned Charge and Responsibilities.
Purpose: to advise the BOCC on matters affecting the environment, with particular
emphasis on environmental protection and enhancement. Other duties include:
• Perform special studies /projects on environmental issues as requested by BOCC
• Recommend environmental initiatives to the BOCC, especially of local importance
• Study changes in environmental science and environmental regulations in the
pursuit of the CFE's duties
• Educate the public and local officials on environmental issues
What are your Commission's most important accomplishments?
• Wrote a series of climate change articles (2017)
• Developed and posted a Facebook page (2017)
• Edited and recommended to the BOCC a. „renewable energy resolution and a ( Deleted: loot
responsible transportation of methane resolution (2017)
• Recruited UNC capstone students to assist with the 2019 State of the Environment
report (2017)
• Made recommendations to BOCC on UDO amendment to flexible subdivisions (2016)
• Initiated a series of newspaper articles on environmental issues featured previously in
the Orange County State of the Environment report (2015 -16)
• Made recommendations to BOCC on 2016 bond package, the use of herbicides/
pesticides at County facilities, and incentives for energy efficient construction (2015)
• Commented to Planning Bd on proposed changes to impervious surface rules (2015)
Commission for the Environment Attachment 3
• Provided ideas for Public Services Announcements for County radio spots (2015)
• Collaborated with other entities on energy conservation and mgmt. projects (2015 -16)
• Published the 2014 Orange County State of the Environment report
(previous reports were completed in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009)
• Convened Orange County Environmental Summit (2005, 2009, 2014)
• Made recommendations to BOCC on food waste and solid waste tax district (2014)
• Worked with Orange County Schools to introduce local environmental indicators/
status and trends into middle and high school science curriculum (2004, 2009, 2014)
• Hosted a Solid Waste Forum with the Chapel Hill Sustainability Committee (2013)
• Co- sponsored the annual The Nature of Orange photography contest (2012 - 201 Deleted: 6
• Advocated for 1/2 cent sales tax referendum for Triangle Region public transit (2012)
• Compiled annotated bibliography of the effects of forestry on water quality (2012)
• Developed sustainable landscaping and forest management policies for the
administration of County -owned facilities (2010)
• Assisted County staff in completing the Natural and Cultural Systems Element of the
Orange County Comprehensive Plan (2008)
List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually.
• Liaisons to Intergovernmental Parks Work Group and Orange Unified Transp. Board
• Review and comment on environmental issues (e.g., fracking, biosolids application,
water pollution, air quality, forest mgmt.) and other issues assigned by the BOCC
• Identify priorities for the Lands Legacy Action Plan (natural areas and wildlife habitat)
• Conduct special studies pertaining to Orange County environment (e.g., energy
efficiency /sustainability, forestry effects on water quality, herbicides and native flora)
• Conduct environmental education outreach (e.g., Last Fridays, Earth Evening)
Describe this commission's activities /accomplishments in carrying out BOCC
goals /priorities, if applicable.
BOCC Goal Five: Create, preserve, and protect a natural environment that
includes clean water, clean air, wildlife, important natural lands and sustainable
energy for present and future generations.
• Presented findings and recommendations to BOCC on selected environmental
issues: effects of forest mgmt. on water quality; effects of herbicides on roadside
native plant habitat; potential effects of hydraulic fracturing ('tracking ") in Orange
County-, problems caused b h drills in the Eno Rive need for 100% renewable Deleted: (BOCC Priorities #1 and #12)
Y p Y Y r
Deleted: responsible
• Stayed abreast ab east of ongoing iandltd�evlelloping env. issues nof importance to the County Deleted: n
such as Falls & Jordan Lake nutrient mgmt. rules, reducing commercial food waste in
solid waste stream, and permitting of biosolids on farmland (Priorities #12 and #16)
• Provides comments on proposed master plans for future parks /preserves
If your commission played the role of an Element Lead Advisory Board involved in the
2030 Comprehensive Plan preparation process, please indicate your activities/
accomplishments as they may relate to the Comprehensive Plan's goals or objectives.
(Element Lead Advisory Boards include: Planning Board, Commission for the Environment,
Historic Preservation Commission, Agriculture Pres. Board, and Parks & Recreation Council)
Commission for the Environment Attachment 3
The CFE provided extensive input into DEAPR staff development of the Natural and
Cultural Systems Element of the Comprehensive Plan — specifically the chapters on Air
and Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat.
Obiective AE -1:
Assess and implement the current countywide greenhouse gas emissions inventory and
action plan target reductions.
• The CFE helped to initiate a countywide inventory of greenhouse gas emissions
(2005), and continues to advise on ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint."
Obiective AE -15:
Foster participation in green energy programs such as installation incentives for solar hot
water /solar generation /solar tempering in residential or commercial construction. The
County should develop programs that will link citizens and businesses with options for
alternative and sustainable energy sources.
• The CFE's Energy Resources Committee has developed proposals that address
energy efficiency and renewable power issues, and will pursue further in collaboration
with other advisory boards and stakeholders.
Obiective NA -3:
Develop a more detailed and consistent methodology for monitoring changes in forest
cover throughout the County, and specifically the extent of mature hardwood forest.
• The CFE's State of the Environment report documented significant reductions in
mature hardwood forest that occurred from 2003 -2008 and since 1988.
Obiective NA -11:
Develop a comprehensive conservation plan for achieving a network of protected open
space throughout Orange County, which addresses 1) threats to important natural areas;
2) connectivity between protected areas; 3) coordination with neighboring counties; and
4) sustainable management of critical natural resources.
• The CFE's Land Resources Committee is participating in a County effort to identify
and preserve important landscape corridors that connect significant natural areas.
Obiective NA -16:
Create a system of public and private open space and conservation areas, including
parks, nature preserves, and scenic vistas representative of Orange County landscape.
• The CFE advises County's Lands Legacy program in its efforts to protect the most
important natural and cultural resource lands through a variety of means.
• The CFE's Land Resources Committee is participating in a County effort to identify
and preserve important landscape corridors that connect significant natural areas.
Obiective WR -5:
Promote and participate in regional efforts to plan for use of water supplies in the region
in an equitable manner, including contingency planning for water supplies during
droughts. [Also Objectives WR -9, WR -10, and WR -15]
•
CFE advocates for full implementation of the Water Resources Initiative to ensure Deleted: < # >cFE Stays abreast of Jordan
planning for an adequate water supply for current and anticipated future needs Lake Partnership and advises staff as neededq
Obiective WR -11:
Provide incentives and educational information to landowners to increase protection of
watersheds and ground water supplies and their inter - relationships.
• The CFE distributes groundwater and surface water educational materials at Earth
Evening and Last Fridays events and as part of its State of the Environment reports
Commission for the Environment Attachment 3
NOTE: The Orange County State of the Environment 2014 identified specific
recommendations on ways to help maintain and improve Orange County's
environmental quality, many of which address objectives stated in the
Orange County Comprehensive Plan.
Identify any activities this commission expects to carry out in 201$ as they relate to Deleted: 7
established BOCC goals and priorities. If applicable, is there a fiscal impact (i.e.,
funding, staff time, other resources) associated with these proposed activities (list).
• Continue to IJ„ an is l and [JIG„ iJCI G,,, the 2019 State of the ErlVlronment report Deleted: update and add additional
® environmental indicators for
• Continue to write news articles on environmental Issues of Importance to Orange ed: Indent: Left: 0.5 ", No bullets or
County, including climate change, energy conservation, and other important topics nng
• C ontinue to explore ways to improve the County's ability to foster local sustainable
energy production and energy efficiency strategies, including making Orange County
an even better place for appropriately -sited solar energy generation, nd developing Deleted: including
incentives for increasing energy efficiency in new construction
• Recommend ways to reduce the County's "carbon footprint" and wa s to implement
the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal (BOCC Priority #10)
• Participate in a County effort to identify and preserve important landscape corridors
that connect significant natural areas and open space (BOCC Priority #1)
• Co- sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange)
• Help plan for and participate in County's annual Earth Evening event
What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming
year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention?
• The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food
waste pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream
• The CFE remains interested in developing standards and incentives for increasing
energy efficiency in new construction
Deleted: ¶
< # >Continue to help with public outreach and
management efforts related to hydrilla in the
Eno River¶
• The CFE will continue to learn more about environmental justice matters and
incorporate relevant information and considerations in the next State of the
Environment report QQ1 9) and its other activities Deleted: 2020
• The CFE will continue to �:�voa� : tG
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
disposal of Orange County's solid
• The CFE will continue to advocate for increased,,,public awareness and understan
of water supply sources n d ,,elated concerns
• The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for
Orange County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment
report, which include potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non - native, plant and
animal species; b) reductions in State -led collection of water resources data; c)
potential drilling for natural gas in the Deep River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE
support for e) the responsible deployment of clean and appropriately -sited renewable
energy and reductions in energy use to help fight climate change
Deleted: follow the Solid Waste Advisory
Group's discussions of how to improve the
handling and
Deleted: , and will
Deleted: advocate for better long -term
solutions
Deleted: efforts to gather information related to
water resources in Orange County and to
increase
Deleted: ,
Deleted: , and what steps can be undertaken
to maintain or improve the quantity and quality
of Orange County water supply resources
he rku I I orkaEG nes
Climate Change Is Complex. We've Got Answers to Your Questions.
By Justin Gillis - The New York Times
Sept. 19, 2017
We know. Global warming is daunting. So here's a place to start: 17 often -asked questions with
some straightforward answers.
Part 1 - What is happening?
1. Climate change? Global warming? What do we call it?
Both are accurate, but they mean different things. You can think of global warming as one type
of climate change. The broader term covers changes beyond warmer temperatures, such as
shifting rainfall patterns.
President Trump has claimed that scientists stopped referring to global warming and started
calling it climate change because "the weather has been so cold" in winter. But the claim is
false. Scientists have used both terms for decades.
2. How much is the Earth heating up?
Two degrees is more significant than it sounds. As of early 2017, the Earth had warmed by
roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (more than 1 degree Celsius) since 1880, when records began at a
global scale. The number may sound low, but as an average over the surface of an entire planet,
it is actually high, which explains why much of the world's land ice is starting to melt and the
oceans are rising at an accelerating pace. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked,
scientists say, the global warming could ultimately exceed 8 degrees Fahrenheit, which would
undermine the planet's capacity to support a large human population.
3. What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it cause global warming?
We've known about it for more than a century. Really. In the 19th century, scientists
discovered that certain gases in the air trap and slow down heat that would otherwise escape to
space. Carbon dioxide is a major player; without any of it in the air, the Earth would be a frozen
wasteland. The first prediction that the planet would warm as humans released more of the gas
was made in 1896. The gas has increased 43 percent above the pre - industrial level so far, and
the Earth has warmed by roughly the amount that scientists predicted it would.
4. How do we know humans are responsible for the increase in carbon dioxide?
This one is nailed down. Hard evidence, including studies that use radioactivity to distinguish
industrial emissions from natural emissions, shows that the extra gas is coming from human
activity. Carbon dioxide levels rose and fell naturally in the long -ago past, but those changes
took thousands of years. Geologists say that humans are now pumping the gas into the air much
faster than nature has ever done.
https: / /www. nytimes.com /interactive /2017/cli mate /what- is -cli mate -
change.html ?em_pos = large &emc =ed it_cl i m_20170919 &n 1 = &nI id= 78952708 &ref =head I ine &te =1
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5. Could natural factors be the cause of the warming?
Nope. In theory, they could be. If the sun were to start putting out more radiation, for instance,
that would definitely warm the Earth. But scientists have looked carefully at the natural factors
known to influence planetary temperature and found that they are not changing nearly enough.
The warming is extremely rapid on the geologic time scale, and no other factor can explain it as
well as human emissions of greenhouse gases.
6. Why do people deny the science of climate change?
Mostly because of ideology. Instead of negotiating over climate change policies and trying to
make them more market - oriented, some political conservatives have taken the approach of
blocking them by trying to undermine the science.
President Trump has sometimes claimed that scientists are engaged in a worldwide hoax to fool
the public, or that global warming was invented by China to disable American industry. The
climate denialists' arguments have become so strained that even oil and coal companies have
distanced themselves publicly, though some still help to finance the campaigns of politicians
who espouse such views.
Part 2 - What could happen?
1. How much trouble are we in?
Big trouble. Over the coming 25 or 30 years, scientists say, the climate is likely to gradually
warm, with more extreme weather. Coral reefs and other sensitive habitats are already starting
to die. Longer term, if emissions rise unchecked, scientists fear climate effects so severe that
they might destabilize governments, produce waves of refugees, precipitate the sixth mass
extinction of plants and animals in the Earth's history, and melt the polar ice caps, causing the
seas to rise high enough to flood most of the world's coastal cities. The emissions that create
those risks are happening now, raising deep moral questions for our generation.
2. How much should I worry about climate change affecting me directly?
Are you rich enough to shield your descendants? The simple reality is that people are already
feeling the effects, whether they know it or not. Because of sea level rise, for instance, some
83,000 more residents of New York and New Jersey were flooded during Hurricane Sandy than
would have been the case in a stable climate, scientists have calculated. Tens of thousands of
people are already dying in heat waves made worse by global warming. The refugee flows that
have destabilized politics around the world have been traced in part to climate change. Of
course, as with almost all other social problems, poor people will be hit first and hardest.
https: / /www. nytimes.com /interactive /2017/cli mate /what- is -cli mate -
change.html ?em_pos = large &emc =ed it_cl i m_20170919 &n 1 = &nI id= 78952708 &ref =head I ine &te =1
he New I I orkaTGmes
3. How much will the seas rise?
The real question is how fast. The ocean has accelerated and is now rising at a rate of about a
foot per century, forcing governments and property owners to spend tens of billions of dollars
fighting coastal erosion. But if that rate continued, it would probably be manageable, experts
say.
The risk is that the rate will increase still more. Scientists who study the Earth's history say
waters could rise by a foot per decade in a worst -case scenario, though that looks unlikely.
Many experts believe that even if emissions stopped tomorrow, 15 or 20 feet of sea level rise is
already inevitable, enough to flood many cities unless trillions of dollars are spent protecting
them. How long it will take is unclear. But if emissions continue apace, the ultimate rise could
be 80 or 100 feet.
4. Is recent crazy weather tied to climate change?
Some of it is. Scientists have published strong evidence that the warming climate is making
heat waves more frequent and intense. It is also causing heavier rainstorms, and coastal flooding
is gettin�z worse the oceans rise because of human emissions. Global warming has intensified
droughts in regions like the Middle East, and it may have strengthened a recent drought in
California.
In many other cases, though hurricanes, for example the linkage to global warming for
particular trends is uncertain or disputed. Scientists are gradually improving their understanding
as computer analyses of the climate grow more powerful.
Part 3 - What can we do?
1. Are there any realistic solutions to the problem?
Yes, but change is happening too slowly. Society has put off action for so long that the risks are
now severe, scientists say. But as long as there are still unburned fossil fuels in the ground, it is
not too late to act. The warming will slow to a potentially manageable pace only when human
emissions are reduced to zero. The good news is that they are now falling in many countries as a
result of programs like fuel - economy standards for cars, stricter building codes and emissions
limits for power plants. But experts say the energy transition needs to speed up drastically to
head off the worst effects of climate change.
2. What is the Paris Agreement?
Virtually every country agreed to limit future emissions. The landmark deal was reached
outside Paris in December 2015. The reductions are voluntary and the pledges do not do enough
to head off severe effects. But the agreement is supposed to be reviewed every few years so that
countries ramp up their commitments. President Trump announced in 2017 that he would pull
the United States out of the deal, though that will take years, and other countries have said they
would go forward regardless of American intentions.
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3. Does clean energy help or hurt the economy?
Job growth in renewable energy is strong. The energy sources with the lowest emissions
include wind turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric dams and nuclear power stations. Power plants
burning natural gas also produce fewer emissions than those burning coal. Converting to these
cleaner sources may be somewhat costlier in the short term, but they could ultimately pay for
themselves by heading off climate damages and reducing health problems associated with dirty
air. And expansion of the market is driving down the costs of renewable energy so fast that it
may ultimately beat dirty energy on price alone it already in some areas.
The transition to cleaner energy certainly produces losers, like coal companies, but it also
creates jobs. The solar industry in the United States now employs more than twice as many
people as coal mining.
4. What about fracking or `clean coal'?
Both could help clean up the energy system. Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is one of a set
of drilling technologies that has helped produce a new abundance of natural gas in the United
States and some other countries. Burning gas instead of coal in power plants reduces emissions
in the short run, though gas is still a fossil fuel and will have to be phased out in the long run.
The fracking itself can also create local pollution.
"Clean coal" is an approach in which the emissions from coal - burning power plants would be
captured and pumped underground. It has yet to be proven to work economically, but some
experts think it could eventually play a major role.
5. What's the latest with electric cars?
Sales are still small overall, but they are rising fast. The cars draw power at night from the
electric grid and give off no pollution during the day as they move around town. They are
inherently more efficient than gasoline cars and would represent an advance even if the power
were generated by burning coal, but they will be far more important as the electric grid itself
becomes greener through renewable power. The cars are improving so fast that some countries
are already talking about banning the sale of gasoline cars after 2030.
6. What are carbon taxes, carbon trading and carbon offsets?
It's just jargon for putting a price on pollution. The greenhouse gases being released by human
activity are often called "carbon emissions" for short. That is because two of the most important
gases, carbon dioxide and methane, contain carbon. (Some other pollutants are lumped into the
same category, even if they do not actually contain carbon.) When you hear about carbon taxes,
carbon trading and so on, these are just shorthand descriptions of methods to put a price on
emissions, which economists say is one of the most important steps society could take to limit
them.
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7. Climate change seems so overwhelming. What can I personally do about it?
Start by sharing this with 50 of your friends. Experts say the problem can only be solved by
large - scale, collective action. Entire states and nations have to decide to clean up their energy
systems, using every tool available and moving as quickly as they can. So the most important
thing you can do is to exercise your rights as a citizen, speaking up and demanding change.
You can also take direct personal action to reduce your carbon footprint in simple ways that will
save you money. You can plug leaks in your home insulation to save power, install a smart
thermostat, switch to more efficient light bulbs, turn off unused lights, drive fewer miles by
consolidating trips or taking public transit, waste less food, and eat less meat.
Taking one or two fewer Mane rides per year can save as much in emissions as all the other
actions combined. If you want to be at the cutting edge, you can look at buying an electric or
hybrid car or putting solar panels on your roof. If your state has a competitive electricity market,
you may be able to buy 100 percent green power.
Leading corporations, including large manufacturers like carmakers, are starting to demand
clean energy for their operations. You can pay attention to company policies, support the
companies taking the lead, and let the others know you expect them to do better.
These personal steps may be small in the scheme of things, but they can raise your own
consciousness about the problem and the awareness of the people around you. In fact,
discussing this issue with your friends and family is one of the most meaningful things you can
do.
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