Climate Change: Information and LinksSee this page for information on District Activities relating to Climate Change. Calculate your personal greenhouse gas emissions on the Cool California state website, or on the federal Environmental Protection agency website.
The Greenhouse Effect The world's temperature is up 1°F (.5°C) over the past century; some of the coldest, most remote spots have warmed up much more. This phenomenon is referred to as global warming, or global climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the global climate is changing at a rate unmatched in the past one thousand years, and that this change is due to human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, producing a buildup of greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse EffectThese greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide (as N2O, nitrous oxide), and hydrofluorocarbons, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere in a “greenhouse” effect, depicted below. Water vapor is also sometimes referred to as a greenhouse gas, since it contributes to the greenhouse effect.
California - Risks and ActionNote: For current information, see the California Climate Change portal: www.climatechange.ca.gov. A 2006 report, Our Changing Climate - Assessing the Risks to California, projected effects of climate change in the state under three different emissions scenarios - a lower increase in greenhouse gas emissions, a medium to high increase, and a higher increase. The report, issued by the California Climate Change Center (under the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program) projected a warming of between 1 and 2.3° F in the state in the next few decades, and a warming ranging from 3 to 10.5° F by the end of the century, depending on the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The report projected additional climate change effects in the state, including:
It is difficult to predict localized impacts of global climate change, and to determine how fast changes will occur, or when particular “tipping points” may be reached, as factors combine, causing sudden effects. For example, increases in surface temperature lead to less sea ice and snow cover, raising temperatures more, and reducing reflection of the sun’s heat. As more water evaporates, additional water vapor acts to increase temperature. In addition, higher temperatures may result in higher smog levels in some areas, as ground-level ozone forms more readily in hotter temperatures. A modeling study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory projected that by 2050, air quality throughout the Western United States (including California) will deteriorate in the fall season, due to a temperature increase of up to 4 degrees centigrade. California's Landmark LegislationIn 2002, Assembly Bill 1493 was signed into law in California - this law requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to implement regulations requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks in the state. In September of 2006, California's Governor signed Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, into law. The Act makes the ARB responsible for monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The Act requires the ARB to establish a statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap for 2020 that is based on 1990 emissions levels, and to develop and implement regulations and market mechanisms to reduce emissions. The ARB has identified early action measures, and released an AB 32 Scoping Plan for the implementation of this legislation. A number of other state bills have passed and been signed into law in subsequent years, intended to support the goals and implementation of AB 32 by achieving greenhouse gas emissions through changes in land use and transportation planning, incentives for use of alternative energy and transportation technologies, green building strategies, improved energy conservation, and more. In addition, the state is working on initiatives to counteract expected effects of climate change in California. What Can One Person Do About Climate Change?You are responsible for approximately 6.6 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year (average for U.S. residents, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). An estimated 82 percent of your contribution comes from your use of electricity, and your use of your car. So what can you do? Here are some ideas.
Many of the choices you make to reduce your personal contribution to the global climate change problem will also reduce air pollution. See Tips for Green Living for additional ideas. Grants for TeachersSanta Barbara County county are invited to apply for project grants to develop curricula develop curricula incorporating lessons on our atmosphere, air pollution, and global climate change. See this page for more info, or contact Mary Byrd at the APCD at 961-8833. Downloads and Links
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