Rotary Club of Conifer Meeting, November 7, 2017

 

Ted has been training with Al Gore, helping to grow awareness of climate change.

These are the questions we must ask:

In photos we determine that our atmosphere is very thin.  The gases that humans produce create a “blanket” that allows heat to stay within the atmosphere rather than being projected back to space. 

CO2, one of the major gases caused primarily by human kind is being released into the atmosphere more rapidly than at any time in the earth’s history. Every decade since 1950, the curve of heating of the planet is expanding exponentially.   The average annual temp has risen 2 degrees in Colorado in recent years. 

Besides the wind-chill index during the winter, there is now a heat index that combines temperature and humidity.  Some areas in the Middle East and Africa are becoming uninhabitable because of the rise in the heat index.  Over 20 million people are nearing starvation in those regions.

Heat is increasing the temperature of the oceans, creating more powerful hurricanes.   And the cloud masses around the planet have generated another new term: “atmospheric rivers”—bucket loads of water falling from clouds. 

Extreme weather conditions are increasing rapidly year to year.  Heat waves, fires, drought and increased beetle-kill are affecting Colorado.  The fire season is 105 days longer now than in 1970!  For every degree of warming, lighting strikes increase by 10% and are a major source of wildland/urban interface fires.  And ground water is being depleted, which will decrease water for irrigation for our crops.

The health of humans is being affected by the rising temperatures.  Heating is increasing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.  Heat exhaustion is becoming more common due to the high temperatures.  Air pollution is causing more death

More flooding is occurring along shorelines, affecting cities along the coasts.

We are at a decision point in our history:  There are solutions:  green energy progress—wind (on one day, 66% of the Colorado energy needs were supplied!).  Solar—Colorado could increase electric capacity via solar by 350%.  There is enough energy in one hour on earth to provide energy for a year!

Will we change?  What can we each do to meet the challenges?

Ted recommends a book by Paul Hawking:  Drawdown—a book to read to learn of all the ways to ameliorate global warming.

 

Guests: Dee Profitt (prospective member), Tom Landon

Rotarian members present:

Pat Hagan, Marlis McAllister, Janine Payton, Finn Knudsen, Leslie Landon, Yvonne Lipson, Dean McCall, Jesse McKean, Charlotte Wytias