CLIMATE CHANGE. Impacts, Vulnerabilities and EPA

Transcription

1 CLIMATE CHANGE Impacts, Vulnerabilities and EPA

2 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.

3 WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE?

4

5

6 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

7 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

8 Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters By State (CPI-Adjusted) WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING?

9 SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Average Warmer than average Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

10 SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Average Warmer than average Extremely hot Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

11 SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Average Warmer than average Extremely hot Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

12 SUMMER TEMPERATURES HAVE SHIFTED Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Average Warmer than average Extremely hot The extreme temperature events used to cover 0.1% of the Earth. Now they cover 10% Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

13

14

15 Percent increases in Very Heavy Precipitation Events ( )

16 OCEANS

17 OCEAN HEAT AND ACIDITY Oceans have become warmer since 1955, though the rate of change can vary from year to year Ocean Heat Content, 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)

18 Sea Level Relative Sea Level Changes Along US Coasts, 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. Data Source: NOAA,

19 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

20

21 CURRENT SEA LEVEL

22 3 FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE

23 6 FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE

24 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

25 POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS FOR THE SE Food production and agriculture Water resources Sea level rise and coastal areas Health Climate sensitive diseases Air quality (ozone, aeroallergins) Weather-related illness/death (e.g., heat waves, storms) Wildfires v Forestry resources v Energy, infrastructure, and settlements v Ecosystems and wildlife Climate Changes Temperature Precipitation Sea Level Rise

26

27 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.

28 ECOSYSTEM VULNERABILITY

29 AWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

30 PRESIDENT OBAMA S PLAN 30 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

31 RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE GENERALLY SPEAKING Sustainability Mitigation (efforts to reduce GHG emissions and atmospheric GHG concentrations) Both (leverage efforts that both reduce GHGs and build resiliency) Adaptation (efforts to build resiliency to climate change impacts) Example Activities Regulatory Action Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Carbon Sequestration Examples Activities Green Roofs LEED Buildings Urban Forests Example Activities Water management Plans Heat wave shelters Resilient roads/bridges 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 32

33 This proposal will: Clean Power Plan Summary 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 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 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

34

35 EXAMPLES OF HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS EFFECTING HOW EPA DOES BUSINESS FLOODING Sewer Overflow Stormwater Pesticide Runoff Drought/ Wildfires Particulate Matter Low flow streams Higher Temps. Air Quality Pesticide use Increased temps for lakes and streams

36 OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT EPA CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN

37 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

38 Goals: 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. 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.

39

40 Vulnerability Assessment Of Coastal Community CLIMATE CHANGE EXERCISE

41 HOW WILL MY DEPARTMENT BE EFFECTED? Consider: Droughts Hurricanes Flooding Extreme Heat Sea level rise Ocean Acidity

42 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

43 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

44 QUESTIONS