What does climate change mean for Indiana? Indiana Recycling Coalition - 2018 Conference June 12, 2018 Indianapolis, IN Melissa Widhalm Purdue Climate Change Research Center
Image by Adam Nieman
Human activities are adding heattrapping gases to the atmosphere Today 1960 For 800,000 years, CO 2 had never been above this line...until no 771k years ago 570k years ago 370k years ago 170k years ago 1880
Human activities are adding heattrapping gases to the atmosphere Today 1960 For 800,000 years, CO 2 had never been above this line...until no 771k years ago 570k years ago 370k years ago 170k years ago 1880
+ 1.5 ºF +1 ºF + 0.5 ºF 20 th Century Average - 0.5 ºF - 1 ºF JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Global Average Temperature
1.78 ºF + 1.5 ºF 1.56 ºF 2015 2016 2016 2015 +1 ºF + 0.5 ºF 20 th Century Average 2017 ranked 3 rd warmest on record at 1.5 ºF above average - 0.5 ºF - 1 ºF JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Global Average Temperature
What s the chance 41 aboveaverage years in row? 1 in a trillion
Arctic Sea Ice Extent 1984 2012
South Bend, IN Feb Photo Credit: Santiago Flores, South Columbus, IN - June 2008
What will climate change mean in INDIANA?
PURDUE CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH CENTER Exploring the causes and impacts of climate change, improving predictive models to project future climate conditions, and pursuing novel ideas for mitigation and adaptation. ESTABLISHED IN 2004 Broad-based support from academic and administrative units at Purdue INTERDISCIPLINARY 80+ faculty representing 22 departments NON-PARTISAN Objective, science-based information COLLABORATIVE Partnerships with schools, NGOs, businesses, government agencies, farmers
IN CCIA Reports Putting global change into local perspective July 31 Climate Health Forest EcosystemsUrban Green Agriculture Infrastructure Aquatic Ecosystems Tourism & Water Resources Energy Recreation www.indianaclimate.org Infrastructure
Annual Statewide Average Temperature INDIANA
Annual Statewide Average Temperature INDIANA
2050s (2041 to 2070) More frequent extreme heat More rainfall & flooding Longer warm season Based on seasonal average temperature and precipitation
Days Above 90 ºF Annual Count 14 PAST 1915-2013 Where we end up depends on the choices we make! 47-60 59-94 FUTURE 2050s FUTURE 2080s Future data based on high emissions scenario 2050s represents 30-year period 2041 to 2070 Elkhart County, Indiana
Annual Statewide Average Temperature Reducing emissions matters! INDIANA
How does waste fit into this? Emissions from landfills Methane Carbon dioxide Nitrous oxide Landfills are the 3 rd largest sources of human-related methane emissions
How does waste fit into this? Emissions from landfills Methane Carbon dioxide Nitrous oxide U.S. EPA, 2009 U.S. Emissions by sector (2006)
of U.S. GHG emissions are associated with the energy used to produce, process, transport, and dispose of the food we eat and the goods we use. Systems-based assessment of U.S. emissions (2006) U.S. EPA, 2009
Opportunities for emissions reductions Source reduction General Motors LFG Generation Plant Fort Wayne Assembly Reuse, recycle Energy recovery
Annual Statewide Average Temperature Reducing emissions matters! INDIANA
Stay informed, stay connected http://indianaclimate.org Jeffrey Dukes PCCRC Director jsdukes@purdue.edu @DukesJeff Melissa Widhalm IN CCIA Coordinator mwidhalm@purdue.edu @PurdueCCRC