GLOBAL PROBLEMS
- Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm before the industrial revolution to about 400 ppm today (350.org goal to bring it down to 350 ppm)
- Temperature rise is about 1.8F (or 1C) today. Even with Paris agreement, temperature rise estimated to be 3.5 C. With US reversal, temp rise may be higher.
- Antarctic/arctic/glaciers melting, sea level rise, worsening wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, coastal storms, catastrophic rains and floods, mudslides, heat waves, and bleaching of coral reefs
GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
- We need to get back to strengthened Paris Agreement. We need ALL of the about 195 nations to cooperate to make it happen. US must again show its leadership, as well as help the poorer nations. Need large Green-House Gas (GHG) reductions!
- We need a new Global Climate Change Organization (GCCO) with the power and resources to help the world solve global warming. For the ecological crisis we need a Global Environmental Restoration Organization (GERO) – My suggestions (HSL)
NATIONAL PROBLEMS
- Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is Trump’s “Great Leap Backwards”. He is increasing fossil fuel production, building pipelines, increasing coal production, and has totally gutted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- We have worsening wildfires, mudslides, massive flooding (east coast and Texas), heat waves, hurricanes, tornadoes (number of tornadoes per cell have increased), and coastal storms – among others
NATIONAL SOLUTIONS
- In the face of the Federal Reversal, states, cities and people have been trying to pick up the slack. Companies have become more sensitive and have internal sustainability and clean energy plans
- The solution we need the most a MASSIVE DEFEAT of the Republicans in elections
CALIFORNIA SITUATION & PROBLEMS
- Massive wildfires – 2017 was the worst, and 2018 may equal that. These are usually followed by massive flooding, and mudslides when the rains come
CALIFORNIA SOLUTIONS
- California recently reached its 2020 goal ( to get down to 1990 level) for Green House Gas Reductions ahead of schedule. 1990 emissions 431 Million Metric Tons. (MMT) After reaching peak of 534 MMT in 2004, we now are down to 429 MMT!
- California has made big progress in renewable energy production (solar and wind). CCA – Community Choice Aggregation, that empowers communities to get all of their energy from renewable sources has made some progress.
- California has become the first state to require that new homes be built with solar panels. The rules go into place in 2020 and are part of the state’s ambitious efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But these requirements also make it more expensive to build in a state where housing is already extremely expensive.
- Future looks tougher in terms of added reductions as emissions from cars and trucks is continuing to increase. The Federal removal of the power of California to regulate its car and truck emissions will make it much worse. Electrification needs to be more massive, and transition to a low carbon transportation system is desperately needed (not just here, but globally).
- The Sierra Club has made significant progress in its push to have favorable legislations passed. SB 100 has passed assembly and now goes to the Senate. AB 813 (regionalization) may be a big step backwards and the Sierra Club is opposing it. Will update the membership at the next meeting.
- California needs to mandate higher energy efficiency standards for all building construction (residential, business and industrial) – these structure will be there for 30-100 years – My suggestion (HSL)
- California needs massive programs that help to mitigate the problems of Wildfires, flooding and mudslides, BEFORE they occur. Recommending a WPA and CCC (depression era type programs), so that for example all the forest areas are prepared for wildfires (building barrier zones, etc0, making it much easier for firefighters to fight and contain wildfires. After wildfires, efforts needed on the denuded hillsides to reforest them, and prepare them to mitigate the effects of mudslides – My suggestion (HSL)
- Distributed by Hari Lamba