Climate Change Andrew Mark from Earth Matters

What we will cover Introduction What Climate Change is Food and Climate Change

Climate Change What is the theory? How does it work?

Climate Change cont. Radiation from the Sun We are experiencing a net increase in Radiation retention “Global Warming”

Albedo Effect Greenhouse Gas Effect

Greenhouse Gases GHGs are atmospheric compounds that keep solar radiation in by re-reflection CO2 and Methane Fossil fuels Waste matter and decomposition

GHGs cont. Fossil Fuels, CO2 Cars, Trains, Planes, Ships, Machines Power Stations Fertilizers Plastics 100 years in atmosphere

GHGs cont. Methane Trash, Landfills Dams Animal and Human waste 10 years in atmosphere

THINK PIECE: OUR WAY OF LIFE IS DESTROYING THE PLANET 20% of world, us the “developed” world consumes 80% of the world’s resources. If the whole world were to live the way we do here, we would need 4 more planets. What will happen to CO2 levels when (I am generalizing here) China, India, Africa, South America, the other 80% of the world decides they also want cars, refrigerators, disposable diapers… Will we stop them by force? Or just trick them, bureaucracy them out of resources…

Climate Change part 2 It is happening, evidence Greenhouse Gas Measurements of CO2 and Methane in Atmosphere Vostoc Ice Cores Measurable temperature changes Climate Change Modeling Computers

Climate Change p2 cont. It is not happening Can we link human CO2 and Methane emissions to increase? This is natural 20,000 year cycle? Temperatures Computers If it does happen it will be good

Climate Change p2 cont. It is happening at an unprecedented rate CO2 and Methane have increased at an unprecedented rate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change believes it is happening

Climate Change p2 cont Sea Levels Shutting off the Thermohaline Circulation Pattern Extreme Weather Animal Migration Patterns and Biodiversity loss

Kyoto Accord We will reduce our GHG emissions to the levels of This is 10% of the reduction that will be needed to actually prevent climate change from happening Has been thwarted USA and Russsia Estimates that in 10 years we could have reached unpreventable stages…

One Tonne Challenge Industry makes up 75% of Canada’s GHG emissions Individuals on average contribute 5 tonnes of GHG a year Government wants you and everyone to reduce their personal emissions by one tonne

Main sources of Personal GHG emissions All Travel Planes are #1 Your Refrigerator Your home heating Your light bulbs Your appliances Your FOOD!

What we covered Introduction What Climate Change is What Greenhouse Gases are How Fossil Fuels play their role Our way of life The argument What we are doing

So then, what does food have to do with climate change and greenhouse gases?

Food: A Brief History Food used to be produced locally, and eaten locally Pre-refrigeration Trains changed everything, and made it possible and profitable to produce food in one location and sell it in another far away. The birth of our current food system 20 times more energy needed to produce the same amount of food than in 1910

Food and Transport Fossil fuel burning transport Great distances of travel, planes for New Zealand lamb, ships for Australian Apples, Trains and Trucks

Where does this food go? Where did it come from? Toilet? And where does that go? Garbage? And where does that go? Compost? Digestion and Metabolism Displaced nutrient cycling

Economy When food is traded, it is good right? Food transport is good for famine relief? What if some countries cannot provide enough food for themselves without importing But does this make it OK for everyone?

Packaging Plastic is made of Petroleum products Petroleum is a… Packaging takes Energy to produce Buying Naked Buying Bulk Plastic Bags

Packaging cont. Metal waste Paper products Biodegradable Products Canning at home

Why organic food? Fertilizers Nitrogen production through Haber Reaction Origin WWI Organic Needs vs. Industrial Needs 30-70% more associated ghg emissions

Organic Problems Price and Class issues Reality of production needs, organic will not feed the world Why is it so expensive? Government spending and subsidies

Food Needs Water Sun Nutrients Then moves up

The food chain Where do we eat on it? Consequences Maintenance Disease Humane? Waste

The food chain Trophic levels, Herbivores, Carnivores, Detrivores… Primary, secondary, tertiary Only 10% moves from one to the next Efficiency

Some Stats 77% of our food grain goes to animals in Canada If one was to weigh humans and farm animals in Canada, animals would weigh 4.3 times as much A meat diet requires 7 times the amount of land, fertilizer and thus, farm associated GHG production

Processed Food Orange juice, 10L orange to 2L diesel Peanut Butter Apple Sause Whip Cream Cheese Mayo

How much Fossil Fuel is left?

So, the case I make Climate Change Local Organic Packaging Food Chain and Animal products Waste Processed