Georgia Climate Change Summit 2008

antruth Al Gore: an inconvenient truth IPCC: 4th Assessment Report 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.” “Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” 4th Assessment Report Summary for Policy Makers WMOUNEP INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

What about skepticism and uncertainty? Puzzle Analogy While several of the pieces are not yet in place, we have confidence that we know what the overall picture is Scientific skepticism is alive and well, as scientists continue to analyze data, refine theories, and improve models

Local Warming: Georgia  Sea level rise  Heat waves  Droughts & floods  Hurricanes  Air quality  Infectious diseases  Agriculture  Forests  Fisheries/wildlife IMPACTS: economy, ecosystems, public health & safety, quality of life

Impacts of drought Impacts of drought 2007 drought has cost N. Georgia over $1.3B Mandatory water use restrictions; running out of water Lack of reliable water supply will hurt industry, economic development, property development Impacts energy generation (hydropower, power plant cooling) Stress on forests; wildfires Stress on agriculture, livestock Stress on landscape, tourism, recreation industries Stress on river ecosystems

IMPACTS VULNERABILITIES Initial Impacts Net Impacts Autonomous Adaptations Exposure Human interference MITIGATION Policy responses CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IPCC, 2001 Mitigation is reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to prevent dangerous climate change Adaptation is alteration of activities to minimise consequences of climate change

Adapting to an Uncertain World: Georgia’s Water Resource Planning Goals: Protect public health and environmental quality Meet future water need while protecting aquifers, in- stream uses, downstream users Strategies: Increase water conservation, efficiency, reuse Maximize water returns to the basin of origin Meet increases for demand through water storage, aquifer management, and reducing demands Protect water quality by reducing pollutants from discharges and runoff from land

Challenges to regional climate change assessment, mitigation and adaptation  Some uncertainty in climate change projections  Lack of understanding of how to apply this knowledge to support decision making and risk analyses  Impacts of regional climate change and local vulnerabilities have been inadequately studied  Local/regional mitigation/adaptation strategies are further complicated by political, cultural, and economic issues Political will is needed to develop policy and technology options that are practically feasible and cost effective

The Challenge: Sustainable Management of an Ever-Changing Planet resource consumption population increase environ degradation climate change

Integrating research, education, green campus, and partnerships and innovative policies Major themes:  Sustainable energy systems  Climate and environmental stewardship  Sustainable enterprise  Sustainable urban systems Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Georgia Tech