The Essential Principles of Climate Science Literacy. Presentation given at the ICE2009 (Inspiring Climate Education) Conference in Copenhagen, Oct. 2009. By Mark S. McCaffrey, Associate Scientist III, The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. Uploaded by Claus Berg by permission from Mark S. McCaffrey.

6. Colorado’s New Energy Economy

12. A NASA-funded professional development program for teachers Making Climate Hot Effectively Communicating Climate Change Workshop for scientists, teachers, students and citizens The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences Education and Outreach Group

15. http://www.researchchannel.org /

23. http://climateinteractive.org /

24. http://www.google.com/landing/cop15/

25. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita Games Theory Analyst Modeled the future of COP15 targets, and predicted that most countries will renege on them. No democratic government will seriously limit CO2 if it will hurt its citizens economically.

27. Dr. James Hansen- NASA 1988 2009

31. “ If you can graduate climate-literate graduates in every area – people who are going to become leaders in business, government, non-profit organizations and legal systems.... Toni Nelson Program Director American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

32. ...If you can get a shift happening in their education and climate-literacy, then you shift the whole culture around climate.” Toni Nelson Program Director American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

34. Reviewed and Endorsed by U.S. Climate Change Science Program now the U.S. Global Change Research Program

35. & Energy Awareness (CLEAN )

37. 1) Sun Drives Earth’s Climate 2) Complex Interactions 4) Natural Variability and Change 5) How Climate is Studied 6) Human Activities & Impacts 7) Consequences of Climate Change 3) Life & Climate Connected

42. Guiding Principle For Informed Climate Decision Humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts

43. Climate information can be used to reduce vulnerabilities or enhance resilience... The impacts of climate change may affect the security of nations. Humans may be able to mitigate climate change or lessen its severity by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations...

44. A combination of strategies is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions... Humans can adapt to climate change by reducing their vulnerability... Actions taken by individuals, communities, states, and countries all influence climate.

45. The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system

46. Solar Energy Solutions

47. Text Climate Is Regulated By Complex Interactions Among Components of the Earth System 2.

48. Text Wind, Geothermal, Hydro Power, Storage, Nuclear 2.

49. Text Life on Earth Depends on, Is Shaped By, and Affects Climate 3.

50. Text Food, Bio-Fuels & Bio-Char 3.

51. Climate varies over space and time 4. through both natural and man-made processes

52. Daily, Seasonal & Regional Energy Patterns and Solutions 4.

53. Text Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling 5.

54. Text Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Beyond 5.

55. Text Human activities are impacting the climate system 6.

56. Text 6. Strategies to minimize impacts

57. Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives 7.

58. Building Resilient, Sustainable Communities 7.

59. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Climate_Literacy_Handbook

61. CARBON

64. ~10 Tons of Air per square meter +14 pounds per square inch at sea level

65. Jan Baptist van Helmont 1580-1644

68. 99.9% of Atmosphere Doesn’t Capture Heat

69. 99.9% of Atmosphere Doesn’t Capture Heat But some “trace” gases do Water Vapor

70. The “Greenhouse Effect” allows liquid water to exist and life on Earth to flourish

72. Watts per square meter

83. NAS

84. NAS

85. “ Our industrial civilization has been pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a great rate....

86. By the year 2000 we will have added 70 percent more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere...

87. If it remained, it would have a marked warming effect on the earth’s climate, but most of it would probably be absorbed by the oceans...

88. Conceivably, however, it could cause significant melting of the great icecaps and raise sea levels in time.” Planet Earth: The Mystery with 100,000 Clues National Academy of Sciences 1958

91. Text

93. A seed grows into a large tree. Where did the mass of the tree come from? What if I told you that the mass comes mainly from the carbon dioxide in the air?

94. Plants draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

96. Text t

98. Text Sunlight + water + carbon dioxide = carbohydrates (sugars) + O2 + water

99. Over millions of years, the carbohydrates are transformed into “hydrocarbons” or fossil fuels like coal.

100. One gallon of gasoline = 98 tons of biomass (buried solar energy)

103. Carbon Legacy of US Female = ~6X Per Child Her Lifetime Emissions Murtaugh & Schlax (2009)

104. Text The Concrete Jungle: Environmental Awareness and Experiences of Nature Among Urban Youth Dr. Susie Strife University of Colorado at Boulder

106. What types of environmental problems are children aware of? How do they feel about these problems? How do they perceive and talk about the future state of the earth?

122. Encourages children to tell their parents: “If you care about me, don’t give me a world that will heat up by four-to-five degrees.” “ Now is the time for a National Energy Education Act.” July 2008 Secretary of Energy Steven Chu chatting with his boss, who as Senator proposed a Global Warming Education Act

123. http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org / ~700 Colleges & Universities Pledge to Develop Carbon Neutrality Plans, Courses & Education Experiences

124. Anthony Leiserowitz- Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media

131. “ In areas where data or understanding are incomplete, such as the details of human evolution or questions surrounding global warming, new data may well lead to changes in current ideas or resolve current conflicts.”

132. Not well addressed in State Science Education Standards 30 states do note impacts of anthropogenic change 19 states don’t mention at all 17 states focus on mechanisms 7 states note fossil fuels impacting climate 5 states note land use changes impacts 3 states focus on mitigation strategies

134. In summer we’re closer to the sun Axial tilt is reason for the seasons Schneps, 1985

135. Air is invisible and weightless Air has density and momentum

136. Climate is averaged weather Weather & Climate are different processes and studied differently

137. How could a few trace gases warm the entire planet? +99% of gas concentrations in atmosphere don’t capture heat Oh, and by the way, it’s not really like a greenhouse

138. Global warming caused by ozone hole Global warming caused by human activities, especially burning fossil fuels

139. Solar radiation bounces/reflects off Earth Incoming UV and visible are transformed into outgoing IR heat

140. Global warming is just natural cycles Human activities warm the planet

141. Energy is stuff from the ground (that we’re running out of) Fossil fuels = concentrated buried solar energy

142. Carbon is destroyed when burned Energy is converted into work/heat; matter is rearranged but not destroyed

143. Cars run on gas. Electricity comes from a power plant. Energy for transportation and electricity is generated by burning fuel to make heat.

144. We’ll be able to soon reverse global warming The accumulation of GHG in the atmosphere is difficult to slow, let alone reverse

146. Jan Baptist van Helmont 1580-1644

147. Cornelius Bernardus van Niel 1897-1985 Sugar

148. Plants get their mass from water and nutrients through their roots Plants get mass from “thin air” and experience seasonal cycles

150. Concentrated Buried Solar Energy Burning coal, created in climate of the past, impacts future climate

151. Based on EIA Annual Energy Review 2001 (EIA, 2003).

153. Microwave Oven

155. Footprint Calculators in Tons CO2 CO2 Converted Into Watts Adapted from “The Game Plan 1.0” Saul Griffin, 2008 Creative Commons

156. Adapted from “The Game Plan 1.0” Saul Griffin, 2008 Creative Commons

157. Adapted from “The Game Plan 1.0” Saul Griffin, 2008 Creative Commons

160. Adapted from “The Game Plan 1.0” Saul Griffin, 2008 Creative Commons

161. Adapted from “The Game Plan 1.0” Saul Griffin, 2008 Creative Commons

166. Use Photos and Videos from Cellphones with GIS to monitor environment and actions

168. Participatory Sensing

172. Green (solution) Grey (problem) Rich Poor The Fourth Quadrant

173. “ When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” John Muir

174. [email_address]