colo local impacts slideshow
TRANSCRIPT
ColoradoIn the Bull’s Eye of Climate Change
ColoradoIn the Bull’s Eye of Climate Change
NWF President Larry Schweiger
2003-2007 Temperature
Predicted CO Temperature Rise
Jack - Age 12Sunlight Mtn. Ski Team
The Issues in ColoradoAnimals
Pine BeetleRecreation
Transmission Lines
Water Impacts
Word Associationwhat’s the first word that comes to mind When I say Colorado?
Word Associationwhat’s the first word that comes to mind When I say Colorado?
Frigin’ Gorgeous
Economic Impacts of Recreation in Colorado
Mountains
Skiing
It’s all about the BenjaminsIt’s all about the BenjaminsColorado: #1 Ski & snowboard state in the
country = $1.92 billion in 2007
100-105 days of skiing = 6.5-7% profit margin
1% decrease in tourism = loss of over $375 million & loss of 4,500 jobs
Pine Beetles and Ski Resorts - Vail: 2000 trees at a cost of $200,000 in 2008
Water Issues
Water Water Everywhere?Water Water Everywhere?
“Changes in the quantity and quality of water may occur due to warming even in the absence of precipitation changes.” - Colorado Climate Report
“Between 1978 and 2004, the spring pulse in Colorado has shifted earlier by two weeks.”
For the Upper Colorado River Basin, models are projecting a decrease in runoff anywhere from 6-45%.
County PercentageSki Resort Affected
San Miguel 82% Telluride
Eagle 57%Vail & Beaver Creek
Grand 54% Winter Park
Summit 50%Breckenridge & Copper
Projected Loss in snow pack by 2085
Water issuesWater issues
2000-2004 First instance of five consecutive years of below average flow
since 1992
Snow pack below average 8 of the last 10 years
Colorado river temperatures are 2.2 degrees F warmer
than 20th century averages and 2.9 degrees F warmer
than 100 years ago
The Side The Side 41 wilderness areas
may see an increase in spring, summer and fall
tourism
Mountain pine beetles killed 1.2 million trees in 2004 and 1.5 million lodgepole pines from 1996-2005
Source: Center for Integrative Environmental Research at the University of Maryland “2008 Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Colorado” &
University of Colorado Environmental Center
The total amount of pine beetle kill as of 2008 covered 1.5 million football fields. “You’d have to run from Colorado clear out to California...”
Pine beetles infected roughly 500,000 acres in 2007
Pine Beetle Impacts
Fabulous Furniture Medicine Wolf Log Furniture Company Denver
Or how about a pine beetle inspired remodel?
Courtesy of Whispering Wind Design - Nederland, CO (Jerry Naro)
Solutions:
What can you do with pine beetle
kill?
You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVJuRgil0wQGrayson, Donald K. (2005). "A brief history of Great Basin pikas". Journal of BiogeographyArticle by Mike Stark on physorg.com: http://www.physorg.com/news158049546.html
Issues: Loss of suitable habitat and available food
resourcesSuffering heat exhaustion & starvationConsidered for endangered species list
since 2005
For More Information:
Pika or PicaOchotona Princeps
As the world turnsAs the world turnsDrama in the San Louis Valley
Louis Bacon - British Hedge Fund ManagerBillionaire
The “bad guy”
The Setting
The beautiful San Luis Valley
The Plot:Xcel Energy wants to run transmission lines through 14-18 miles of Mr. Bacon’s 171,000 acres. He refuses, and Xcel will not be able to meet their 2007 renewable energy goals. A spokesperson for the ranch is blaming Xcel. According to the web site “Big Time Listings”, the Steve Forbes family said they were happy to sell it to him because of his “track record of preservation”. Makes for great ratings!
It’s Appalling!!
Where climate change meets consumerism and consumerism meets environmental
justice
Where climate change meets consumerism and consumerism meets environmental
justice
Statewide Solutions
GEOGovernors ENergy Office
Climate Action Plan
GEOGovernors ENergy Office
Climate Action PlanGreenhouse Emissions GoalsBy 2020: 20% below 2005 By 2050: 80% below 2005
Explore agricultural carbon sequestering solutions
Major electric utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020
Research clean coal technology i.e. integrated gasification combined cycle
Waste Diversion Goal: 75% by 2020
Phase in mandatory emissions reporting
State government energy consumption: 20% by 2012
Use performance contract financing to audit and make improvements to state buildings and K-12 schools.
Increase E-85 fueling stations statewide
If Congress and the President fail to agree on carbon trading program, join Western Climate Initiative
Partner with K-12 educators to develop and teach sustainability curricula
Denver, Leading by ExampleDenver, Leading by Example
DOT-Sized Solutions
Colorado’s top 10 Climate Field TripsBecause who doesn’t love a good field trip
Colorado’s top 10 Climate Field TripsBecause who doesn’t love a good field trip
10) Toxic Tour produced by Cross Community Coalition - Denver
9) Eco-Cycle - 13 cities around Colorado
8) New Belgium Brewing Company - Fort Collins
7) University of Colorado at Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs
6) Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road - Estes Park
5) DIA (Denver International Airport) - Denver
4) NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)/Earth System Research Laboratory) - Boulder
3) B Cycle - Downtown Denver Various Locations
2) NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)/UCAR - Boulder Colorado
1) National Ice Core Laboratory - Lakewood
Colorado’s Top 10 climate field Trips
Colorado’s Top 10 climate field Trips
Sustainable Bike Tour of
Boulder
Bridget’s Mom’sCurbside Compost
Casey Middle SchoolSolar & Geothermal
Bike Lanes, Bike Paths, Bike-Through Bank
Pearl Street DowntownPedestrian Mall
For Further Research (Sources)
For Further Research (Sources)
www.cdphe.state.co.us/ic/coloradoclimateactionplan.pdf
www.cier.umd.edu/climateadaptation/Colorado%20Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Climate... -
http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy
Colorado Climate Action Plan(Developed by Governor Ritter’s Office)
University of Colorado Environmental Center
Economic Impacts of Climate Change on ColoradoProduced by the Center for Integrative Environmental Research at the University of
Maryland
Colorado Climate Report Colorado Water Conservation Board
http://cwcb.state.co.us/Home/ClimateChange/
Team Colorado and our furry friends thank you for your attention