EnergyThe Effects of Global Warming on the African American Community

By Portia Mazone, Karla Maynard and Schneider Santil

There is only one Earth

What is Global Warming?• The gradual

increase of the earths temperature, because of the emission of greenhouse gases. Global Warming 101

Think Clean,

Go “GREEN”!

Energy and Global Warming• Coal is the most polluting of all fossil fuels and the largest

single source of global warming pollution in the world.• One-third of all CO2 emissions comes from burning coal. • Every year the U.S. emits over 7 billion tons of global

warming pollution, with 85% coming from fossil fuels.• The U.S. burns 25 percent of the world's oil, but we only

have three percent of the world's proven oil reserves.• Certain gasses, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere

create a "greenhouse effect", trapping heat and keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life as we know it.

• Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are now the highest in 150,000 years.

• If our greenhouse gas emissions are not brought under control, the speed of climate change over the next hundred years will be faster than anything known since before the dawn of civilization.

• With only five percent of the world population, the United States produces nearly 25 percent of annual global heat-trapping emissions. Electricity generation accounts for fully one-third of these emissions.

• Renewable electricity standards have been enacted in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

• Among the gases emitted when fossil fuels are burned, one of the most significant is carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere.

• Energy Crisis

Energy and Global Warming in the African American Community

• Although African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, on average they emit about 20 percent less greenhouse gases than non-Hispanic whites. Yet, as we have seen, blacks are more likely to suffer the consequences of global warming than are non-Hispanic whites (Hoerner and Robinson, 2008).

• Where does it effects us the most?

• At home...our community

• Why hasn’t anything been done?

• We beileve we need to fight for issues we can see

• Why care?• Becasue it affects us

How Can We Change The Energy Crisis In The Black Community?

• To stop global warming we will need to live a more sustainable life

• Eat locally produced foods• Buy a fuel-efficient cars• Find better methods of

transportation• Improve the efficiency of

home appliances• Write our senators

encouraging them to vote on sustainable laws

• Get the message out that global warming is real

What is FAMU Doing to Promote Sustainability on Campus?

FAMU formed the FAMU Green Coalition on Dec. 11, 2006. The mission of the FAMU Green Coalition is to partner with campus, area and governmental resources to help protect and enhance the health and well-being of the FAMU community on environmental issues.

The FAMU Environment and Sustainability Council was founded Jan. 31, 2008, on Florida A&M’s campus by President James Ammons. His charge to the council was to promote and construct a strategic plan to create a sustainable campus. ESC works closely with the FAMU Green Coalition, Environmental Sciences Student Organization, American Colleges & University Presidents Climate Commitment, American Association of Sustainability in Higher Education, City of Tallahassee and numerous other campus organizations and colleges.

Top 10 Energy Conservation Tips

1. Turn off the lights

2. No hot water drips

3. Leave the doors closed

4. Recycle

5. Use natural light during the day

6. Smell the fresh air

7. Keep the window shut in heated and air-conditioned places to save energy

8. Unplug it

9. Change light bulbs

10. Use a laptop computer instead of a desk top computer

ENERGY MAN

Sources• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fVI3BRBC6o • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxbbncHKCeU• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z8edAnMpxA&featu

re=channel•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLSYeoRrPuc• “An inconvenient truth” A Global Warning DVD• Kilowatt Ours

: A Plan to Re-Energize America by Jeff Barrie• http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_im

pacts/impacts/renewable-energy.html• http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/global-warmin

g-and-energy• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eg_SEAnE-M• Global Warming: FAMU’s Most-Important Challenge

& Its Greatest Opportunity, by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, APR, CPRC

Any Questions??