THE ENVIRONMENT

Our Responsibility

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

(Genesis 1:1, 31)

Critical Issues

Climate Change

We are increasing global temperatures

The Greenhouse Effect– When the sun’s radiation

reaches our atmosphere, some is reflected back into space and some passes through and is absorbed by the earth.

– Certain molecules in the atmosphere, called greenhouse gases, including water and carbon dioxide, allow sunlight to pass through them, but tend to reflect infrared or heat.

– Because greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like a mirror and reflect back to the Earth a part of the heat radiation, which would otherwise be lost to space, the higher the concentration of green house gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more heat energy is being reflected back to the Earth.

• Average sea level is expected to rise 7 - 23 inches before the end of this century - and perhaps as much as 31 inches (if, as some models predict, the rate of ice melting from Greenland and Antarctica increases).

• All but 100 of 1,100 glaciers researched are receding (more ice melts in summer than re-forms the next winter).

• The current pace of global average temperature rise puts approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species at increased risk of extinction.

• Rain forest destruction contributes to climate change. That's because trees store carbon dioxide as they grow. Clearing and burning forests releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Coral reefs are as important to marine wildlife as rainforests are to land-based wildlife. Rising seawater temperatures threaten their survival. The world lost about 16% of all coral reefs in 1998, the second hottest year on record.

Water

We are wasting it and polluting it

Water• Inadequate access to safe drinking water for about

884 million people• Inadequate access to water for sanitation and waste

disposal for 2.5 billion people• Groundwater overdrafting (excessive use) leading to

diminished agricultural yields• Overuse and pollution of water resources harming

biodiversity• Regional conflicts over scarce water resources

sometimes resulting in warfare• Between 1997 and 2007, bottled water consumption

in the U.S. more than doubled, from 13.4 gallons per person to 29.3 gallons per person

Over-Consumption

We are consuming more than we need

Over-Consumption• Inevitable environmental degradation and eventual loss of resource

bases• Globally, the 20% of the world's people in the highest-income

countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditures - the poorest 20% a minuscule 1.3%.

• With around 5 percent of the world's population, the US consumes about 40% of the world's resources and emits around 21% of the worlds carbon dioxide

• In September 1992, 2,500 scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that there is a discernible human influence on global climate likely to cause "widespread economic, social and environmental dislocation over the next century.“

• “The United States, Japan, and other high-income countries, with 15 percent of the world's population, consume half of the world's commercial energy.”

Waste

We are being lazy with what, where, and how we throw things out

Waste• Every year we throw away almost 30 million tonnes of household waste that is enough to

fill a queue of double decker buses that would stretch from here to Australia and back again!

• Every Sunday, more than 500,000 trees are used to produce the 88% of newspapers that are never recycled.

• North Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.• Every year some 45,000 tons of plastic waste are dumped into the world's oceans. One of

the results of this is that up to one million seabirds and one hundred thousand marine mammals are killed each year by plastic trash such as fishing gear, six-pack yokes, sandwich bags, and styrofoam cups.

• Paper cups consume trees, water, and chemicals, and dump them into streams and landfills- they are not re-cyclable. Paper cups are often wax-coated which reduces their bio-degradeability futher. Paper products make up over 40 percent by weight , slightly higher by volume - of this country's municipal solid waste, by far the largest contributor. Paper Recycling and its role in Solid Waste Management. Every year nearly 900,000,000 trees are cut down to provide raw materials for American paper and pulp mills. (Business Stastistics, 1986)

• American per capita food waste increased to more than 1,400 calories per person per day in 2009, an increase of approximately 50 percent since 1974.

Loss of Biodiversty and Extinctions

Our habits are altering ecosystems

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

• At threat of extinction are • 1 out of 8 birds• 1 out of 4 mammals• 1 out of 4 conifers• 1 out of 3 amphibians• 6 out of 7 marine turtles• 75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost• 75% of the world’s fisheries are fully or over exploited• Up to 70% of the world’s known species risk extinction if

the global temperatures rise by more than 3.5°C• 1/3rd of reef-building corals around the world are

threatened with extinction

Toxic Chemicals

We are introducing harmful, even fatal, toxins into our environment

Toxic Chemicals • Cigarette smoke, Woodstoves and gas ranges, Building materials, Sick building syndrome and building-related asthma,

Bacteria, molds, viruses, and other biological contaminants, Household products, Asbestos, Radon, Pesticides

EMISSIONS – Ozone

• Irritation of the lungs that causes inflammation much like a sunburn. • Coughing, wheezing, and pain when taking a deep breath, and breathing problems while exercising.

• Permanent lung damage from repeated exposure. • Aggravated asthma, increased susceptibility to pneumonia and bronchitis, and reduced lung capacity

– Particulates • Aggravated asthma.• Chronic bronchitis.

• Coughing and difficult or painful breathing. • Decreased lung function.

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation.

– Carbon Monoxide • Headaches, irritability, or loss of consciousness.

• Difficulty working, learning, or performing complex tasks.• Aggravation of heart problems, such as angina, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

– Nitrogen dioxide • Respiratory problems associated with ground-level ozone.

• Acid rain, which is created when nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide react with other substances in the air and form acids. The acids then fall to earth as rain, snow, dry particles, or fog. • Toxic chemicals. Nitrogen oxides mix with common organic chemicals and even ozone to create toxic chemicals that can cause biological mutations.

• Visibility impairment. Nitrogen dioxide and nitrate particles block light transmission and reduce visibility in urban areas.

– Sulfur dioxide • Health problems for people with asthma and heart conditions.

• Acid rain.• Damage to forests and crops.

• Damage to fish in streams and lakes.

– Lead• High blood pressure and increases in heart disease.

• Anemia.

How can I

Take care of the Earth?

Save Energy • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees

higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older

incandescent bulbs burn out.• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power

strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

• Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

Save Water

• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

• Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

• Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.

• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

Less Gas

• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

Eat Smart• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a

week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain This is especially true for seafood.

Skip Bottled Water

• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

• Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

Think before you buy

• Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products.

• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

• When making purchases, make sure you know what's worth it and what isn't.

Borrow instead of buying

• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

• Share power tools and other appliances.

Buy smart

• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products.

Keep electronics out of the trash

• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes.

• E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

• Recycle your cell phone.

Make your own cleaning supplies

• You can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.