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Climate Change. and. Vehicle Idling Awareness. Funded by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada. What is. Climate Change?. Scientists say:. The earth is getting warmer…. 20th century the warmest globally in past 1000 years. 1980s and 1990s warmest decades on record.
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Climate Change and Vehicle Idling Awareness Funded by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada
What is Climate Change?
Scientists say: The earth is getting warmer… • 20th century the warmest globally in past 1000 years • 1980s and 1990s warmest decades on record
…and the warming will continue • Scientists predict average temperature increase of up to 1.4-5.8ºCin next 100 years • Small changes in average temperatures make a big difference: • Average temperatures today are only about 5ºC warmer than they were during the last Ice Age
How do we know this is happening? • Temperature records - to 1860 • Ice cores, sediment cores, tree rings - evidence dating back several thousand years • Computer modeling for future predictions: Canadian model among best in world
Why is this happening?
Earth’s surface is heated by the sun and radiates the heat back out towards space Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of the heat Solar energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere Some energy is reflected back out to space The Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse Effect is normal… without it Earth would be in a deep freeze! …But when greenhouse gases like these become more concentrated in the atmosphere, the Greenhouse Effect increases and causes global temperatures to rise… Carbon dioxide: released through burning fossil fuels Water vapour: the most common gas Methane: from wetlands, rice paddies, animal digestive processes, landfills and sewage treatments Nitrous oxide: from soils and the ocean Ozone:exists naturally in the upper atmosphere Halocarbons: human-made chemicals
Deforestation Electricity Industry Transportation Human activities are intensifying the greenhouse effect
What’s wrong with warmer temperatures?
Climate Change will effect different places in different ways
Climate Change in Saskatchewan • Average annual temperatures could increase by about 4°C by the end of the century • Increased risk of drought, dust storms, and insect infestations for agriculture • Longer, hotter summers will increase evaporation, reduce water levels in lakes and rivers – could increase demands on groundwater • Ecosystems could shift northward • Extreme weather events could become more common
Actions by individuals account for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions each year - equal to six tonnes per year
Did You Know…?? • Passenger transportation is responsible for 18% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions • In Saskatchewan, 43% of individual emissions come from vehicles. For every litre of gasoline used, the average car produces about 2.4 kg of CO2
Idling our vehicles: • produces unnecessary pollution that contributes to climate change, smog and health problems; • wastes fuel and costs us money; and • is not good for vehicle engines.
A campaign in Toronto found that more than a third of parents idle their vehicles while waiting to pick up their children • Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults and inhale more per kilogram of body weight
Whatcan you do?
Recycle or compost as much as possible Turn off your computer when not in use Walk or bike for short trip Get involved in actions in your community Taking action to reduce emissions will slow the rate of climate change, save money and produce other environmental and health benefits Some Examples:
Get involved with Climate Change Saskatchewan’s Vehicle Idling Awareness Campaign! …and be awarded with an Idle Free Zone sign to be posted in your school zone!
Initiate an Idle Free Campaign at your school! What is involved? • Send an application to Climate Change Saskatchewan; You will receive an Idle Free School Project Kit • Monitor the number of idling vehicles and their idling times • Initiate a communication campaign in your school • Re-monitor idling vehicles • Prepare a brief report about campaign activities; Submit the report to Climate Change Saskatchewan by May 15 • WIN AN IDLE FREE ZONE SIGN FOR YOUR SCHOOL!
Some Campaign Ideas: • Poster Contests: Invite principles, school administration staff, city councilors, school board representatives and community members to participate; Be sure to display posters in places that students and the public will see them • School Newsletters: Include facts, slogans and logos about climate change and idling. For campaign slogans and logos, check out the Anti-Idling Toolkit from Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling/home.ctm • Community News Sources: Invite local newspapers like the Leader Post, the Prairie Dog and the Sunday Sun for a story or photo during an event; Make sure you have a an articulate and credible spokesperson • Anti-Idling Website: Create a student-designed web page for a school or community website
School Events: Incorporate anti-idling themes into school assemblies, debates, rallies, parent-teacher open houses, concerts, sport and fun-days, and other special events; Specific activities include skits, cheer or song competitions, dance-offs and more • Science Fair Project: Focus your project(s) on transportation and idling issues; Include a prize for the winning project! • School Projects: Incorporate anti-idling and climate change issues into the curriculum; For example, in math class, try calculating the amount of carbon dioxide your community can save by reducing idling. Record the idling time in number of minutes and use the online CO2 calculator at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling/calculator/co2_calculator.cfm and then try calculating and graphing the differences before and after the campaign!
Congratulations on doing your part to help fight Climate Change!
Want more information? Call Climate Changes Saskatchewan toll-free 1-866-887-8823 if you have questions or to book a speaker, or check out www.climatechangesask.ca The Idle-Free Zone http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling Transport Canada tips to reduce emissions at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/vehicles/home.cfm Saskatchewan Environment www.se.gov.sk.ca Take Action!