From our climate panel in Grand Junction on August 4: Our Forest, Our Water, Our Land: Local Impacts on Climate Change. Sponsored by Conservation Colorado, Mesa County Library, Math & Science Center

1. And A Climate
Change Action Plan:
Taking Personal
Responsibility

2. Climate Change Effects to Colorado
Forests and Wildfire Frequency
Climate Change Effects to Forests
Mountain Pine Beetle and Pine Sawfly
Spruce Beetle and Budworm
Sudden Aspen Decline
Increases in Fire Intensity and Frequency
A Climate Change Action Plan: Taking
Personal Responsibility

3. Forest Insect Pests
Mountain pine beetle
outbreaks since 1998 -
3.4 million acres affected
Warmer winter
temperatures increase
insect winter survival
Warmer spring
temperatures: earlier and
more reproductive cycles
Newest outbreak: pine
sawfly south of Denver

4. Spruce Beetles and Budworms
Spruce beetle outbreaks
have increased over 5
years - 398,000 acres of
active infestation in 2013
Western spruce
budworm defoliated
156,000 acres in 2013
Insect-killed trees add
fuel to wildfires; increase
fire intensity for 1-2 years

5. Sudden Aspen Decline
Rapid, landscape-scale
deterioration of canopy
1.21 MM acres affected in
Colorado from 2000-2010
1/3 (237,000 ac) of
GMUG NF aspen
affected
Severe drought (2002)
created conditions for
insects and disease to
invade and kill trees

6. Wildfire Intensity & Frequency
Increased area burned
predicted from increased
temperatures of 1.8⁰F
Increased forest insect
outbreaks increases fire
frequency
100% increase predicted
in Western U.S. by 2050
200-500% increase
predicted in Colorado

7. Forests and Wildfire Summary
Projected rates of climate
change are faster than rates
of response in natural
systems
Increased temperatures are
already affecting plants,
animals, and humans
Loss of aspen and spruce
predicted on West Elks,
Uncompahgre Plateau,
parts of Grand Mesa (47%
of suitable spruce habitat)

8. A Climate Change Action Plan
Delaying action will increase future costs.
As individuals, we have the opportunity to affect
public policy (i.e. EPA Clean Carbon rule-making);
We can vote for needed changes through the
political process (support candidates for change);
We can work to change local regulations (zoning
rules, building codes, HOA guidelines); and
We can make personal choices each day to reduce
our carbon footprint.

9. Household Energy Consumption
U.S. population is 4-5% of total world population, but
consumes 25% of all fossil fuels and produces 25% of
total carbon emissions
The U.S. consumes an average of 57.8 barrels of oil
equivalent per person each year
Personal household energy use consumes 2/3 of the
total: 10 barrels for food, 13.5 barrels for cars, and 15.4
barrels for homes for total of 39 barrels of oil
U.S. uses twice the energy/person than Europe and 9
times the energy/person of developing countries

10. Energy Impact of Buildings
40% of total energy and 39% of CO2 generated in the
U.S. comes from heating, cooling & lighting buildings
World average CO2 production from buildings is 9%.
U.S. buildings are larger and less efficient; have
doubled in size since 1950’s .
Technology exists and is being used in Europe to
reduce home energy use by 80-90% (NetZero homes).
As individuals, we can choose to live a more energy
efficient lifestyle.

11. Reducing Home Energy Use
Turn down thermostat in winter, up in summer. Each
degree saves 3-4% on energy use and cost.
Use ceiling or room fans to increase comfort in
summer; moving air feels 5 degrees cooler.
Replace water heater with on-demand unit; turn down
water temperature or use timer on older units.
Add insulation and storm windows to older homes.
Change to fluorescent or LED light bulbs.
Turn OFF electronics (with power strip)
Replace older appliances with Energy Star rated ones.

12. Reducing Community Energy Use
Building codes and HOA requirements can become
more energy-friendly.
Require LEED or similar ratings for public buildings.
Require Energy Star ratings for new homes.
Encourage Energy Star standards for new construction:
2”x6” construction = R-19 rated walls
24 inch attic insulation = R-49-60 attics
Insulated foundation and floors; low E windows
Energy Star appliances (furnace, air, water heater)

13. Improving HOA Energy Standards
Allow for smaller homes to be included within
existing and new subdivisions. U.S. homes have
doubled in size in the past 50 years while family
size has decreased.
Allow for non-standard looking, passive solar
homes (earth bermed, concrete-foam block
construction, etc.)
Allow for standing-seam metal roofs; a light
colored metal roof reflects 4x the solar energy as
an asphalt roof.

14. Energy Impact of Food Supply
Prior to 1945, it took 1 calorie of human or animal muscle
energy to produce 5 calories of food.
The “Green Revolution” after WWII was based on use of
agricultural petrochemicals and fertilizers.
Now it takes 10 fossil fuel calories to produce 1 calorie of
food in the U.S.
Food production consumes 17% of our total energy.
There are around 120-150 basic foods (fruits, vegetables,
grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, fish, meat).
U.S. manufactures over 300,000 food “products” using
fossil fuels at every stage.

15. Human Impact of Food Supply
2/3 of adults in U.S. are overweight, lifespan is shorter
despite spending 2x for health care as Europe, Canada
On average Americans eat 2200 pounds of “food” per
year; 1100 calories/day more than needed.
Meat consumption has doubled since 1935; we eat 100
pounds more meat each year than Europeans.
More energy is needed to produce 1 calorie of meat
protein (25 calories) than plant protein (2.2 calories)
Livestock production produces more greenhouse gases
(18% worldwide) than transportation use.

16. Reducing Food Energy Budget
Reduce overall meat consumption.
When you do buy meat, buy grass-fed meat rather
than grain fed (uses ½ the energy to produce).
Eat whole foods rather than manufactured food
“products” that take energy to produce, package and
ship (shop outside aisles of supermarket).
Eat seasonally and buy locally to reduce transportation
costs of food (farmers markets, farm stands).
When available, buy organic foods grown without
petrochemical-based fertilizers and pesticides.

17. Transportation Energy Impact
2009: 254 million registered passenger vehicles; 50
million more than registered drivers.
Average gas mileage in 2009 for all passenger
vehicles was 17.1 mpg.
As vehicles have improved slightly in efficiency,
U.S. drivers have increased miles driven/year,
negating any fuel savings.

18. Reducing Transportation Energy
Buy most fuel-efficient vehicle you can afford.
Drive fewer miles; group errands to make fewer
trips.
Drive slower: 55 miles/hour uses 23% less fuel
than 75 miles/hour
Carpool or share rides to work, school, meetings.
Use public transportation when possible.
Walk or bike for short errands.

19. What If We Are Wrong?
If we take action now, based upon the 95% of scientists
who believe that climate change is affected by human
activity, and discover later that they were wrong:
We will have conserved fossil fuels for future use
We will have reduced carbon and methane air pollution
We will have increased renewable energy sources
If we wait to take action, based upon the 5% of
scientists who don’t believe human activity affects
climate, and discover later that they were wrong:
It may be too late/too costly to make effective changes

20. The ones that are crazy
enough to think they can
change the world are the
ones that do.
Anonymous

21. Sources
2013. Colorado State Forest Service. Report on the
Health of Colorado Forests.
2011. National Research Council. Climate Stabilization
Targets.
2008. Pat Murphy. Plan C: Community Survival
Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. New
Society Publishers.
2014. Jim Worrall and Susan Marchetti. “Climate
Change Projections for Picea engelmannii” and
“Sudden Aspen Decline”. USDA Forest Service.