1. Top Ten Things to Know
About Global Warming

2. Number Ten
• There is a scientific
consensus that
human activities are
very likely to affect
global climate

3. Number Nine
• There is some chance
that, due to the
uncertainties of
complex models and
the assumptions used
to drive them, the
consensus is wrong.

4. Number Eight
• Ignoring the potential
implications of climate
change is taking a big
risk with a valuable
asset.
– The Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC)
recommends that we avoid
“dangerous human
interference” with global
climate systems.

5. Number Seven
• In order to avoid
dangerous
interference, IPCC
estimates that we
need to hold global
emissions about
steady.

6. Number Six
• Since the developing
world would still like
to develop, the
developed world must
make substantial
emissions reductions.
– IPCC says 70-80
percent of current
levels must be
reduced by 2040-
2050.

7. Important Data
8.00E+09
7.00E+09
6.00E+09
5.00E+09
4.00E+09
3.00E+09
2.00E+09
1.00E+09
0.00E+00
World USA OECD Asia
Population Total Carbon Emissions

8. More Important Data
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
World USA OECD Asia
Per Capita Carbon Emissions

9. Number Five
• The Kyoto Protocol
will result in only
modest emission
reductions
– The US has not yet
ratified this treaty

10. Number Four
• We have 30-40 years
to transform
industrialized society
– Reducing emissions
by 70-80 percent is a
substantial challenge

11. US Greenhouse Emissions
HFCs, PFCs, SF6
N2O
2%
6%
CH4
9%
CO2
83%

12. US CO2 Emissions
Everything Else
3%
Fossil Fuel
97%

13. US Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions
Commercial
Residential 4%
7%
Industrial Electricity Generation
17% 40%
Transportation
32%

14. Number Three
• We already have
technologies that can
help us on the way
– Efficiency
– Renewable Energy
– Coal-gasification with
carbon sequestration

15. Number Two
• The behavioral
challenges are much
more daunting than
the technological
ones.

16. Number One
• Climate change isn’t
likely to affect our
generation.
• We need to make
changes for
subsequent
generations.