Liceo Scientifico «G. Galilei»Pescara

A. S. 2012-2013

Davide D’AddarioClass II A

presents:

UDA: Global Warming

Green Economy

English Teacher: Prof.ssa Miscia Roberta

Green Economy increases human well-being & social equity, significantly reducing environmental risks & ecological scarcities.

Green Economy

It reduces carbon emissions and pollution, enhances efficiency and sustains biodiversity and ecosystem services.

In other words…

What is “Green Economy”?• It is a new economic paradigm that can drive growth of

income and jobs, without creating environmental risks.

• It was born out of the multiple crises of the last decades (crises in climate, biodiversity, food, fuel and water, and more recently, the financial crisis) accelerating resources scarcity.

• Existing policies and market incentives have contributed to the problem.

• Green Economy is the economic vehicle for sustainable development.

• Green Economy has strategies to end the persistence of poverty.

• Rapid increase of human population.

- 2007 ~ 6.7 billion people (projection 2050 ~ 9.2 billion)• Rapid increase of financial capitals

• Resource consumption, degradation, depletion Possible results: - Huge amounts of pollution and waste - Disrupting economies - Loss of species, farming lands, water supplies - Climate changes - Political fallout

What is wrong with the economy that the world is currently pursuing?

The effects: natural capital degradation

HUMAN IMPACT ON THE GLOBE: EMERGENCY MEASURES

•Very high environmental costs•30% loss of biodiversity, loss of fish stock, deforestation, water scarcity, pollution and so on.

Growth , income and employment for green economy must come from...

• Reduced carbon emissions and pollution• Enhanced energy and resource efficiency• Preventing the loss of biodiversity and

ecosystem services

GROWING UP WITH “GREEN”

Hungry for energy

• The Americans produce and consume more energy than any other nation and consume more energy per capita than most of the nations.

• The U.S. are the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, after China. Europe is the third.

• Traditional energy sources (gas, oil) are becoming scarcer and they will be eventually exhausted.

««I am convinced that whoever I am convinced that whoever builds a clean energy builds a clean energy economy, whoever is at the economy, whoever is at the forefront of that, is going to forefront of that, is going to own the 21st century global own the 21st century global economy.  economy. 

Last year, we made the largest Last year, we made the largest investment in clean energy in investment in clean energy in our history.  our history. 

It's an investment that's It's an investment that's already leading to new jobs already leading to new jobs and new businesses across and new businesses across the countrythe country».».

PRESIDENT OBAMA PRESIDENT OBAMA ON ENERGY POLICYON ENERGY POLICY

President Obama at Meeting with Governors on President Obama at Meeting with Governors on Energy Policy. February 3, 2010Energy Policy. February 3, 2010

OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION GREEN ENERGY GOALS

1.1. Job CreationJob Creation

2.2. Reduction of energy consumption &Reduction of energy consumption &diversification of energy sourcesdiversification of energy sources

3.3. Reduction of greenhouse gases emissionsReduction of greenhouse gases emissions

««We’ ll invest…in clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.  We’ ve begun to reinvent our energy policy…We’ re issuing a challenge. We’ re telling America’s scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we’ ll fund the Apollo projects of our time». 

OBAMAOBAMA’’S ENERGY POLICY: S ENERGY POLICY: STATE OF THE UNION 2011STATE OF THE UNION 2011

President Obama gave the annual President Obama gave the annual ““State of the State of the UnionUnion”” speech on January 26, 2011 speech on January 26, 2011

OBAMA’S GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES• Target of reducing emissions 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050

• 25% of electricity from renewables by 2025 (80% by 2035)

• The largest U.S. consumer of energy (the U.S. government) to reduce its emissions 28% by 2020

• Target of 1 million electric vehicles

• Call on Congress: – to pass Clean Energy Legislation to cut emissions – Call on Congress to cut billions of $ in subsidies to oil companies by 2015– Call on Congress to explore and promote all kinds of alternative wind energy

• 40% increase in vehicle fuel efficiency by 2020• Five-fold increase in biofuel supply by 2022• Tax credits and other incentives for wind, solar, and nuclear

power

A global issue• The U.S.A, Europe, China, Japan,

India and Brazil have a decisive influence

• Emerging markets with great energy demand increase carbon emissions

• Can global interest be reconciled with national priorities?

• How will the recession and financial crisis affect energy choices?

Useful tips1. How many people leave their bedroom lights on when they are not in their room? Turning off lights saves energy and money. 2. How many people circulate in their private cars today, instead of walking, riding bicycles or taking public transport to go to work ? Our reliance on cars that burn fossil fuels is one of the major causes of increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and of urban smog.3.How many people throw the cans of their soft drinks into the garbage bin?Throwing away any kind of containers wastes energy and resources and adds to our waste problems.

THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY: WHAT ARE WE DOING TOGETHER?

•Italcementi is a leader in American production of a new concrete “smog-eating” engine – used in U.S. highways & roads•General Motors is working with the “Politecnico” in Turin to develop more efficient diesel engines•The Green Building Council in Italy has launched an Italian version of U.S. sustainable building standards (LEED) to be used in ItalyThese ones are only some of the many more examples of the U.S. and Italian cooperation to develop clean technology…

THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY – FUTURE PLANS

• Continue to expand research exchanges, travel by local policymakers, and trade delegations

• Increase green sector joint ventures, especially for small and medium-sized businesses

• Strengthen the U.S.-Italian venture capitals and private equity investments

Are we really ready to change the way we live?

The climate crisis can be solved!!!

Carbon emissions can be reduced

Blowing Up Your WorldHow many people among us eat canned or frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones?

Fresh vegetables cook more quickly and are usually more nutritious than frozen or canned foods. Canned and frozen vegetables are often over-processed, contain additives, contribute to air pollution (transport and packaging) and add to our waste problem.

Let’s start from healthy food

Domestic energy waste

• How many people among us use a hairdryer or other energy-consuming convenience appliances, especially in the morning?

• Hairdryers use a lot of energy especially in the morning so plenty of the energy demand is put on our grids. Power companies have to find other sources of energy to meet the morning rush hour.

Eating “toxic”

• How many people eat take-away or cafeteria food that is served in foam or plastic containers?

• Polystyrene and other plastic containers are made of petrochemicals which do not decompose in landfills and release toxic gases when they are burnt in incinerators.

Deforestation

• How many people among us use tissues instead of handkerchiefs or use paper towels instead of cloth towels?

• Paper comes from trees. The more we use it, the more trees keep on being cut down.

Saving energy

• How many people change incandescent bulbs for new compact fluorescent bulbs?

Changing one bulb can save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per year!

It is time to take important steps forward to protect our planet. Our “green tomorrow” starts now!

Let’s get ready to change our lifestyle