CRed

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Climate Change The Greatest Threat to
Mankind? Hard Choices Ahead
Diocescan Synod - 18th March 2006
Keith Tovey Lay Chairman Norwich East
CRed
Keith Tovey M.A., PhD, CEng, MICE, CEnv Energy
Science Director Low Carbon Innovation
Centre School of Environmental Sciences, UEA
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Climate ChangeArctic meltdown 1979 - 2003
Summer ice coverage of Artic Polar Region NASA
satellite imagery
20 reduction in 24 years
CRed
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Source Nasa www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/top
story/2003/1023esuice.html
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Our Choices They are difficult
Do we want to exploit available renewables i.e
onshore/offshore wind and biomass.
Photovoltaics, tidal, wave are not options for
next 20 years. If our answer is NO Do we want to
see a renewal of nuclear power ?
Are we happy on this and the other attendant
risks?

• If our answer is NO
• Do we want to return to using coal?
• then carbon dioxide emissions will rise
  significantly
• unless we can develop carbon sequestration within
  10 years UNLIKELY

If our answer to coal is NO Do we want to leave
things are they are and see continued
exploitation of gas for both heating and
electricity generation? gtgtgtgtgtgt
3/10
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Our Choices They are difficult

• If our answer is YES
• By 2020
• we will be dependent on GAS
• for around 70 of our heating
  and electricity
• imported from countries like Russia, Iran,
  Iraq, Libya, Algeria
• Are we happy with this prospect? gtgtgtgtgtgt

If not We need even more substantial cuts in
energy use. Or are we prepared to sacrifice our
future to effects of Global Warming? - the
North Norfolk Coal Field?
Do we wish to reconsider our stance on
renewables? Inaction or delays in decision making
will lead us down the GAS option route and all
the attendant Security issues that raises.
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How many people know what 9 tonnes of CO2 looks
like?
On average each person in UK causes the emission
of 9 tonnes of CO2 each year.
5 hot air balloons per person per year. Around 4
million in he Norfolk
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did
nothing because he thought he could do only a
little." Edmund Burke (1727 1797)
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Raising Awareness

• Computers do NOT switch off when using the soft
  SHUT DOWN. Typically they will waste 60 kg CO2
  a year.

• 10 gms of carbon dioxide has an equivalent volume
  of 1 party balloon.

• A Mobile Phone charger gt 20 kWh per year
• 1000 balloons each year.

• Standby on electrical appliances
• 80 kWh a year - 4000 balloons.

• A Toyota Corolla (1400cc) 1 party balloon every
  60m.

• Filling up with petrol (35 for a full tank
  40 litres)
• --------- 90 kg of CO2 (5 of
  one hot air balloon)

How far does one have to drive in a small family
car (e.g. 1300 cc Toyota Corolla) to emit as much
carbon dioxide as heating an old persons room for
1 hour?
1.6 miles
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Solar Energy - The BroadSol Project Involving
the Community
Solar Collectors installed 27th January 2004
Annual Solar Gain 910 kWh
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Hard Choices

• What can we as individuals do?
• What can you do collectively as a Church?
• Visit the CRed WEB Site
• Sign a pledge to
• combat global warming
• help secure a sustainable environment for our
  children
• help reduce the adverse impacts of Global
  Warming
• help secure energy supplies for the future
• saving energy
• Adopting technical solutions
• Promoting Awareness
• Promoting appropriate renewable energy

www.cred-uk.org
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Conclusions

• Global Warming will affect us all - in next few
  decades
• Energy Security will become increasingly
  important. Inaction over making difficult
  decisions now will make Energy Insecurity more
  likely in future.
• Move towards energy conservation and LOCAL
  generation of energy
• It is as much about the individuals response
  to use of energy as any technical measures the
  Government may take.
• Wind (and possibly biomass) are the only real
  alternatives for renewable generation in next 5
  10 years.
• Otherwise Nuclear ??? (but accessible
  uranium is limited)
• Even if we are not convinced about Global Warming
  Energy Security issues will shortly start to
  affect us. gtgt

9/10
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Conclusions

• Need to act now otherwise we might have to make
  choice of whether we drive 1.6 miles or heat an
  old persons room

Are you up to the Challenge? Will you make a
pledge?
"If you do not change direction, you may end up
where you are heading."
Lao Tzu (604-531 BC) Chinese Artist and Taoist
philosopher
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Act of Commitment

• As we celebrate the goodness, diversity and
  wonder of Gods creation, we admit our collective
  guilt in allowing species to become so swiftly
  extinct, in depleting finite energy and raw
  materials, and in polluting the earths soil,
  water and atmosphere. Let us be ready to change
  the way we think and live.
• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom
  come.
• Let us commit ourselves, as individuals and
  within our churches, to do all we can to heal and
  restore the damage people have caused to Gods
  earth, and to develop sustainable lifestyles,
  both for ourselves and to inspire others.
• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom
  come.
• Let us commit ourselves to do all in our power to
  support church communities planning a better way
  of living in their localities.
• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom
  come.

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Act of Commitment

• Let each of us commit ourselves to play our part
  and take what action we can to cherish Gods
  creation.
• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom
  come.
• We pledge to pray and work for an
  environmentally sustainable and socially just
  world, in the interest of all earths
  Inhabitants, both present and future generations,
  and for the well-being and flourishing of the
  whole earth.