Environmental Responsiblity:
•Freshwater withdrawal has almost doubled since 1960 and nearly half the world’s major rivers are going dry or are badly polluted (New Internationalist, no. 329 November, 2000. 18) •11 of the world’s 15 major fishing areas and 69% of the world’s major fish species are in decline (State of the World 1998, 60-67)
•Climate change (global warming) exists, a major culprit is fossil fuels, and impacts are very serious. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change 1995)
Effects of Climate Change:
Effects on food production
More extreme weather events
Disruptions of ecosystems
Spread of disease to temperate climates
Submersion of land masses – 1 to 4 foot sea level rise, up to 20 feet; 50% of world’s population lives on the coasts; Over 75% in 2050
140,000 deaths per year attributed to climate change
Web Resources:
Campus ERC: Environmental Resource Center for Higher Education
Buy a rainbarrell:
Learn more at http://www.rainwatersolutions.com/
