Steve Bacher of the Bucks Sustainability Team laid out the global environmental problems facing Bucks students in his presentation of “The Climate Reality Project.”
The slideshow presentation was created by former Vice President Al Gore, and made popular in his 2006 movie “An Inconvenient Truth.” Gore created “The Climate Reality Project” in 2006. He has since trained many others to present his slideshow, including Bacher.
Bacher opened his presentation held on Nov. 6 by asking Bucks students, “What will be the Pearl Harbor of the climate crisis?”
Bacher continued by explaining how the Earth’s atmosphere is very thin, but greenhouse gases are thickening it to the point that the sun’s infrared rays are getting trapped causing average temperatures to climb.
According to Bacher, daily heat records were set all across the globe in 2012. Additionally, 2012 became the hottest year in U.S. history.
As temperatures increase oceans are warming causing the Arctic ice to melt, evident by the rise of humidity levels of the atmosphere because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture.
According to climate scientists there is 4 percent more water vapors over oceans than 30 years ago.
Climate scientists are attributing the destructive force of hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the two costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, to the higher moisture content in the atmosphere and warmer ocean waters caused by global warming.
In 2013, it was the 37th consecutive year above the 20th century’s average temperature. “I hope that people who see the slide show will become concerned, tell their friends and let their elected officials know that they want action now,” said Bacher.
Bacher and other environmentalists have proposed putting a tax on Carbon pollution. Bacher said, “It is a market based approach that would make renewable energy relatively affordable.” He compared the tax to the price people have to pay to dispose of their own trash.
Kelly Armstrong, 20, journalism major, “thought the presentation was fantastic and it really opened my eyes to the severity of the issues and despite the fact we are making changes with green technology they aren’t happening fast enough.”
Armstrong continued, “Realizing how it affects me wants me to participate more.”
Bacher enjoys presenting the “Climate Reality Project” to students because, “Many policies are starting to change, relatively quickly, as each generation gets educated and begins to vote.”
Bacher plans on continuing to offer this presentation for Bucks students each semester.
“I can also offer it, for free, to any group that would like to see it, including a student club, at their convenience,” said Bacher.
Any clubs or organizations interested in a free presentation can contact Bacher at [email protected].