Gardener’s Guide to Global Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingWarming

Challenges and SolutionsChallenges and Solutions

Patty GlickPatty GlickSenior Global Warming SpecialistSenior Global Warming Specialist

National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation

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•ImpactsImpacts

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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

How Global Warming WorksHow Global Warming Works

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) – 80%

Land-use (deforestation, agriculture) - 20%

>380 ppm today

Global Average Temperature Change

Atmospheric CO2 (ppm) ■

Up 1.4˚ F

Up 11+˚ F ?

700? 900?

A Changing ClimateA Changing Climate

•More frequent and severe extreme weather events (including floods, droughts, and heat waves)

•A lengthening of the frost free season and earlier date of last spring freeze

•Earlier spring snowmelt and lower average snowpack in mountains

When it Rains it Pours…When it Rains it Pours…

……or Not at Allor Not at All

With Climate Change

Reduced SnowpackReduced Snowpack

Mid-21st Century

Longer Frost-Free SeasonLonger Frost-Free Season

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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Gardeners Gardeners Have a Have a Unique Unique

Connection Connection to the Landto the Land

Plants are Leafing Out and Plants are Leafing Out and Blooming EarlierBlooming Earlier

Chinese lilac blooming six days earlier

Butterfly weed, other plants blooming more than two weeks earlier

Cherry trees are blooming a week sooner

Changes in Migration and Breeding Changes in Migration and Breeding PatternsPatterns

Butterflies are advancing their first flight date by 24 days

Robins are arriving 10 days earlier in Wisconsin

Tree Swallows are laying eggs 9 days earlier

Species are Shifting RangesSpecies are Shifting Ranges

Changes in USDA Hardiness ZonesChanges in USDA Hardiness Zones

MORE CHALLENGES MORE CHALLENGES FOR GARDENERS...FOR GARDENERS...

Threats to AgricultureThreats to Agriculture

Some Like it COLD

Threats to AgricultureThreats to AgricultureSuitable Premium

Wine Grape Regions Today

Future Premium Wine Grape Regions (Late

21st Century)

...A CATASTROPHE FOR NATURE...A CATASTROPHE FOR NATURE

Expansion of Invasive SpeciesExpansion of Invasive Species

Worsening Native Pest OutbreaksWorsening Native Pest Outbreaks

Disrupted Ecosystems and Disrupted Ecosystems and Species ExtinctionsSpecies Extinctions

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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

You Can You Can Take Take ActionAction

&&Make a Make a

DifferenceDifference

Laura Ouimette, Flickr.com

Improve Your EnergyImprove Your Energy EfficiencyEfficiency

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Reduce the Use of Gasoline-PoweredReduce the Use of Gasoline-Powered Yard ToolsYard Tools

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Compost kitchen and garden Compost kitchen and garden wastewaste

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Use Organic Gardening MethodsUse Organic Gardening Methods

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Reduce Water ConsumptionReduce Water ConsumptionTake Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Get the Right Kind of MulchGet the Right Kind of Mulch

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Develop a Rain GardenDevelop a Rain Garden

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

NRCS

Plant Trees to Protect Your Home Plant Trees to Protect Your Home from the Elements and Consider from the Elements and Consider

Installing a Green RoofInstalling a Green Roof

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Incorporate a Diversity of Native Plants Incorporate a Diversity of Native Plants into Your Landscapeinto Your Landscape

Actions in your BackyardActions in your Backyard

Grow Your Own FoodGrow Your Own Food

Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard

Plant Native Trees and Protect Plant Native Trees and Protect Undeveloped LandscapesUndeveloped Landscapes

Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community

Participate in Citizen ScienceParticipate in Citizen Science

Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community

Certify your Home and Neighborhood Certify your Home and Neighborhood as a Community Wildlife Habitatas a Community Wildlife Habitat

Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community

Demand Action From Your Demand Action From Your Elected OfficialsElected Officials

Urge elected officials to support climate change policy:

Cut global warming pollution

Help human and natural systems “adapt”

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