Little People Big Little People Big ChangesChanges

We We learn and share information learn and share information about issues affecting the world…about issues affecting the world…andand

We We take action take action to try to make the to try to make the world a better place.world a better place.

We founded Little People, Big We founded Little People, Big Changes along with our moms; Changes along with our moms; over fifty kids in Wilton and beyond over fifty kids in Wilton and beyond join us to help in our campaigns.join us to help in our campaigns.

What is Global Warming?What is Global Warming?

The earth’s atmosphere is like a The earth’s atmosphere is like a blanket that keeps the world warm.blanket that keeps the world warm.

Too much COToo much CO22 (carbon dioxide) (carbon dioxide) makes the blanket thicker and traps makes the blanket thicker and traps the sun’s heat. the sun’s heat.

COCO2 2 comes from burning fossil fuels comes from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gasoline to run like oil, coal, and gasoline to run cars, factories and heat homes, cars, factories and heat homes, schools and offices.schools and offices.

We Have To Act Now!We Have To Act Now!

If people don't change how we use If people don't change how we use energy, within 50 years many of the energy, within 50 years many of the effects of climate change will have effects of climate change will have happened!happened!

Since it is kids who will be most Since it is kids who will be most affected, it is we who can make the affected, it is we who can make the biggest difference.biggest difference.

We have to do something! We can't We have to do something! We can't just sit on our butts!just sit on our butts!

Will this stop global warming?

We’ve Made Some We’ve Made Some Changes…Changes…

We already know about global We already know about global warming…warming…

We’ve changed our light bulbs…We’ve changed our light bulbs… We drive less…We drive less… We re-use grocery bags…We re-use grocery bags… We recycle glass and plastic…We recycle glass and plastic…

Well that’s a great start but it’s not Well that’s a great start but it’s not enough!!enough!!

……We Need to Do More!We Need to Do More! Back in 2001, New England Back in 2001, New England

governors promised to governors promised to reducereduce carboncarbon emissions, but we haven’t emissions, but we haven’t yet met that goal.¹yet met that goal.¹

Global warming emissions in New Global warming emissions in New England actually England actually increasedincreased by by 10.9% between 1990 to 2005.²10.9% between 1990 to 2005.²

Transportation is responsible for Transportation is responsible for the biggest increase emissions the biggest increase emissions since 2001 -- people are driving since 2001 -- people are driving more in bigger cars, such as SUVs.more in bigger cars, such as SUVs.

Carbon Levels are Increasing

Carbon released into the Carbon released into the atmosphere from burning atmosphere from burning fossil fuel increased from 7 fossil fuel increased from 7 billion tons in 2000 to 8.4 billion tons in 2000 to 8.4 billion tons in 2006.³billion tons in 2006.³

This was almost exactly the This was almost exactly the number that was their “worst number that was their “worst case” projection for that year.case” projection for that year.

In his talk at the Wilton In his talk at the Wilton Library, Jay Inslee (a Library, Jay Inslee (a Congressman from Congressman from

Washington State) said that Washington State) said that out of out of 2,800 questions 2,800 questions asked asked to presidential candidates in to presidential candidates in 2007– only 2007– only threethree were about were about climate change – the same climate change – the same

number of questions as there number of questions as there were about UFOs.were about UFOs.

Not Enough People Think Not Enough People Think Climate Change Is Climate Change Is

Important…Important…

Climate Change is Climate Change is Happening Now!Happening Now! Arctic sea ice is melting faster than Arctic sea ice is melting faster than

originally expected, and sea levels are originally expected, and sea levels are rising faster than predicted.rising faster than predicted.

Do you know how on a hot day a white T Do you know how on a hot day a white T shirt keeps you cool and a black T shirt shirt keeps you cool and a black T shirt makes you hot? That’s because white makes you hot? That’s because white reflects light, while black absorbs it. reflects light, while black absorbs it.

White ice reflect the sun’s rays back into White ice reflect the sun’s rays back into space, but darker water absorbs more of space, but darker water absorbs more of the sun’s heat, so the problem just gets the sun’s heat, so the problem just gets even worse as ice melts.even worse as ice melts.

Climate Change is Climate Change is Happening Now!Happening Now!

2007 was a record year for Arctic melting.

As a result of ice melting, 6,000 walruses came on shore in Alaska in October 2007, the first time in history.

A NASA climate scientist said, “At A NASA climate scientist said, “At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice free by 2012, much faster nearly ice free by 2012, much faster than previous predictions.”than previous predictions.”66

Maple sugaring season – when Maple sugaring season – when farmers tap their maple trees farmers tap their maple trees for sap and boil it into syrup for sap and boil it into syrup and candy – is getting earlier.and candy – is getting earlier.

This year, maple tapping This year, maple tapping weekend is March 29-30.weekend is March 29-30.

It has moved up one week in It has moved up one week in the last 30 years.the last 30 years.

By 2080, experts think it will By 2080, experts think it will move up to the end of January.move up to the end of January.

Climate Change is Climate Change is Happening Now!Happening Now!

Climate Change is Climate Change is Happening Now!Happening Now!

Earlier springs, earlier snow-melts Earlier springs, earlier snow-melts and drought contributed to more and drought contributed to more and longer burning forest fires.and longer burning forest fires.

In 2003, about 5 million acres In 2003, about 5 million acres burned in the U.S.; in 2006, burned in the U.S.; in 2006, almost 10 million acres burned.almost 10 million acres burned.

Since wildfires also release carbon Since wildfires also release carbon dioxide, this makes the problem dioxide, this makes the problem even worse.even worse.

What More Can We Do?What More Can We Do?

Remember that every single Remember that every single thing you do and buy takes thing you do and buy takes energy; think what you can do to energy; think what you can do to reduce, reuse, and recycle to save reduce, reuse, and recycle to save energy.energy.

Talk to your neighbors, your Talk to your neighbors, your friends, and everyone you know friends, and everyone you know about ways that they can reduce about ways that they can reduce their carbon emissions.their carbon emissions.

Some of our ideas include…Some of our ideas include…

Don’t Idle Your CarDon’t Idle Your Car When you idle your car for When you idle your car for ten ten

seconds seconds or more, it uses more gas or more, it uses more gas than it takes to turn your car off and than it takes to turn your car off and then on again. then on again.

Tell everyone you know...Tell everyone you know...

If you’re stopped for more than If you’re stopped for more than ten, ten,

turn it off and on again!turn it off and on again!

^seconds

Sign up for Clean EnergySign up for Clean Energy

You don’t have to have a windmill by You don’t have to have a windmill by your house to use wind energy!your house to use wind energy!

Anyone who is a CL&P or UI customer Anyone who is a CL&P or UI customer can choose to have their electricity can choose to have their electricity from clean energy just by signing up for from clean energy just by signing up for the Connecticut Clean Energy Option.the Connecticut Clean Energy Option.

Once you sign up, your electricity Once you sign up, your electricity supplier will purchase the energy for supplier will purchase the energy for your home from wind or low impact your home from wind or low impact hydro, which essentially wipes out your hydro, which essentially wipes out your electric bill’s carbon footprint!electric bill’s carbon footprint!

Clean Energy Sources Traditional Fossil Fuels

For For everyevery 100 sign-ups, the Town 100 sign-ups, the Town of Wilton will qualify for a free of Wilton will qualify for a free solar panel system (worth solar panel system (worth $20,000) to go on a public $20,000) to go on a public building (like a school, town hall, building (like a school, town hall, or firehouse).or firehouse).

Signing up only takes a few Signing up only takes a few seconds! Go to our website at seconds! Go to our website at www.littlepeoplebigchanges.orgwww.littlepeoplebigchanges.org

Wilton Wins if You Sign Wilton Wins if You Sign Up For Clean Energy…Up For Clean Energy…

Eat Natural, Locally Grown Eat Natural, Locally Grown FoodsFoods The “carbon footprint” of food The “carbon footprint” of food

includes the energy required to includes the energy required to manufacture, package and manufacture, package and transport it. On average, food transport it. On average, food travels 1500 miles before travels 1500 miles before arriving at your table.arriving at your table.99

BONUS! Eating locally grown, BONUS! Eating locally grown, whole foods is healthier for your whole foods is healthier for your body and encourages organic body and encourages organic farming practices which is farming practices which is better for the land and more better for the land and more “sustainable”.“sustainable”.

Thank you!Thank you!

Our Sources1.1. New England Climate Coalition, 2008New England Climate Coalition, 20082.2. Report: “Falling Behind: New England Must Act Now to Report: “Falling Behind: New England Must Act Now to

Reduce Global Warming Pollution” by Environment Reduce Global Warming Pollution” by Environment Connecticut and Clean Water Action.Connecticut and Clean Water Action.

3.3. United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, October 2007.Change, October 2007.

4. Alan Robock, Center for Environmental Prediction at Rutgers University, 2007

5. Associated Press/Federal Marine Mammal Commission, October 2007

6. Jay Zwally , NASA, December 20077.7. Cornell University Chronicle March 2008Cornell University Chronicle March 20088. National Interagency Fire Center9. Omnivore’s Dilemma