Tag: Climate change

Tourist Tuesday, 5/8/18

Surprise: Global Travel is a Huge Contributor to Climate Change

This article excerpt is from KQED, published yesterday. The two articles linked within this one are crucial reading. I urge everyone to take the time to read them. They also directly relate to our situation. Has anyone made the effort to measure the effects of carbon emissions in Big Sur Valley? Or in Monterey Peninsula lately? Are we smothering ourselves in pursuit of more and more tourism? Critical questions.
San Francisco welcomed a record total of 25.1 million visitors in 2016, an increase of 2.3 percent from 2015, according to the San Francisco Travel Association. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Researchers warn that the surge in global tourism is outstripping the “decarbonization” of tourism-related technology.

In the first study of its kind, researchers found that carbon emissions from world travel contribute about 8 percent of all carbon emissions, four times more than previously estimated.

New Record CO2 Measures Show ‘Humans Are Overwhelming Nature’

That rate is expected to grow 4 percent annually, outpacing the footprints of many other economic sectors, according to the study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The study takes a sweeping look at the environmental impact of  global tourism by examining the entire supply chain, from flights, dining, to shopping purchases. High-income countries account for the majority of this footprint, with the U.S.  topping the list followed by China, Germany and India.

“Our analysis is a world-first look at the true cost of tourism — including consumables such as food from eating out and souvenirs — it’s a complete life-cycle assessment of global tourism, ensuring we don’t miss any impacts,”  said senior author Arunima Malik, who teaches sustainability at the University of Sydney.

For the rest of the article, see: https://www.kqed.org/science/1923609/surprise-global-travel-is-a-huge-contributor-to-climate-change

Hope for a Changing Planet

Hope for a Changing Planet

Thursday Oct. 4, Grange Hall, Big Sur
Potluck 6 pm, Program 6:30

Big Sur Advocates for a Green Environment (B-SAGE) and Big Sur Grange encourage everyone to come and hear about: Hope for a Changing Planet.

Global Warming can sometimes seem nebulous and distant. However, it is becoming clear that those distant changes will have local and personal effects on our daily life and health. The Climate Reality Project is a resource that is providing education and research on these changes as they are happening and how those changes are causing real consequences now and more so in the near future.

Central California volunteer and environmentalist, Tama Olver, attended a Climate Reality Project event in August 2012 with people from 47 states and 58 countries. She is coming to Big Sur to share the latest thinking about our changing climate and impending impacts on human health. Her focus is one of hope and action.

Come hear Tama Olver and see her informative power point presentation at the Big Sur Grange Pot Luck, 6:00pm October 4th. Bring a dish to share and your own place settings, program at 6:30. Donations for expenses are appreciated. For more information, call B-SAGE at 667-8823 or go to http://climaterealityproject.org.