Atmospheric levels of planet-warming carbon dioxide have hit a record high of more than 415 parts per million. That is the highest level in human history according to scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the US.
The accelerated rise of man-made greenhouse gas emissions has scientists alarmed.
What would it take to reverse the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
and put a stop to global warming?
We explore Project Drawdown (100 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming) with Southampton activist Darr Reilly on tonight's Sustainable East End.
Project Drawdown was founded by author, entrepreneur, and
environmentalist Paul Hawken in 2014. According to Hawken and project
developers, Drawdown is the point at which levels of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere stop climbing and then steadily decline, ultimately
reversing global warming.
In 2017 they published a book and a website listing 80 sources of
atmospheric carbon dioxide, ranking them according to how much
greenhouse gas would be reduced by eliminating each source.
Some of the leading ones are ending the use of common refrigerant
materials (#1), employing more onshore Wind Turbines (#2), educating
women and girls (#6) and family planning (#7).
The last two taken together would top the list.
Darr Reilly started Drawdown East End to spark interest in the concept.
Project Drawdown was founded by author, entrepreneur, and
environmentalist Paul Hawken in 2014. According to Hawken and project
developers, Drawdown is the point at which levels of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere stop climbing and then steadily decline, ultimately
reversing global warming.
In 2017 they published a book and a website listing 80 sources of
atmospheric carbon dioxide, ranking them according to how much
greenhouse gas would be reduced by eliminating each source.
Some of the leading ones are ending the use of common refrigerant
materials (#1), employing more onshore Wind Turbines (#2), educating
women and girls (#6) and family planning (#7).
The last two taken together would top the list.
Darr Reilly started Drawdown East End to spark interest in the concept.
She says she wants to help make Drawdown a household word and to promote
personal engagement in the Drawdown process.
We sat down with Darr Reilly this week at her Southampton home to explore
Project Drawdown and Ms. Reilly's approach to promoting the project.
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Project Drawdown East End will be at Southampton's Earth Day event
Saturday May 18 at Good Ground Park in Hampton Bays from 11am to 3PM
( the raindate is Sunday May 19 at the same time )
Also: On Friday May 24 project Drawdown East End will join in Earth Uprising,
On the steps of Southampton Town Hall from 12-1 PM
And: On June 1 - Project Drawdown East End will be the Eco Fair at East HamptonTown Hall from 11 am to 3 PM
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Here is some information about two local projects that would help reduce greenhouse gases:
The Riverhead News-Review reported this week that another solar farm is planned for the Calverton area where solar farms have been built in recent years:
A 22.9 megawatt solar array planned for the former Calverton Links property will require a special exemption permit from the Town Board.
If approved, the 23 megawatt solar aray will be built on the current 82-acre site of the Long Island Sports Park as well as a 115-acre parcel of vacant farmland.
The applicants, LI Solar Generation, a joint venture of Nextera Energy Resources and National Grid, plan to connect to a LIPA substation nearby using an underground connection on Edwards Avenue.
……
Another local project that promises a reduction in CO2 in the atmosphere is growing kelp.
As reported in eastendbeacon.com this month:
As kelp grows, it removes the things we don’t want in our waters, namely nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and provides oxygen that all marine life need to thrive. That’s according to researchers at Stony Brook University’s school of Marine Sciences.
This past winter, aquaculturists and marine scientists from Stony Brook University teamed up to see if they could grow sugar kelp in Long Island’s shallow south shore estuaries. The results have been positive.
