Posts tagged change
As the planet warms faster, more species will be increasingly at risk
Apr 21st
The acceleration of change means that the species inhabiting each zone have less time to adapt to the climatic changes, said lead author Irina Mahlstein, a CIRES scientist who works at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo. “The warmer the climate gets, the faster the climate zones are shifting. This could make it harder for plants and animals to adjust.”
The study is the first to look at the accelerating pace of the shifting of climate zones, which are areas of the Earth defined by annual and seasonal cycles of temperature and precipitation, as well as temperature and precipitation thresholds of plant species. Over 30 different climate zones are found on Earth; examples include the equatorial monsoonal zone, the polar tundra zone and cold arid desert zone.
“A shift in the climate zone is probably a better measure of ‘reality’ for living systems, more so than changing temperature by a degree or precipitation by a centimeter,” said Mahlstein.
The scientists used climate model simulations and a well-known ecosystem classification scheme to look at the shifts between climate zones over a two-century period, 1900 to 2098. The team found that for an initial 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit of warming, about 5 percent of Earth’s land area shifts to a new climate zone.
The models show that the pace of change quickens for the next 3.6 F of warming as an additional 10 percent of the land area shifts to a new climate zone. The paper was published online in the journal Nature Climate Change on April 21.
Certain regions of the globe, such as northern middle and high latitudes, will undergo more changes than other regions, such as the tropics, the scientists found. In the tropics, mountainous regions will experience bigger changes than low-altitude areas.
In the coming century, the findings suggest that frost climates — the coldest climate zone of the planet — will largely decrease. In general, dry regions in different areas of the globe will increase, and a large fraction of land area will change from cool summers to hot summers, according to the study.
The scientists also investigated whether temperature or precipitation had a greater impact on how much of the land area changed zones. “We found that temperature is the main factor, at least through the end of this century,” said Mahlstein.
John Daniel at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory and Susan Solomon at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology co-authored the study.
-CU press release
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Youth shelter gets remodeled and expanded
Apr 10th
BOULDER, CO. –Thursday, April 25th is the opening of a key youth resource, Boulder’ Runaway & Homeless Youth (RHY) shelter. The ceremony will begin at 10 am and self-guided house tours will follow the ribbon cutting to view the 2,200 sq. ft. expansion of the shelter which will serve unaccompanied homeless youth (ages 13-24). Featured speakers include Matthew Appelbaum, Mayor of Boulder; Suzy Ageton, City of Boulder Council Member; and Pat Coyle, the Director of the Colorado Division of Housing. A special proclamation in recognition of the Grand Re-Opening will be presented on behalf of John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado (by Karla Maraccini, Director of Community Partnerships for the Office of the Governor.)
“The Grand Re-Opening of our RHY shelter is significant in two ways,” says Jim Rianoshek, Executive Director of Attention Homes. “First, this fully funded $613,000 project reflects the spirit of generosity that exists here within our community. Anyone who has raised children or worked closely with teens, knows that it takes an extended family and community to raise a child. We are so thankful to the many individuals, businesses and organizations that have supported us every step of the way on this eight month construction project.”
“The second way,” Mr. Rianoshek goes on to say, “is that the renovation of our shelter – the only youth shelter in Boulder County – increases our capacity to provide emergency overnight shelter up to16 boys and girls per night (up from 10) and also allows us to serve 40 youth per day (up from 25) in our day drop-in program. Our hope, with continued community support, is to provide increased supervision and case management; improved mental and physical health care services; family mediation, and both educational and vocational support.”
Attention Homes provides comprehensive care and shelter to runaway, homeless and at-risk youth. In 2012, the organization served 530 youth in its RHY shelter, a 172% increase over the previous year. Through street outreach, day drop-in services and overnight emergency shelter, staff and trained volunteers seek to reduce the estimated 162 unaccompanied youth who are without safe shelter on any given night. While family reunification is the primary goal; when it’s not possible, Attention Homes finds transitional bridges to more permanent housing. In 2012, 81% of Attention Homes’ overnight shelter youth were able to return home to their families or became self-sufficient.
Bowes Spiegel Architects Inc. & Project Managers and Symmetry Builders, Inc. led the design and construction team. Major benefactors include the Wyss Foundation and Jackie Long, the City of Boulder Affordable Housing Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Colorado Group, and The Steffens Foundation.
The public is invited to attend the Grand Re-Opening Celebration scheduled for Thursday, April 25th from 10 am – 12 pm. The Attention Homes Runaway & Homeless Youth Shelter is located at 3080 Broadway Ave., Boulder, CO. RSVP by emailing sdavidson@attentionhomes.org. Street parking is available on Elder St., 13th St. and North Boulder Recreation Center. RTD stops at the shelter location. For more information about Attention Homes, call 303.447.1206.
About Attention Homes:
Since 1966 Attention Homes has provided opportunities for at-risk youth to change their lives. We offer safe shelter, community-based living and teaching of life skills necessary for an independent future. Attention Homes operates the only shelter for youth in Boulder County.
Photo Caption: Before and After photo of Attention Homes. Runaway & Homeless Youth Shelter located at 3080 Broadway Ave., Boulder, CO. Photographer: Claire Clurman.
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~Claire
Claire Clurman
Outreach and Marketing Manager
Boulder County Recognized for its Leadership on Reducing Carbon Pollution and Addressing Climate Change
Feb 28th
Boulder County awarded a 2013 Organizational Leadership Award as part of the annual the Climate Leadership Awards sponsored by EPA and other leading climate change organizations
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is pleased to be among fewer than a handful of local governments recognized for its leadership and innovation around the issue of climate change and clean energy.
Today it was announced by the EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division and its co-sponsors, The Climate Registry (The Registry), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), and the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), that Boulder County is a winner of the 2013 Organizational Leadership Award as part of the annual the Climate Leadership Awards (CLA).
The CLA is a national awards program that recognizes and encourages exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change. Award winners must demonstrate leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in internal operations and throughout the supply chain, as well as integrating climate resilience into their operating strategies.
“We are thrilled to be recognized for the work of our staff and our partners throughout the community who have made it their tireless priority to engage residents of Boulder County in activities and actions that have led to real change on behalf of the environment and reducing our carbon footprint countywide,” said Cindy Domenico, Chair of the Boulder County Commissioners. “Whether it be in the realm of energy efficiency, transportation, Zero Waste, residential and commercial building retrofits, or significant investments in renewable energy options, we’re proud to be on the leading edge of innovation in these areas.”
This year’s awards mark a noteworthy increase in public-sector city and county engagement, a priority effort that Boulder County has championed in collaboration with its municipal partners since the creation of the county’s Sustainability Initiative in 2005.
“It is an honor to receive recognition for the commitment that our past and present County Commissioners and sustainability staff have made to a healthier and more environmentally sustainable place to live,” said Boulder County Sustainability Coordinator, Susie Strife. “This award is a reflection of the hard work, progressive decision making and leadership of Boulder County and the collaborative partnership with all of our municipalities, in particular the Cities of Boulder and Longmont.”
Programs like EnergySmart, Boulder County’s Energy Efficiency service, are helping Boulder County reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings. EnergySmart has helped over 8,600 homes and 2,400 businesses with energy efficiency upgrades.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, EnergySmart is stimulating the local economy with over $16 million in energy efficiency upgrades and advancing the state’s energy independence. EnergySmart is a collaborative partnership throughout Boulder County, and is funded by seed funding from the Department of Energy’s BetterBuildings Program, combined with contributions from the City of Boulder’s Climate Action Plan tax and the City of Longmont.
Other demonstrations of the county’s forward thinking actions include the development of the Climate Change Preparedness Plan, blueprints for action around sustainability and energy efficiency, and the county’s recently completed Transportation Master Plan which identifies programs, services, and facilities that Boulder County will implement to help people get where they need to go in the future in a safe, efficient, and environmentally sensitive manner.
The CLA awards will be presented tonight at the Climate Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
More information about the awards and award winners is available at epa.gov/climateleadership/awards/ or through the EPA’s news release.
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