Rotarians for Sustainability African Solar Cookers Project Presentation by Craig Clarke to Rotary Club of Nanaimo Friday May 21, 2010.

Rotarians for SustainabilityAfrican Solar Cookers Project

Presentation by Craig Clarke

to Rotary Club of Nanaimo Friday May 21, 2010

COPING WITH THE IMPACT

http://ochaonline.un.org/ochahome/InFocus/ClimateChangeHumanitarianImpact/tabid/5930/language/en-US/Default.aspx

• 20 M displaced by climate disasters last year, nearly 4x as many compared to conflict areas • Around 70% of disasters are now climate related• 2.4 billion people affected in last decade

http://www.who.int/entity/globalchange/news/GEF_Project.pps

World Health Organization

We Are Part of the Solution• residents responsible for 30% of BC emissions

(http://www.livesmartbc.ca/learn/emissions.html)• Direct energy use by households accounts for

approximately 38% of overall US emissions, and larger than the emissions of any country except China.

• US household emissions could be reduced by 20% within 10 yrs without major lifestyle change

http://www.pnas.org/content/106/44/18452.full.pdf+html

Our Personal Emissions• Average BC household emits 5 tonnes per person • For many, the vehicle we drive has biggest effect on

our emissions • BUT airline flights are very high (e.g., for 2 people):

– Vancouver – Honolulu return 4.2 tonnes– Vancouver – Hong Kong return 10.4 tonnes

• Recommend reducing personal emissions as much as possible, buy carbon offsets for remainder

http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/

Rotarians for Sustainability http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/

• 11 Founding Member Clubs on 5 continents.

South African Solar Cooking

• Promoting solar cookers in South Africa by linking Clubs in -

• Cheltenham England, • Fresno California, • Grahamstown, S. Africa, • Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, S.A. and • Swaziland

Grahamstown, SA

The Need• Grahamstown townships have 82%

unemployment with 35% HIV incidence.• Fuel costs are a financial burden.• Very poor families search for firewood,

which is only available after long treks separating mothers from children.

• Open fires in confined spaces produce respiratory distress.

Why Solar Cooking?• Easily & cheaply manufactured locally from

recycled cardboard, glue and foil.

• Ovens last for one year, with no fuel costs

• Estimated savings of $200 annually.

• No emissions and reduced risk of burning.

Integrated Solar Cooking

• Solar ovens to reduce need for fuel wood

• Six brick "Rocket" Stoves (fuel and energy efficient)

• Haybasket (heat retained cooker-similar to a thermos)

• Water Purification Instrument (WAPI)

The Workshop

http://www.thesustainabilitytrust.org/doc/solarcookerssouthafricantownships.pdf

Next Step

G8 + 5 Academies Joint StatementClimate Change and low-carbon energy

• Essential that world leaders agree on emissions reductions needed to combat Climate Change

• Support access to low-carbon energy by developing countries

• Increase investment in adaptation strategies targeted for the most vulnerable countries

http://www.nationalacademies.org/includes/G8+5energy-climate09.pdf

US National Academy of SciencesAmerica’s Climate Choices

• Strong credible body of scientific evidence shows that climate change is caused by human activities and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems

• Future generations will have to live with consequences of decisions made today

http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-reports/reports-in-brief/Science_Report_Brief_Final.pdf

Ethics of Climate Change • Weighing our prosperity against chances

that CC will diminish the well being of future generations

• Future generations will suffer most effects but if the economy grows, will be richer than we are

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-ethics-of-climate-change