A Significant Problem
The scientific consensus is that human-induced climate change has been occurring for the past 200 years. Global temperatures have already risen an average of 1º F over the past century and are projected to increase another 2-6º F within the next hundred years. By comparison, average global temperatures of the last Ice Age were only 9º F cooler than average temperatures today. Warmer temperatures will have significant social and biological consequences including coastal flooding, more frequent and severe droughts, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of tropical diseases like malaria.
Climate change can only be solved by the collaborative efforts of individuals like you. Though nations, cities, and institutions may develop guidelines and institute policies, nothing will change unless individuals take the initiative to reduce emissions in their daily lives.
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On Campus at Ohio U
The Residents Challenge is one example of an on-campus initiative designed to help students reduce their ecological impact. The Challenge, now in its eighth year, addresses climate change and resource conservation in Ohio U's forty-one residence halls, where over 7,000 students live, work and play. During the 2008 Residents Challenge, which ran for seven weeks from January through March, students and staff were able to save 270,000 KWh (kilowatt hours). Overall, the competition resulted in record-breaking savings keeping 300 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere. This translates into $12,000 worth of energy savings for the 2008 Challenge. Winning halls sent residents on an all expense paid trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park in May.
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