Gardener’s Guide to Global Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingWarming
Challenges and SolutionsChallenges and Solutions
Patty GlickPatty GlickSenior Global Warming SpecialistSenior Global Warming Specialist
National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation
•ScienceScience
•ImpactsImpacts
•SolutionsSolutions
Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming
•ScienceScience
•ImpactsImpacts
•SolutionsSolutions
Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming
How Global Warming WorksHow Global Warming Works
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) – 80%
Land-use (deforestation, agriculture) - 20%
>380 ppm today
Global Average Temperature Change
Atmospheric CO2 (ppm) ■
Up 1.4˚ F
Up 11+˚ F ?
700? 900?
A Changing ClimateA Changing Climate
•More frequent and severe extreme weather events (including floods, droughts, and heat waves)
•A lengthening of the frost free season and earlier date of last spring freeze
•Earlier spring snowmelt and lower average snowpack in mountains
When it Rains it Pours…When it Rains it Pours…
……or Not at Allor Not at All
With Climate Change
Reduced SnowpackReduced Snowpack
Mid-21st Century
Longer Frost-Free SeasonLonger Frost-Free Season
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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming
Gardeners Gardeners Have a Have a Unique Unique
Connection Connection to the Landto the Land
Plants are Leafing Out and Plants are Leafing Out and Blooming EarlierBlooming Earlier
Chinese lilac blooming six days earlier
Butterfly weed, other plants blooming more than two weeks earlier
Cherry trees are blooming a week sooner
Changes in Migration and Breeding Changes in Migration and Breeding PatternsPatterns
Butterflies are advancing their first flight date by 24 days
Robins are arriving 10 days earlier in Wisconsin
Tree Swallows are laying eggs 9 days earlier
Species are Shifting RangesSpecies are Shifting Ranges
Changes in USDA Hardiness ZonesChanges in USDA Hardiness Zones
MORE CHALLENGES MORE CHALLENGES FOR GARDENERS...FOR GARDENERS...
Threats to AgricultureThreats to Agriculture
Some Like it COLD
Threats to AgricultureThreats to AgricultureSuitable Premium
Wine Grape Regions Today
Future Premium Wine Grape Regions (Late
21st Century)
...A CATASTROPHE FOR NATURE...A CATASTROPHE FOR NATURE
Expansion of Invasive SpeciesExpansion of Invasive Species
Worsening Native Pest OutbreaksWorsening Native Pest Outbreaks
Disrupted Ecosystems and Disrupted Ecosystems and Species ExtinctionsSpecies Extinctions
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Gardener’s Guide to Gardener’s Guide to Global WarmingGlobal Warming
You Can You Can Take Take ActionAction
&&Make a Make a
DifferenceDifference
Laura Ouimette, Flickr.com
Improve Your EnergyImprove Your Energy EfficiencyEfficiency
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Reduce the Use of Gasoline-PoweredReduce the Use of Gasoline-Powered Yard ToolsYard Tools
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Compost kitchen and garden Compost kitchen and garden wastewaste
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Use Organic Gardening MethodsUse Organic Gardening Methods
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Reduce Water ConsumptionReduce Water ConsumptionTake Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Get the Right Kind of MulchGet the Right Kind of Mulch
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Develop a Rain GardenDevelop a Rain Garden
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
NRCS
Plant Trees to Protect Your Home Plant Trees to Protect Your Home from the Elements and Consider from the Elements and Consider
Installing a Green RoofInstalling a Green Roof
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Incorporate a Diversity of Native Plants Incorporate a Diversity of Native Plants into Your Landscapeinto Your Landscape
Actions in your BackyardActions in your Backyard
Grow Your Own FoodGrow Your Own Food
Take Action in Your BackyardTake Action in Your Backyard
Plant Native Trees and Protect Plant Native Trees and Protect Undeveloped LandscapesUndeveloped Landscapes
Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community
Participate in Citizen ScienceParticipate in Citizen Science
Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community
Certify your Home and Neighborhood Certify your Home and Neighborhood as a Community Wildlife Habitatas a Community Wildlife Habitat
Take Action in Your CommunityTake Action in Your Community
Demand Action From Your Demand Action From Your Elected OfficialsElected Officials
Urge elected officials to support climate change policy:
Cut global warming pollution
Help human and natural systems “adapt”
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