University of Southern Maine

1) Ecological Footprint : Calculate your ecological footprint using ONE of the calculators below.

Footprint calculators determine the # of acres used to support your lifestyle (or the # of planets that would be needed if everyone lived like you). Other calculators focus specifically on your carbon footprint or greenhouse gas emissions.

Option A: traditional ecological footprint calculator www.myfootprint.org

Option B: (requires hi-speed internet): Consumer Consequences Game http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences Before beginning, you may want to gather a year of utility bills (otherwise, just enter the state average). The average utilities for Maine are distorted in this calculator -- the reported averages are the national average consumption for electricity, heating oil and natural gas, adjusted for the cost of each item in each state. Since Maine uses more heating than most states, the costs of heating fuel are underestimated. Don't worry, this discrepancy won't alter your footprint by much.

Option C: You can also explore your carbon footprint, which is based on your greenhouse gas emissions. www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

2) Climate Change

Read the attached description of the IPCC report

Recommended:  Interactive map -- Climate change in New England (Union of Concerned Scientists) http://www.climatechoices.org/ne/impacts_regional/regional-impacts.html

Recommended:  NRCM maps showing sea level rise in Maine: RED area = under water with a 1 meter rise in sea level ORANGE area = under water with a 6 meter rise in sea level  -- Portland map shows that the USM library will be the shore front! http://www.nrcm.org/sea_level_rise_maps.asp

3) "The Story of Stuff" (20 min. video)

http://www.storyofstuff.com

Note: This film has been criticized as biased (i.e., selective use of statistics as well as ignoring the benefits of capitalism and the role of business in finding solutions).  That said, it provides an excellent introduction to problems with our current materials-based economy.  Note: the video describes the planet as a closed system; this is true, EXCEPT for the incoming resource of solar energy.

4) "The Naturalist" by Barry Lopez, Orion Magazine, Autumn 2001

www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/91/

5 ) Talloires Declaration -- USM is a signatory.

www.ulsf.org/pdf/TD.pdf

an alternative link is at: www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires_td.html 

6) Learning Principles for Sustainability: Sustainability Curriculum Framework for Curriculum Development, by Anthony Cortese

www.secondnature.org/efs/res_sheets/sustainabilitythemes.pdf

7) Recommended by last year's participants: Stabilization Wedges

Stabilization wedges are a great way to discuss climate change without raising undue anxiety and depression in students.  

Option 1:Click the play arrow – the silent slideshow will automatically advance, or you can speed it up. http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/flash_intro.php

Option 2: read a condensed summary at http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/intro.php

Pacala and Socolow popularized the wedge concept, but others argue that we now need more wedges and different ones (e.g., bio-fuel that competes for land with food crops has lost support).  See  http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/26/full-global-warming-solution-350-450-ppm-technologies-efficiency-renewables/