Starting in the second half of the twentieth century, satellites have opened a new, broad vista on what is occurring on our ever-changing planet. This talk will discuss some ways through which this is done and will present a wide range of illustrative examples, from individual events such as fires, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and coccolithophore blooms, to changes in the Antarctic ozone hole and long-term trends such as sea level rise, increases in atmospheric temperature, carbon dioxide, and methane, and decreases in land ice and sea ice. With satellites, we can be more certain than ever before about the changes occurring on our planet.

​Howard County’s Tim Lattimer, a career diplomat, offers an insider’s perspective on U.N. climate change conferences such as last November’s “COP-26” in Glasgow and what we might expect to see ahead of COP-27 next November in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.  He will talk about how the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change came to be and the geo-political, socio-economic, and scientific cross-currents affecting global cooperation on the climate crisis. 

How toxic and pollution-causing industrial practices more severely impact the health and well-being of those living closest to these sources.  As a result,  these communities are more vulnerable to the additional pressures of climate-change, with its excessive wind, rain, snow, drought, etc..  These communities need a wide variety of additional resources to lift them up.  

A surprising 42% of all US greenhouse gas emissions trace back to individual actions in one way or another.  This means your choices can make a real difference.  When your furnace or vehicle needs to be replaced, your choice matters.  When you choose whether to replace your old appliances with an Energy Star refrigerator or high-efficiency washer, your choice matters. What you buy, what you eat, even how you handle leftover food all matter. Most of these choices aren’t hard, and some can  improve your health and save you money or time. In this talk, you’ll learn some easy actions that can make you part of a growing group of changemakers who are making a better climate future.

It’s natural to be overwhelmed by the scale and impact of climate change on our environment. However, that often leads people to be frustrated or burnt out trying to do everything they can see. How can each of us discover our strengths and our environmental passion, prioritize where we can make the most impact, and act on what matters most for us to do, individually and with allies? What next steps can we take for a positive impact locally and globally?