SF DOE Brown Bag Lunch: Mark Hertsgaard on Climate Change December 6, 2006

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT BROWN BAG LUNCH
Department of the Environment
11 Grove Street, EcoCenter Office

December 6, 2006
12:00 ­ 1:00 PM, EcoCenter Office

Mark Hertsgaard, Journalist and Author: "Living Through the Storm: The
Next 50 Years of Climate Change and How We Prepare"

Nearly everyone now realizes that global warming is no longer a future
threat but a current reality. This recognition has recently prompted an
encouraging increase in actions and commitments to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, including the Global Warming Solutions Act passed here in
California earlier this fall. What has yet to sink in, however, is that
cutting emissions is only half the battle. No matter how quickly emissions
are reduced, global temperatures will keep increasing for decades to come,
thanks to the inertia of the climate system. These rising temperatures
will in turn bring stronger storms, droughts, heatwaves and other impacts.
The fight against global warming must therefore be waged on two fronts.
Yes, greenhouse emissions must be slashed as quickly as possible. But
meanwhile all of us - - individuals, communities, businesses and
governments - - must prepare for the rising temperatures and other impacts
that past emissions have set in motion.

Journalist Mark Hertsgaard calls this challenge, and his forthcoming book,
"Living Through the Storm." Hertsgaard has been covering global warming for
more than fifteen years, and recently authored the cover story on global
warming for Vanity Fair's May 2006 "green" issue. Join him as he discusses
the race to slow global warming, the enormous changes that lie in store
along the way, and how we might prepare for them.

Mark Hertsgaard is a journalist and author whose books have been translated
into fifteen languages. Recent titles include "Earth Odyssey: Around the
World in Search of Our Environmental Future" and "The Eagle's Shadow: Why
America Fascinates and Infuriates the World." A correspondent for The
Nation and Link TV, he contributes to Vanity Fair, The San Francisco
Chronicle, Die Zeit and other publications here and abroad. More
information can be found at http://www.markhertsgaard.com/

The Department of the Environment Brown Bag events are informal sessions
hosted by the department for its staff and invited guests. Contact Nelly
Sun at 415-355-3703 if you are interested in being the next Brown Bag speaker

Official Website: http://ww.sfenvironment.com/