By Matt Hoaldridge/reporter

“The sky is falling, the sky is falling,” a familiar line from a children’s story rings true for those who believe global warming is a serious threat to the future of the planet.

Dr. Timothy Gilbert, associate vice chancellor for teaching and learning services, presented Challenges of Global Warming Feb. 11 on South Campus.

“We need to work together globally to try and fix the global warming issue,” he said.

The Challenges of Global Warming presentation was developed by former Vice President Al Gore. Greatly influenced by his documentary An Inconvenient Truth, Gore set out to train 2,500 people to present this version to educate faith-based groups. Gilbert received training at a conference in Atlanta last year given by Gore.

Although Gilbert recently began presenting Gore’s Climate Project, he said he has always had a passion for ecology and the sciences.

“The only bad part about having Al Gore as the speaker for Climate Project is that so often it turns off people who don’t like the former vice president,” he said.

However, Gilbert said no matter one’s political views, global warming is a problem everyone needs to address.

Gilbert said even simple actions can make an impact.

“Buy energy-efficient light bulbs, educate yourself as much as possible about the issue and find out what your carbon footprint is,” he said.

Other ways to help eliminate emissions include riding a bike around campus or carpooling to school.

“Energy-efficient building and appliances also make a difference,” he said. “A college in Florida is spending $2 million to switch to renewable energy that will, in the long run, save them $29 million.”

One of the biggest points Gore wants to see happen in the next 10 years is reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and trying to convert to a minimum of 10 percent renewable energy, Gilbert said. Working together on a global level is important, and laws like the Kyoto Accords hold everyone who signs them responsible. The U.S. has not signed the Kyoto Accords, but states with smog problems have signed independently.

On a local level, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is investigating building a smart grid, a way to pull energy from a solar grid in one state to another state with energy needs.

“Arizona has already been selling surplus energy to neighboring states,” he said.

For more information on global warming and Gore’s climate project, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Web site http://uscuca.org, http://www.wecansolveit.com or http://www.climateproject.org.

Gilbert will give 12 presentations on the challenges of global warming this semester.

Gilbert can be reached at 817-515-5392 or timothy.gilbert@tccd.edu