350 is what scientist are calling the most important number on the planet. 350 represents the limit for life on Earth. As carbon dioxide (CO2) levels rise about 350 parts per million, our precious planet is placed in peril – at risk of the dangerous effects of climate change.
Today was have passed this threshold, CO2 levels in the atmosphere are now above 389 parts per million, and rising steadily. This CO2 comes from natural sources, but it also comes from the way we live our lives – the way we get and use energy. This massive production of CO2 traps heat inside the planets atmosphere, causing the planet to warm. This is global warming, or climate change. Already we are seeing its harsh effects, increased hurricanes and droughts, floods, rising sea levels and dying coral reefs. Sounds scary. It is scary. But we can do something about it.
We can take action. Humans have a remarkable ability to adapt and change, and to do this quickly. Now is a time when we need to readapt our lifestyles to ensure that future generations have the same beautiful lakes and forests that we enjoy today. We are already playing a part in climate change, it is time to take control of what that role is. There is a growing global movement of people who want action on climate change. The images you see on your browser are just a few of the images from the global movement that is growing around this most important number. This momentum is unprecedented because it is the first time the entire planet has faced a common threat – it is uniting everybody.
On October 24th people from almost every country on the planet took action, and asked their leaders for action on climate change. These actions rallied around that important number: 350, and showed the civil society is demanding action to protect our precious planet. In more than 5,000 creative actions people bicycled, painted murals, did yoga, cleaned beaches and thousands of other activities, all to raise awareness about climate change. And they were heard.
October 24th was the most widespread day of political action in history. This is an unprecedented time, facing an unprecedented problem. Right now (Dec. 7-18th), world leaders are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark as part of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC). This is literally representatives from 190 countries are sitting together in a room and deciding how we, as a planet, will react to climate change. Many nations have a lot to lose; some have all to lose. Small island states such as the Republic of the Maldives have such low elevations, that even a tiny rise in sea level would mean a complete destruction of their island and their culture. The decision these leaders reach in these next two weeks in Copenhagen will have a direct impact on your life, and your children’s life, and their children’s life, and so on.
What can you do? You can stand in support of a fair, ambitious and binding treaty out of the current Copenhagen conference that will ensure the survival of all nations by limiting CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million. How can you do this? Join the world on December 12th (the very middle of the UN Climate Conference) and host or attend a candlelight vigil. For more information link into 350.org, and join the global movement.
Keep your eye on Copenhagen. This is history in the making.
