International Day of Climate Action – 24 October 2009

“Scientists say that 350ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity.” Read on to find out why.

The International Day of Climate Action has been created by 350.org, ‘an international campaign which created a movement to unite the world on solutions to the climate crisis.’ The theme for this year’s campaign is 350 - climate experts have estimated that 350ppm is the safe upper limit for CO2 concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere. Currently the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere is averaging at 385ppm, which is quite possibly high enough to cause climate change.

The Arctic is the clearest proof that climate change is already occurring much more rapidly than scientists have previously thought, as can be seen in the above picture taken by NASA. The size of the Arctic sea ice was around 39% below the summer average for 1979-2000. This evidence has brought scientists to believe that the Arctic will be ice-free during summers as early as 2011 to 2015, which is 80 years earlier than was predicted a few years ago.

The 350 campaign is using the internet to unite the public, media and political leaders behind the 350 target. Actions are planned around the world and when I was writing this blog (2 days before the event) there were 4317 actions planned in 171 countries. By following the link to www.350.org the campaign website can be accessed for further details of events (click on the 'actions' link for events taking place in London). There is an animated introduction to the mission so that it will be accessible to all languages. There is also a link to the science behind 350, which gives a nice and brief explanation of global warming, its consequences and what can be done to halt it. It discusses the latest updates on issues around global warming and climate change and includes a list of recommended resources, with links to various important papers, reports and policy documents.

A recent blog by 350.org creator Bill McKibben can also be accessed. The blog also has the latest developments on climate change and useful links to Bill’s other articles.

mission http://www.350.org/mission

science http://www.350.org/about/science

actions http://www.350.org/map#/map/51.5001524/-0.1262362/11

Bill’s blog http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/the-science-of-350-the-most-important-number.php

Utube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqof641pWys&feature=player_embedded

Comments

[Watch Phone]

The current developments in climate change is the offensive and forceful dismantling efforts coming from the companies and the market's side - do we really need data to see that Earth is ill?