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New Mexicans Participate in Global Action Pushing for '350' SANTA FE - This December over 190 countries will convene in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate an international climate change agreement. In thousands of local communities, people will send the urgent message to their leaders that aggressive action on climate change is supported from citizens across the world. In Santa Fe, NM hundreds will gather on October 24th, 2009 to create a human postcard showcasing the numbers “350” and parade to the NM Legislature to tell local representatives that clean energy solutions are at hand and in the best interest of all New Mexicans. The United States did not sign the Kyoto Protocol, but as development and emissions have increased in the last decade, it has become clear that all developed and developing countries must collaborate on an ambitious, fair, and binding climate change treaty. On October 24, citizens from more than 140 countries around the world and thousands of locations in the United States, including Santa Fe, will come together to ask world leaders to include an important number in the climate change treaty: 350. 350 parts per million (ppm) is the maximum level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that life on earth can tolerate for long-term survival. Worldwide, average carbon emissions are currently above this at almost 390 ppm. In 2008, renowned climate scientist James Hanson stated, “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.” (Ongoing release of carbon dioxide has increased the current level above 385 in the last 18 months.) Hanson went on to say, “An initial 350 ppm CO2 target may be achievable by phasing out coal use except where CO2 is captured and adopting agricultural and forestry practices that sequester carbon. If the present overshoot of this target CO2 is not brief, there is a possibility of seeding irreversible catastrophic effects.” The messages of Hansen and hundreds of other scientists are beginning to be heard around the globe. An international campaign, 350.org, is building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis.Youth, faith groups, sports enthusiasts, medical professionals, artists, farmers ranchers and others from all walks of life will come together on the worldwide day of Climate Action on October 24, urging leaders to bring the CO2 level back down to 350 ppm. Events will take place from high in the Himalayas to underwater off the Maldive Islands, where the nation's president will lead 350 scuba divers in one of the planet's first underwater protests. Here in New Mexico, citizens will gather in Santa Fe to draw attention to the goal of 350 and urge local solutions in concert with international agreements. “In order to reduce catastrophic climate change, we must phase out dirty and dangerous traditional fossil fuels and reduce global carbon levels to 350 parts per million,” said Rebecca Sobel, Grassroots Director of WildEarth Guardians. “In New Mexico, we know we can do our part to secure a safe climate and benefit from global warming solutions. On October 24th, hundreds will stand in union with neighbors across the world in demanding real climate solutions, and telling our local leaders New Mexico needs to cap carbon emissions and produce clean energy to create local jobs, secure our economy and protect public health. The October 24 rallies will come six weeks before the crucial Copenhagen climate talks, where 94 nations - most of them poor and vulnerable to climate change--have already endorsed the 350 target. The timing is a crucial opportunity to reinforce the message that people from all over the globe are calling on world leaders to take dramatic and swift measures to accept 350 ppm as a necessary target for CO2 levels. Santa Fe's participation in this event will not only show local support for an effective climate treaty in Copenhagen, but will also bring attention to the fact that New Mexico is best suited to take advantage of wind and solar energy, encouraging local leaders to create new green energy jobs while phasing out dirty coal fired power plants. Source of James Hansen quote: http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1126 |
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