CABI Blog

Globe-artic-ice meltin

“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

5 Comments

  1. Watch Phone on 11th December 2009 at 9:28 pm

    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?

  2. Soccer Shoes on 9th March 2010 at 12:55 am

    I agree! We do not need data to see that something has to be done; yet there has been a lot of “efforts” from the side of those with the highest CARBON FOOTPRINTS to sent disbeliefs that all of these are merely fabrications of data?!!

  3. Ethernet Extender Kit on 13th March 2010 at 10:13 pm

    What else is new when it comes to MONEY MAKING??

  4. victorian heart quilts on 28th March 2010 at 1:20 pm

    “Scientists say that 350ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity.” —> WHAT??

  5. Ping Tree on 28th March 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I hope people gives more attention to this than just knowing that such problem exists.

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