. Org // Because The World Needs To Know

. org // Because the world needs to know is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth. But solutions exist. All around the world, a movement is building to take on the climate crisis, to get humanity out of the danger zone and below 350. This movement is massive, it is diverse, and it is visionary. We are activists, scholars, and scientists. We are leaders in our businesses, our churches, our governments, and our schools. We are clean energy advocates, forward-thinking politicians, and fearless revolutionaries. And we are united around the world, driven to make our planet livable for all who come after us. We are everywhere, and together we are unstoppable.

// The Bad News. The science is clear: global warming is happening faster than ever and humans are responsible. Global warming is caused by releasing what are called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. The planet is in its danger zone because we’ve poured too much carbon into the atmosphere, and we’re starting to see signs of real trouble: melting ice caps, rapidly spreading drought. Many of the activities we do every day like turn the lights on, cook food, or heat or cool our homes rely on energy sources like coal and oil that emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. This is a major problem because global warming destabilizes the delicate balance that makes life on this planet possible. Just a few degrees in temperature can completely change the world as we know it, and threaten the lives of millions of people around the world. We need to scramble back as quickly as we can to safety.

350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide-measured in “Parts Per Million” in our atmosphere. 350 PPM--it is the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. We need an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions fast. The United Nations is working on a treaty, which is supposed to be completed in December of 2009 at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. But the current plans for the treaty are much too weak to get us back to safety. This treaty needs to put a high enough price on carbon that we stop using so much. It also needs to make sure that poor countries are ensured a fair chance to develop.

// The Good News Don’t give up hope! You can help stop global warming by taking action and spreading the number 350. Getting back to 350 means transforming our world. It means building solar arrays instead of coal plants, it means planting trees instead of clear-cutting rainforests, it means increasing efficiency and decreasing our waste. Getting to 350 means developing a thousand different solutions--all of which will become much easier if we have a global treaty grounded in the latest science and built around the principles of equity and justice. To get this kind of treaty, we need a movement of people who care enough about our shared global future to get involved and make their voices heard. We are all those people.

If we can make the number 350 known across the planet, that mere fact will exert some real pressure on negotiators. We need people to understand that 350 marks either success or failure for these climate negotiations. It’s not an easy fight—the other side has the power of the fossil fuel industry. But we think the voice of ordinary people will be heard, if it’s loud enough.

// Our Mission. Our first job is to make sure everyone knows the target so that our political leaders feel real pressure to act. Reaching 350 ppm will require unprecedented international cooperation. 350. org will bring millions of new voices to the table, united by our common call to action. Together, we will redefine the possible and rally the world behind the solutions that science and justice demand. Join us today.

// Our Vision. Where do we go from here? Our first step is to wean ourselves from coal and oil, and we have to do it while still allowing the poor parts of the world to develop in a sustainable way. We can do this by creating a global clean energy economy that is strong enough to lift the world's poor out of poverty. It won't be easy, and there are many possible approaches. We need to act swiftly, however—this is the greatest crisis human civilization faces.

// Who we are. We are a small, youth-led team from around the world, and we need your help. In the next two years we want to embed the number 350 deeply in public consciousness—make it ubiquitous across societies, languages, and ideologies.

We will rely on partners and individuals around the globe who can help share this number. 350. org is not a new organization, but a dynamic, short-term campaign. We hope that our website, materials and entire campaign will help organizations and individuals collaborate in new ways while staying true to their core values and objectives.

// How You Can Get Involved. Solving the climate crisis means first and foremost taking action in our own lives and in our communities. If we can convince our neighbors, friends and families that climate change is the single most important issue facing civilization today, our leaders will listen. So get active! Organize a 350 event in your community on October 24, the International Day of Climate Action - a presentation, a bike ride or walk, an art project or a tree planting whatever resonates with the people you know. Register your event at 350.org/oct24, bring your community together, call local media and let your leaders know what you're planning. Get as many people as you can to come to the event, and document it. Make sure that the number 350 is displayed visually in a photo or video, and then head back to 350.org/takeaction to upload the images. You've just joined hundreds of thousands of people all over the planet taking action to ensure a safe climate and a just future.

// Pass it On. We need to create the biggest, most powerful movement we can in an incredibly short window of time. We will connect actions all around the world and make them add up to more than the sum of their parts - but we don't have all the ideas and all the inspiration. We need yours. Visit 350.org and share the message online, or send a 350 postcard to your friends, family and neighbors. Together we can solve the climate crisis.

The 9-Step Plan

5. Engage Your Officials If we want 24 October to have as big an impact as possible, it’s essential that we reach out to our local, regional, and national leaders. Depending on where you live, and what access you have to your government, invite your local mayor, representative, member of parliament, governor, climate change negotiator, or even environment minister. You never know who might be willing to show up and be a climate champion if you don’t try to engage them!

Whether you are a seasoned activist or a first-time organizer, here is a simple guide to get you started. Go through the steps one by one, and you’ll be on your way to planning a creative, engaging, and powerful action in your community for 24 October.



1. Start an Action

Time to dive in! The first step to getting started is choosing a location for your action, what you’ll do at your action, and registering the details on the 350.org website so that others can find out about what you’re doing. No need to have everything finalized - you’ll be able to edit your plans on the website later on, but it’s good to register as soon as possible.



2. Get People Involved

Invite your friends, neighbors, and local organizations to assist in sponsoring and organizing the action. Think outside the box about who to reach out to - maybe the local church, mosque, synagogue, labor union, sports team, university, or arts cooperative would be interested in getting involved. This is when it gets fun!



3. Work Out the Details

Take care of logistical details as soon as you can (this is why you want friends to help you out). Important things to consider include the timing of the action, directions, transportation, bathrooms, sound system, permits for use of public spaces, sponsorships, etc. Be sure to update your event on the 350.org website so people know what’s happening.



4. Build the Buzz

Send out emails, write editorials for local newspapers, get on the local radio station, ask organizations to include the action information in newsletters and bulletins, put up posters all over town, spread the word through SMS. Build momentum locally by giving presentations, participating in Earth Day or other events, and reaching out to diverse types of organizations.

6. Make a Banner

Each action on 24 October will have a banner, or some way to communicate its support for 350 ppm. Some communities will hold big 350 banners, others will spell out 350 with their bodies, still others may create a mural together that displays the number 350. Be creative! Exciting visuals will be important for the next step: media.



7. Get Media Attention

As 24 October nears, you will want to contact local, state, and national media to make sure they report on 350 actions in your area. Think about what newspapers, radio, television, and online reporters you will want to cover your event, and start getting in touch!



8. Take Action!

The details of your action are up to you, but at some point be sure to take a picture with everyone present with your 350 banner displayed front and center. Pass around a signup sheet so that you can stay in touch with people who come to your event, and keep the momentum going locally. Have a fun and meaningful day, knowing that you’re forming a very important part of a giant global movement to fight climate change!



9. Follow Up

This part is very important: as soon as your action is over, be sure to select your best photo and upload it to the 350 website. We’ll need your picture to be able to deliver the strongest possible message to the media and to the world’s decision-makers leading up to the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen soon after 24 October. Also be sure to follow up with the media and your government officials to let them know what happened at your event, so you can make sure it has a big impact. Then start planning your next action... Thanks for being a part of this important movement for a just and safe climate! Check out the full 350 Climate Activist Guide for more in-depth coverage of each step: www.350.org/action-resources

In December of 2009, all eyes will be on the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, as governments from around the world will meet to create the next global treaty on climate change. This meeting will be a part of a process that is now nearly 20 years old - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The negotiations are very complex – this is a very brief guide to get citizens everywhere up to speed about what our decision-makers are doing at this important venue, and show how we can take a stand this year for a just treaty that meets the latest science.

Policy A guide to the UN Climate Treaty Process

Acronym Watch

The Road to Copenhagen

Explaining the negotiations, one acronym at a time

AOSIS

the Alliance of Small Island States: a group of Small Island Developing States that negotiate together at the UN

CAN

Climate Action Network: a network that represents of environmental organizations at the UN

CDM

Clean Development Mechanism: a flawed framework under the Kyoto Protocol for developed countries to offset their emissions through ‘clean development’ projects in the Global South.

CJN!

Climate Justice Now!: coalition of indigenous, campesino, and environmental justice groups

COP/MOP

Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC/Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol: Takes place for 2 weeks every December

G-77

Group of 77 and China: a coalition of developing countries that negotiate together at the UN

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: UN body of 2,000 climate scientists. Jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

LDCs

Least developed country: a bloc of especially vulnerable countries, mainly from Africa, that negotiate together at the UN

REDD

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation – framework for developing countries to reduce their emissions from deforestation, and be compensated for it.

Key Dates

IPCC founded

1988

First climate treaty, the Kyoto Protocol created.

1992

UNFCCC established at the Rio Earth Summit. The U.S. is party to this.

1997 Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, U.S. refuses to ratify

4th IPCC Assessment Report comes out, sets 450ppm - 550ppm/2 degrees C as “safe target” to aim for.

2005

At COP13 in Bali, negotiators wrote the Bali Road Map, a document to ensure the creation of a new treaty by 2009, to replace the current climate treaty, the Kyoto Protocol. This document focused on four main areas: mitigation, adaptation, financing, and technology transfer. These cut to the core of the important (and contentious) issues: How will we reduce emissions? How much, and by when? How will we adapt to the impacts we’re already seeing? Who will take responsibility? Who will pay? A year later, at COP14 in Poland, governments were able to decide upon very little, leaving negotiators with a lot of work for 2009. They must not only create a treaty that all governments can agree to, but also that global citizens will accept. That’s where we come in.

NASA’s Dr. James Hansen, et al release paper calling for 350ppm CO2

2007 December Bali Roadmap created for the “post-Kyoto” negotiations for a new treaty

October 24

350 International Day of Climate Action

2009 December New treaty, the Copenhagen Protocol will be negotiated

World Public Opinion

Media

IPCC / Scientists

ts. rticipan Plus Pa on inside, 10,000 g in a lot go eeded There’s pressure is n c li ! b e u p id t bu e outs from th

NGOs / Civil Society

Swing States Indonesia Mexico Brazil South Africa Australia India

Deal Makers or Breakers? U.S. E.U. Japan China Russia Canada

Helpful Terms to Know Adaptation - reducing the the vulnerability of natural and human communities to climate change impacts. Mitigation - cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting “sinks”, such as forests or soils that naturally store CO2 and other greenhouse gases. “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities” - the idea that all countries must take action, but that some countries have contributed more to the problem, and therefore have more responsibility (and often more capacity) to act. Annex I - broadly defined as developed countries. Under the Kyoto Protocol, only Annex 1 countries have to reduce emissions Non-Annex I - broadly defined as developing countries - these countries were not required to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

350 at the UN With such a complex process, the 350 target helps cut right to the core of the debate – will this treaty be enough to avoid the worst effects of global warming? Just over a year ago, almost no one had heard about the number 350. Now, thanks to activists worldwide, 350ppm is on the agenda and has the support of over 90 countries. At COP14 in Poland, AOSIS, the LDCs, and the International Youth Delegation all announced their support for 350ppm, and the target is gaining support all the time - check the blog for news on this front.

TAKE ACTION 24 Oct. Action Ideas to engage your politicians:

- Deliver the photos and a report of your action to your officials’ office. - Invite your government officials (at all levels) to speak at your action. - Adopt a politician - choose a leader whose climate position you’d like to change, and figure out how to influence them through meetings, creative actions or the media.

IGOs (World Bank, IMF, OPEC, etc.)

Fossil Fuel Lobbyists

Official Delegates Climate Champions AOSIS LDCs Rest of Africa Progressive EU Latin America

Influences on the

Youth

COP

**Country positions are shifting all the time, so this graphic may be out of date already - check out the 350 blog to stay up to date on developments along the road to Copenhagen

2009

Predictions and Possibilities With a new U.S. administration, bold climate policies from countries like Brazil and South Africa, and climate champions like AOSIS making strong statements on emissions targets, more now is possible than ever before. Yet, there’s a great and dangerous possibility that if the burgeoning global climate movement doesn’t keep a close eye on decision-makers’ progress, the whole process could fall apart. Lack of trust, and disagreements over funding, technology transfer, and emissions targets could make it impossible to reach agreement in the time frame left.

By working together this year, and taking action on 24 October, the 350 International Day of Climate Action, we can keep the pressure on for leaders to create a just climate treaty in Copenhagen that meets the latest science. See below for ideas to keep the pressure on!

350.org is an international climate change campaign calling for a fair Copenhagen climate treaty that meets the latest science. 350ppm represents the safe upper limit of CO2 in our atmosphere. Take part in your community on 24 October, 2009: An International Day of Climate Action. Visit www.350.org to get involved.

www.350.org [email protected]

Science

There are three numbers you need to really understand global warming, 275, 389, and 350. For all of human history until about 300 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide. That’s a useful amount—without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for life on Earth.

Climate Change Science Basics from 350.org

Parts per million (ppm)

About 300 years ago, humans began to burn coal and oil to produce energy and goods. The amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise. By doing everyday activities like cooking, or turning on the lights, we’re taking millions of years worth of carbon, stored beneath the earth as fossil fuels, and releasing it into the air. At the same time, we’re changing the way we use our land, cutting down trees and tilling our farmland, which also adds CO2 to our atmosphere.

By now—and this is the second number—the planet has 389 parts per million CO2 – and this number is rising by about 2 ppm every year.

The concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere is measured in “parts per million”, which simply means a ratio of CO2 molecules per million molecules in our atmosphere. There’s currently 389 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere. 389ppm may sound like a small amount, but our atmosphere is so finely tuned that changing this concentration just a little bit can disrupt our entire planet.

Sea Levels are Rising:

Climate Change Impacts

In the last few years, it’s become clear that the rise of CO2 in our atmosphere is having an effect much faster and more severely than scientists once predicted. Here are a few examples of impacts we’re already seeing:

Oceans are Acidifying :

Warmer and more acidic oceans are killing a vast amount of the world’s coral reefs.

Glaciers are Melting:

They’re disappearing fast— and glaciers are the only source of drinking water for hundreds of millions of people.

Mosquitoes are Spreading:

They’re thriving in new places, and are bringing malaria and dengue fever with them.

Scientists warn they could go up several meters this century, threatening the homes of hundreds of millions of people.

Weather is More Severe:

Hurricanes, typhoons, and droughts are becoming more frequent, harsher, and unpredictable.

Impacts are speeding up The Arctic is sending us the clearest message that climate change is happening now, and much faster than scientists once thought. In the summer of 2007, the extent of Arctic sea ice decreased by nearly 40%. It is melting so fast that scientists now believe the Arctic could have no ice in the summertime as early as 2013, which is 80 years ahead of what had been predicted just a few years ago.

White sea-ice melts

The warmer ocean speeds melting in the summer, and inhibits ice formation in the winter

More dark ocean surface absorbs heat rather than reflects it Feedback loop example: the Albedo effect in the Arctic

350ppm: The safe level of CO2 for our atmosphere Danger Zone

370 350

Safe Zone

Atmospheric Concentration of CO2

we’re here: 389ppm 390

330

we need to be lower than: 350 ppm

310 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000...

350 parts per million is “If humanity wishes to preserve a planthe third and final num- et similar to that on which civilization ber to remember, and it developed and to which life on Earth is represents the safety adapted, paleoclimate evidence and onzone for planet Earth. going climate change suggest that CO2 Above 350ppm we risk will need to be reduced from its current reaching dangerous 389 ppm to at most 350 ppm.” ‘tipping points’ (see box). We don’t know – Dr. James Hansen, NASA how long we can stay above 350ppm - this number is far outside the range we’ve seen in our recorded history - but we do know that the smart thing would be get back to the safety zone as soon as possible.

TAKE ACTION

Action ideas to educate your community about climate change

• Give a presentation (see 350.org for a powerpoint) at a local school • Hold a teach-in at a university and invite local experts to speak • Screen a documentary about climate change

What’s a ‘Climate tipping point’? This means a point in time when the earth’s climate begins to change in ways we can’t undo in our lifetimes - or possibly for many, many generations. Tipping points are fed by impacts that reinforce each other, called ‘feedback loops’. For example, as Arctic sea ice melts, the darker ocean absorbs more sunlight, becomes warmer, and speeds melting. An example of a tipping point, is the potential melting of the Greenland or Antarctic ice sheet. These are dangerous events that we must avoid by getting below 350ppm as soon as possible.

350ppm is a new, and very important, piece of scientific information. With your help, we can spread this news about the safety of our planet to our fellow citizens, communities, countries, and the world. Take action in your community on 24 October, the 350 International Day of Climate Action, to help educate your community and the world about the importance of getting our planet back to 350ppm. See below for ideas for educating your community about climate change!

350.org is an international climate change campaign calling for a fair Copenhagen climate treaty that meets the latest science. 350ppm represents the safe upper limit of CO2 in our atmosphere. Take part in your community on 24 October, 2009: An International Day of Climate Action. Visit www.350. org to get involved.

www.350.org [email protected]

Solutions

Make no mistake, getting the planet back to the safety-zone below 350ppm won’t be easy. We need a worldwide renewable energy revolution, with our whole planet working together across all sectors of society, with everyone moving at record-speed. Simple, right? But if we rise to this challenge, a path to 350ppm offers a huge opportunity to rethink our planet’s energy systems. This kind of effort will only be possible if the countries of the world agree to an equitable global deal that will put the planet back on track.

Getting to 350: Finding the solutions to transform our world

Let’s get started. So what would it take to get back to 350ppm? According to NASA’s Jim Hansen and other leading scientists, here’s what we have to do right away:

Stop Coal The number one way to cut emissions quickly and get back to 350ppm is to stop burning dirty coal as soon as possible. Without coal, we must find a way to make cheap, renewable energy widely available in order to ensure all communities the right to develop cleanly.

Improve land use

Cut all fossil fuels

At the same time, we must reduce deforestation and improve soil conservation to allow our natural ecosystems that absorb CO2, called “sinks”, to take some of the excess carbon out of the atmosphere.

We must drastically reduce the use of all other types of fossil fuels like oil, tar sands, and natural gas as soon as possible.

If we make these changes, it may be possible to get back to 350ppm by the middle of this century.

Possible Paths Back to 350ppm 450

Atmospheric CO2 (ppm)

Stop Coal 400

Improve Land Use 350

Observations

300

1900

Cut all fossil fuels

1950

2000

2050

2100

Possible Scenarios 2150

Local Communities Getting back to 350 is a unique opportunity to remake our communities in ways that are healthier, more locally self-sufficient, and honor traditional and indigenous wisdom. We can get away from relying so heavily on sources of fuel and food that come from far away, and instead grow more of our own food locally, ride bikes and public transit, depend on local energy systems like wind and solar, and create economies that aren’t as dependent upon limitless growth. These types of solutions help create communities that are not only friendlier to our climate, but are also healthier for our children’s lungs and our collective well-being.

All of this might sound pretty tough, but think of all the positive changes we can make along the way:

Renwable Energy

Protecting Forests

350 is a tough diagnosis, but it also presents us with a huge opportunity to remake our communities in a local, healthy, and positive way. On 24 October, 2009, the 350 International Day of Climate Action, take action by demonstrating the kind of solutions you want to see in the world. See below for a few ideas!

Clean Transportation

Reducing Vulnerability Even if we stopped burning all carbon today, we would still experience some severe impacts from global warming because of the amount of carbon we’ve already put in the atmosphere. Knowing this, we have to make sure that the communities affected first and worst receive assistance to cope with these changes. That means developed countries must provide funding for adaptation, to help with locally-driven sustainable development around the world.

TAKE ACTION 24 Oct. Action Ideas to highlight local solutions:

• Plant a community garden • Organize a bike ride • Do a CFL lightbulb exchange • Do an energy audit • Demonstrate a solar installation

Improve Efficiency

350.org is an international climate change campaign calling for a fair Copenhagen climate treaty that meets the latest science. 350ppm represents the safe upper limit of CO2 in our atmosphere. Take part in your community on 24 October, 2009: An International Day of Climate Action. Visit www.350.org to get involved.

www.350.org [email protected]

OCEANS & CLIMATE CHANGE

When Climate Change meets the ocean, change comes fast and furious

Beneath the blue veneer of a seemingly ageless ocean is one of the most rapidly changing environments on Earth. Chemistry, temperature, even the shape of the sea are all altered. Sea and sky are intimately linked; as we change the composition of the atmosphere, we change these most fundamental characteristics of the ocean. Here’s how:

Ocean Acidification on the Outside Ocean Acidification on the outside: more CO2 in the sky leads to more CO2 in the ocean (30 million metric tons a day). There, it reacts with seawater and creates carbonic acid (the same stuff in your coca-cola), lowering the pH. The ocean is 30% more acidic than in pre-industrial times. That’s more change than marine life’s exerienced in millions of years. Through several chemical chain reactions, the additional CO2 also reduces the amount of carbonate (CO32)—a natural building block of shells and skeletons. This makes it more difficult for animals like clams and corals to build new hard parts and maintain the ones they’ve already got. At current rates of acidification, coral reefs will start dissolving by 2050. Changing seawater chemistry can also affect how sound travels—it makes the ocean noisier, which may make it harder for some marine mammals (such as dolphins and whales) to use their hearing for communication, hunting, or courtship.

The Inside of Ocean Acidification CO2 reacts with the internal fluids of marine animals similarly to how it reacts with seawater. Seeping through the skin of water-breathing animals, it can lower their internal pH. Animals can restore their pH balance, but it takes energy—leaving less fuel to drive growth, reproduction, fight disease, or support activity. Some fish lose their ability to smell—this is a big deal for many species which use smell to find the right spot to live. Though not fatal, these changes may lead to long-term declines in species from worms to squids to fish.

Warming Seas As the atmosphere warms due to climate change, so does the ocean. Like animals and plants on land, marine speices have a preferred temperature range where they live. Already, cold-water species are shifting poleward or moving into deeper waters, while warm-loving species are expanding their ranges. Some of the smallest marine species are moving 30 times faster than anything on land. Predators must track their shifting food supply, creating ripples of movement up the food chain, from cod to giant whales. Warming ocean temperatures also change nutrient flow—in ways not seen on land. Warmer water is less dense than colder water, and floats on top forming a cap; the warmer the upper water, the stronger the cap. This makes it harder for oxygen from the surface ocean to penetrate to deeper waters and more difficult for nutrients from deep waters to rise the surface. Such changes affect all marine life and could lead to widespread die-offs due to lack of oxygen or reduced nutrients.

Rising Seas Water expands as it warms, so a warmer ocean means a bigger ocean. Warmer air temperatures also melt more land ice, adding to the ocean’s volume. Higher sea levels bring higher tides and bigger storm waves, washing away coastlines—choice nesting grounds for sea turtles and seabirds, breeding grounds for seals, and home to over 50% of the world’s population of people. As sea level rises, centuries old farmlands on small island nations have flooded; drinking water is contaminated; entire nations are faced with extinction. For these residents, and many of the world’s poorest individuals, there is no higher ground to run to. But the human face is only one among a sea of submerging life: ice-dependent species such as polar bears, penguins, and are rapidly losing hunting, breeding, resting, and mating grounds.

Dr. Marah Hardt is a researcher, freelance writer, and consultant living in Hilo, Hawaii. contact: [email protected]

VISIT 350.ORG/OCEANS TO FIND OUT MORE. Ocean & Climate Change Fact Sheet: 350.org