World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth
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The Bottom Line
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere now stand at 385 parts per million (ppm), 67% above the average of the past 800,000 years, and 29% above the maximum of the same period.
- The rate of increase of CO2 is 2.2 ppm/year and getting faster.
- When atmospheric CO2 was above 450 ppm in the earth's history, the planet was completely ice-free, and sea level was 75 meters higher than today.
- The safe upper limit of atmospheric CO2 that we should aim to stay below is probably between 300-350 ppm. We have already overshot it and the longer we stay above that the more likely we will have set in motion long-term climate changes that will proceed beyond human control through powerful geophysical positive feedback mechanisms.
- Sudden warmings of a few degrees in the past have triggered mass extinctions. Current species extinction rate is estimated at 100 to 1000 times the average extinction rates in the evolutionary time scale of planet Earth. A mass extinction is underway and we have to reverse course quickly enough to prevent the worst.
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Cambridge Takes on Climate Emergency
Tue, 09/15/2009 - 23:16 — eli_beckermanOn May 11, 2009, the City Council unanimously recognized that there is now a climate
emergency and asked the City Manager to increase the City’s response to “a scale
proportionate to the emergency.”
Now we have an opportunity to hold their feet to the fire and encourage them to take the lead among US cities in bold climate action.
There are two upcoming opportunities to learn more about the climate emergency and to demonstrate that there is broad support for the urgent, transformative action needed to pull us back from the brink of climate catastrophe.
On Thursday, September 17th at 7:00pm there is a Community Forum on climate emergency at the Cambridge Community Center at 5 Callendar Street. Download the flyer here!
Then on Thursday, September 24th, there is a Special Meeting of the Cambridge City Council, featuring leading scientists. This hearing will be at 5:30pm at Cambridge City Hall (795 Mass. Avenue). Download the flyer here!
Make sure you show up to the City Council hearing -- and spread the word -- so they know that we care about their actions, not their promises!
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SGF Mission Statement
The Secure Green Future (SGF) project educates, activates and empowers Massachusetts residents to effectively address the converging threats of climate change, resource depletion, and economic meltdown. We work to guide communities toward an essential economic transformation that will make possible a sustainable and just post-carbon future. SGF seeks to break the shackles of what is “politically feasible” and inspire change that addresses the magnitude and urgency of the dangers we are facing. We are committed to the principle of democratic empowerment as the most appropriate means for securing the just and sustainable future that we all deserve, and that is within our reach.
Landslide victories for the Secure Green Future ballot initiative!
Thanks to an incredible grassroots effort, the Secure Green Future ballot question has won in EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT it appeared, and by a total landslide margin! At least 153,252 voters said YES to a Secure Green Future on November 4th, netting the ballot question an astounding 81.44% of the vote!!!
Thanks to all of you who helped get these questions on the ballot and helped to spread the word to voters. Your efforts have paid off big time, and we now have clear evidence that the people of Massachusetts are READY for decisive action to fight climate change and energy uncertainty by transitioning to a secure, green economy NOW.
