World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth
Climate Newsfeed
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.
Background on the safe level of atmospheric greenhouse gases
Below 350 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalent (ppm CO2-eq)
According to the 2007 assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), developed countries need to reduce emissions 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050, in order to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gases to below 450 ppm CO2. That concentration would only provide a 46% chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change. Today it is widely believed that 350 ppm CO2 is the safe upper limit, and we are already dangerously above that, at 390 ppm. That is why we are quickly losing ice cover (Arctic summer sea ice could disappear in 2013!), and why methane plumes are bubbling out of warming sea beds. We have at most a few years time window to still be able to reduce carbon and influence the climate system before powerful planetary amplifying mechanisms take the matter out of humanity's control, and bring on much stronger and unstoppable warming. (More analysis on IPCC targets and odds here.)
The Massachusetts Democratic Party platform recently adopted a 350 ppm amendment at their State convention! Now let's tell the MA Congresspeople (all are Democrats) to truly represent the people who they are supposed to represent.
Please click here to see a sample letter to send to Congress, to demand a real climate protection bill.
To see our more detailed analysis of ACESA/Markey-Waxman, read here.
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.
