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.
In The News
- Climate SOS Sets Out to Defeat US 'False' Climate Bill, Claiming 'Worse Than Nothing Is Not Good Enough'
Common Dreams Newswire, September 2, 2009 - A Concerned Mother and Scientist Seeks A Better Climate Change Law with Washington
Eco Child's Play, July 14, 2009 - Disillusioned Environmentalists Turn on Obama as Compromiser
The New York Times, July 10, 2009 - Environmental group slams U.S. energy bill as 'sham'
Energy Current: News for the Business of Energy, June 30, 2009 - Markey-Waxman climate bill fatally flawed
The MetroWest Daily News, June 24, 2009 - Fighting the power: Dozens brave cold to protest Salem Harbor Station
The Salem News, March 2, 2009 - Mount Tom Demo
Vickery Voice, March 2, 2009 - HealthLink to demonstrate at Salem power plant March 1
The Salem Gazette, Feb. 27, 2009 - Environmental groups to hold protest
The Herald News, Feb. 27, 2009 - Stop coal and start the secure green economy
New Bedford Standard-Times, Feb. 27, 2009 - Coal Is Deadly To Our Health, Our Economy, And Our Planet
Open Media Boston, Feb. 27, 2009 - Jill Stein and David Dionne on What's Left (MP3)
WMBR Radio 88.1FM, Feb. 25, 2009 - Guest commentary: Time to stop coal and start the secure green economy
Cambridge Chronicle, Feb. 24, 2009 - Column: Coal cheap
and (partly) domestic but deadly to planet
The Marblehead Reporter, Feb. 23, 2009 - Opinion: Say no to coal
Somerville Journal, Feb. 23, 2009 - Emissions question approved
Medford Transcript, Nov. 6, 2008 - Steps towards a greener future
The Phoenix (online), Nov. 6, 2008 - Westporters show strong support for green stimulus measure
The Herald News, Nov. 5, 2008 - Greenhouse gas question
Amherst Bulletin, Oct. 31, 2008 - Vote Green
The Daily Collegian (UMass Amherst), Oct. 30, 2008 - Opinion: Vote for a Secure Green Future
The Hudson Sun, Oct. 30, 2008 - Voters in some districts get chance to go green Tuesday
The Herald News, Oct. 30, 2008 - Opinion: Embrace a new economy before it's too late
Brookline Tab, Oct. 30, 2008 - Letter: Now is the time to act on climate change
Brookline Tab, Oct. 30, 2008 - Editorial: Question 4: Yes, save the planet
Belmont Citizen-Herald, Oct. 28, 2008 - Letter: Secure our green future
Cambridge Chronicle, Oct. 28, 2008 - More questions for many
The Republican, Oct. 26, 2008 - Around campus, a pressing question
The Daily Collegian (UMass Amherst), Oct. 23, 2008 - Creating a new economy before it's too late
The Arlington Advocate, Oct. 23, 2008 - Letter: Support Question 4
The Hudson Sun, Oct. 22, 2008 - Town ballot question targets climate change ,
Your Arlington, Oct. 21, 2008 - Six a choice for green
The Daily Collegian (UMass Amherst), Oct. 20, 2008 - Guest Column: A strategy to secure a green future
Daily Hampshire Gazette, Oct. 16, 2008 - Vote yes on local ballot initiative No. 6
Amherst Bulletin, Oct. 10, 2008
As we receive media coverage we will place links here.
Please do what you can to generate local media coverage. If you send in a letter or an op-ed, or if you spot some local coverage, email us at info@securegreenfuture.org (or mail it to the address below) so we can post them 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.
