Copenhagen: the '350' fall out
Sue Wheat
15th December 2009
'350’ has become a highly visible number in Copenhagen. All over the city you can see it on pavements, stuck on walls, even on people.
The
350.org movement, founded by Bill Kibben, a US citizen who wrote the first book for a common audience about global warming, has become one of the world’s most powerful climate campaigns in less than two years and one of the most active here in
Copenhagen.
‘350’ is the number of parts per million it is accepted the world must
reduce emissions by to in order to reach a safe level and which at present will be missed if the agreement on the table at
Copenhagen is not improved on dramatically.
This crucial number ‘fell out’ of the climate talks’ core text over the weekend.
McKibben spoke to delegates in Copenhagen in front of a backdrop of dramatic pictures sent from around the world during the Oct 24
global climate campaign, where children in Guatemala to people from the Maldives held up or formed the figure ‘350’.
“At the weekend, inside the Bella Centre ‘350’ disappeared from the shared vision of core text,” McKibben explained. “There was no debate, no reason given, no new scientific finding that said it wasn’t the figure any more. It just disappeared – not because it’s wrong but because it’s difficult."
Referring to the tensions between the developed and developing countries that have dogged the talks, he called for the negotiators to just focus on the science to get a solution.
“It may look like the US and China versus African and small islands – but the real debate is about human beings on one hand and physics and chemistry on the other. And physics and chemistry don’t negotiate. We know their bottom line its 350 – that’s not going to change.”
McKibben pointed out that US government computer models allow us to accurately determine what the draft commitments would mean in terms of actual emission cuts. “And when they pushed the button at the weekend the number in 2100 in the atmosphere will contain 770ppm! If that’s not literally hell it will have a very similar temperature. That’s what our leaders want as of today. This is not some secret science – this is US government science that we’re building on. “
Reaching the 350 target will be possible though if we focused on renewable energy, he said. “We cannot be burning coal if we are going to get back to 350. We have to make it the renewable economy inside a generation – even if it’s hard to do. “
Like many, he called on governments to take on a war-like focus to climate change and the same commitment as was taken to bailing out the banks.
“There is not a reasoned debate underway in the Bella Centre – it’s sheer naked power doing its best to impose its will on to the world. A few countries, including the US, are doing what they can to do as little as possible.”
McKibben was backed by the President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed – the first head of state to arrive in Copenhagen. He gave an impassioned speech last night to thousands of people about how the "entire Maldives team is fighting to keep 350 in the negotiating text.”
“There are those that tell us solving climate change is impossible, that taking radical action is too difficult, that we should give up hope. I am here to tell you we refuse to give up hope – we refuse to be quiet,” he said.
“We are now part of a growing block of nations, all committed to keeping 350 as essential survival plan. I’m not a scientist, but I know one of laws of physics is that you can’t negotiate with the laws of physics, you cannot cut a deal with mother nature.”
The Maldives announced in March plans to become the first carbon neutral country in the world in 10 years time by switching from oil to 100 per cent renewable energy.
“We believe if the Maldives can become carbon neutral richer larger countries can follow,” he said.
This is not only a moral imperative he continued, but an economic one. “Those with foresight to develop green industry will be the winners of this century.”
Related Content
Copenhagen Summit News
Green and Environmental Features
Green and Environmental Interviews
Latest Environmental News
Related Sites
en.cop15.dk
www.350.org