Too much Greenhouse Gas already: Bill McKibben and 350.org

Too much Greenhouse Gas in the atmosphere already! Bill McKibben explains why there is too much, how 350.org came into being and 350.org’s activities, and what you and your community can join in to do. ... Plus the positive campaign involving the Anglesea Coal Miners, and the possibilities of alternative work there.

Bill McKibben interview

The name “350.org” comes from James Hansen’s statement that any atmospheric concentration above 350ppm (parts per million) is unsafe.

Bill’s message is simple! The number 350 is really important!
350ppm is the maximum value for carbon that we can safely have in the atmosphere and we are all part of the solution.

350ppm is the boundary condition for civilisation to continue. Chemistry and physics do not negotiate! We are currently at 387ppm and rising 2ppm per year. This is too hot!

Because we have have exceeded 350ppm the arctic is melting, rivers are drying, fires are burning more intensely, oceans are acidifying etc. This is not a future problem, we are experiencing the consequences NOW! Therefore urgent action is required NOW to reduce atmospheric concentrations to below 350ppm!

Key question: What is going to bring 350ppm onto the lips of politicians?

24 October 2009 is to be a Global Day of Action – a last ditch attempt to get this message onto the agenda for the Copenhagen summit on climate change. If successful this will give a common point of reference. Half measures are unacceptable.

What of social equity issues?

In the developed world we need to transfer people from engaging in 18th century technology to 21st century technology ie from coal to sun, wind and tides etc.

The developing world is worried about and aware of climate change and are ready to make a deal. They, for the first time, have leverage and can argue for the prospect of a reasonable life for their people without burning coal.

The issue is whether we can strike a deal at Copenhagen between countries.

Clean coal is merely a “rhetorical strategy”

While Australia thinks exporting coal is in the national interest and clean coal technology can be exported, this is merely a rhetorical strategy. Economic modelling tells us that clean coal is too expensive and merely an excuse to continue doing nothing! CCS is not now and has no prospect of being part of the solution.

Key question: What action can people take?

The real negotiations are between human beings NOT nations. People are recognising that they have a role to play in making CC stop even though they may not have caused it!

We do not have time to change communities one by one. We need political action now! The time needs to be spent on organising globally. It is good for people’s spirits to see global connections. To date, the multiplicity of actions has been confusing and 350.org will change this. People can be part of something large enough to matter. Whatever people can organise for the October 24th global day of action that helps get the 350.org message across is what needs to be done!

How approach politicians?

The only way is to approach them is in the knowledge that you have a large enough movement behind you and the media impact to back you. This instils sufficient fear to make them take notice!

Ask them to demonstrate their commitment to forcing their government to work for an agreement that realistically gets the world below 350ppm.

(Beyond Zero indicated at this point that the Global Summit in Canberra in February included in its agreed demands that the level be less than 300ppm. Bill indicated that the key thing was that the level be less than 350ppm!).

In the past the environmental movement has been overly rational. it needs to connect more with people’s hearts and passions – what we love about this world!

The environmental and social movements are coming together more effectively as is important for an ecological approach!