Tuesday, 24 June 2008 00:00 | and posted in Environment
350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.
So reads the introductory text to 350.org, the newly launched international movement looking to solve climate change. Their mission is to make sure everyone knows that 350ppm is the target level for acceptable levels of CO2 in our atmosphere in order to pressure political leaders to act.
For example, the United Nations is currently in the process of negotiating a global treaty to set the world on course for reducing carbon emissions. However, their current targets are much too weak to bring the planet back into safety.
Dr. James Hansen, of NASA, one of the world's foremost experts on global warming science was the first scientist to testify before the United States Congress in June 1988 that global warming was real. He and his colleagues have produced a very recent scientific white paper entitled Target CO2: Where shoud Humanity Aim?
Published in April 2008, this white paper states that the acceptable levels of CO2 (the major greenhouse gas) should be lowered to 350ppm, possibly lower, if we are to avert catastrophic climate change. We are currently at 387ppm and increasing at about 2ppm annually. Click on the image to the right to see the science in a graphical format.*
If we're already past 350, are we all doomed?**
No. We're like the patient that goes to the doctor and learns he's overweight, or his cholesterol is too high. He doesn't die immediately-but until he changes his lifestyle and gets back down to the safe zone, he's at more risk for heart attack or stroke. The planet is in its danger zone because we've poured too much carbon into the atmosphere, and we're starting to see signs of real trouble: melting ice caps, rapidly spreading drought. We need to scramble back as quickly as we can to safety.
Why not visit http://www.350.org/ to find out more?
If you want to read the science go to http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1126
FOOTNOTE:
* Image source: www.350.org
** Answer taken from www.350.org/understanding-350