350 Reasons to Act Now

350. What's the significance of this number? It's the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, measured in parts per million, that is considered safe for humans according to leading scientists. What number are we at now? 390. We're already too big for our clothes.

Global warming is speeding up. It's our fault; we're addicted to dirty energy. But the international climate talks in Copenhagen this December provide an incredible opportunity to set greenhouse gas emission limits that get us to the magic number. We can't do this alone--"we" as individuals, and even "we" as the United States. We need to be accountable to each other, everywhere in the world, to save it.

I know it's easy not to think about climate change. Everyone likes a long summer. Unless we're dealing with a Hurricane Katrina, it's easy to forget, to focus on the economy, health care, the war(s), and making it through the day. Imagine, though, that we're on a very slowly sinking ship. Let's call it the Titanic. It has already hit an iceberg. It is going to take a really long time to sink--so long, you will barely notice the water levels rising. But we have this amazing new technology that will actually allow us to repair the Titanic's hole, and bail out the water. (A side note: implementing the technology will stimulate the ship's economy!) Do we want to use it? Or, do we want to forget about it and focus on the power struggle between the groups on the boat? It's all in the timing. By the time it's obvious we are going down, it will be too late for anything but a few life rafts for the wealthy. (Not their kids, though; they won't make it in the long run.)

I spoke with a prominent environmental law professor recently who thinks we're all doomed. A number of environmentalists have already given up on getting anywhere in Copenhagen. I agree we'd be doomed if we sat here in our SUVs, cranking the air up as it gets hotter. But I don't buy it. Remember "nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change?" Remember "yes we can?" Remember that, yes, we did? We can do this too. I have to believe this, and I want you to believe it, too.

Saturday, October 24 is International Day of Climate Action. So raise your voice. Tell your family and friends why Copenhagen is important. Tell your elected representatives that you think we need a climate bill now--to regulate ourselves, and to show the international community that we're serious. (Thanks, Senator Boxer and Senator Kerry, for getting the ball rolling on that in the Senate, after passage of the Markey-Waxman bill by the House in June.) Tell President Obama that if he can make it to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago to host the Olympics, he can make it for this; it's a little bit more important. (And he'll be heading to Oslo anyway to accept his Nobel Prize...make it worth something, Obama!) Check out what's going on at 350.org, Hopenhagen.org, and globalobservatory.net.

And don't forget to turn off the lights and unplug your computer when you're done.

 

Comments

[milty]

Wow. And Fox news is accused of outright falsehoods. Of course, lawyers are high on the publics list of 'truth sayers'.

[jesseup]

Milty - what are the outright falsehoods that you refer to? enlighten us.

[smpj]

All we're expected to do to curb global warming, even if our actions could actually do such a thing, will induce significantly more economic hardship. In the past we've had lengthy planetary warm and cold periods when man's climatic impact could not have been more powerful than that of the world's naturally grazing primate population. The sun's fluctuational influence is the truly determining factor in our planet's temperature inconsistencies.

[jeanrenoir]

The pitiful thing about Americans worked up about global warming is that they are thinking anachronistically. Yeah, America used to run the world, for ten years or so, after the fall of the Soviet Union. But that era's already over, forever. America is totally helpless to restrict the pollution of India and, especially, China. China obviously has us by the gonads, because of our desperate dependence on them to buy our debt. And China and India produce much more pollution already than the US and Europe put together. In short, Americans have no choice but to sit helplessly by and watch the world's temperature rise steadily, letting the chips fall where they may. It's going to be almost as bitter a pill for Americans on the left to swallow as the pill ALL Americans except the superrich are already swallowing: the end of American prosperity as we have known it. China, not America, will be calling the shots in the world throughout most of the lives of kids in college now. Wake up and smell the tea.

[smpj]

You're probably right about China but does it make sense to speed their ascendency along? We are acting, with our excessive borrowing, like junkies, and the Chinese are our money lending drug dealers. But they are giving us our financial crank on credit. Hmm.... Perhaps we're smarter than we look.

[lastpost]

“We can't do this alone--"we" as individuals”

I do not believe that “we”, for the most part, would run our home finances in the same manner that national finances have been run. Since “we” are not consumed by a desire for re/election. I do not believe that “we” would not notice easier and more effective ways of doing things, and neglect to implement changes for our dependent’s sakes.
Unfortunately “we” have until now been at the mercy of individuals. Who once they have obtained power, through use of a system they themselves have devised and disguised. Are not directly accountable to “we”, until after damage has occured.

“the Titanic”.

Had the crew of that liner been consulted. Is it conceivable that they would not have pointed out that their inability to see sufficiently far enough ahead, at that speed of progression, tended to compromise the vessel’s maneuverability?
Wasn’t it the commander of that ship, under undue pressure from the “owners”, who precipitated the disaster? Rather than “we” the crew.
“We”, the crew, now have control of the intercom (internet). “We” can tell the engine room to reduce speed, if the commander will not. We can point out that a plan based on the reduction of CO2 is not the only response available. But many others, which will prove effective even if that gas isn’t the central cause of the problem after all.
It might become apparent that the ship of state isn’t going anywhere without us.

[jeanrenoir]

How do you plan to control the Chinese and Indian ships of state that will both be bigger than America in a few decades?

[smpj]

Relax. You should know by now our President's vocally influential tenicles are considered to be totally mesmerizing!

[donojack]

Typical hysteria from the enviros. That number was set arbitrarily simply because it is lower than present levels. Has nothing to do with toxicity. In a crowded subway you will experience co2 levels of 10,000 ppm. You might notice it, but probably not.

[noneIn2008]

“The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, skepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin.”T.H. Huxley

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

Actually, air quality is better than it was 25 years ago. But as far as warming goes, there's really not much we can do under the circumstances. Now, if they made an electric car that was reliable and affordable, EVERYONE would have one. In the meantime, instead of a "cash for clunkers" deal where everyone was given a gift for trading in their crappy cars for new gas guzzlers, they could have made an incentive to purchase only hybrids. It's a lot less fancy than rallies and slogans and pious tirades but it's a step. They can't can't even do that.

[kobrock1]

The Titanic struck a real iceberg and not a modeled or theoretical one. But for the fun of it, let's assume that anthropogenic CO2 is the only factor that determines global temperatures; might there be an anthropogenic solution that does not require a return to "The Little House On The Prairie?"

Japan is moving forward with every kind of nuclear reactor imaginable, yet we here in the US are tilting at windmills. Our solution is so inefficient, that we know it would never have nearly enough impact, without our government significantly reducing our freedom. I mean it's fine now for people to choose a Hummer or Prius, but lefties hope that such a choice will soon be removed through government mandate.

This generation of Americans has witnessed incredible scientific breakthrough; and yet now we are told that government coercion, higher taxes and energy prices, and austerity will be our only salvation.
I smell a rat. We can do better than to reduce ourselves to shackled and prostrate climate sinners; if we control Mother Nature's thermostat, let's do something savvy and innovative to make it colder outside.

[milty]

You have the scent of a bloodhound!