On 16th May the campaigning group 350.org encouraged groups around the world to download and watch their video, 'Do The Math'. Bristol East members organised a local private showing, but on viewing the film we agreed that the subject matter definitely needed a wider audience.
350.org is named after the measure of parts per million of CO2 many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments say is the safe upper limit for our atmosphere. CO2 levels above 350ppm are deemed to create the potential for extremes in weather conditions as the climate warms and is a threat to the flora and fauna of the planet. That includes you, me and every living thing on the Earth. As the level of CO2 has recently tipped the 400ppm mark we have witnessed changes to our climate and weather patterns. The main culprit in increasing CO2 levels is the fossil fuel industy which at the moment has no responsibility in dealing with the CO2 'pollution' it causes. If we get caught littering our streets we get fined - the oil, coal and gas indutries get away with it scot free!
Do The Maths sets out Bill McKibben's bold quest to take on the oil industry. He quotes 3 key figures to support his case. Firstly it has been internationally agreed by the Governments of the world that we need to keep rising temperatures below 2 degrees. Temperatures above this level are likely to have enormous consequences with rising sea levels leading to mass migration of people, crop failures and more extreme weather conditions. To avoid a two degree rise it has been calculated that we cannot pollute the atmosphere with more than 5.65 billion tonnes of CO2 - however at the current rate of emissions we could reach this limt within 15 years! The most worrying figure though is the fact that the total fossil fuel industry has claimed it has reserves oil, gas and coal that once extracted and burned would create over 27 billion tonnes of CO2 - 5 times the recommended level. If left to follow their company objectives then the planet will experience life threatening consequences of pushing global temperatures well beyond 2 degrees. In effect the fossil fuel industry alone has the potential to disrupt and kill many lives on Earth. This is Ecocide!
So where to start this David v Goliath fight? Disinvestment is one route. If universities, pension funds, city councils and banks realised the harm the fossil industry is causing and withdrew their investments this would hit the industry hard. The dinosaur companies need to be dragged to realise that the future for us is in the investment in renewables energies, such as solar, wind, wave and geothermal. This must be their future business plan. Of course, we need to do our part in our own communitie to wean ourselves off the demand for oil.
The evidence of climate change is out there. The fact that last year the Arctic experienced the highest level of ice melt in the Summer is a big wake up call. But the world seemed to stretch, yawn and roll over, back to sleep! America has endured weather extremes of drought, floods, and an increasing prevalance of storms. Last week it was widely reported that the Alaskan community of Newtok will be America's first climate change refugees as the ice and permafrost has led to flooding of the town. More than 180 native communities in Alaska are experiencing flooding and loss of land as ice melts. In the Uk we have seen our seasons change, upsetting the cycle of farmed crops, with prolonged icy, snow conditions in some parts of the country whilst other areas have been flooded. It might seem minor but Puffins have had a disasterous year where thousands have died due to the cold, icy Winter weather and then their breeding burrows have been flooded by Summer rainstorms.
Many of us are joining up the dots of these type of events and know something has to change drastically ... and soon. We have had decades of talk and promises - now is the time for action.
Below you can find the link to the Do The Math film. It is highly recommended and you are encouraged to get as many people as possible to view it. Post it on Facebook, Twitter and your blogs. And think about what you are going to do to make a change for the better.
Comments