Month: October 2009

Climate Change and A Memorable Web Address

Leader of the Pack
Of all the Web sites that I’ve read, heard, or seen, there is one above all others that I am quickly finding the most memorable, namely www.350.org.

Why is that, you may wonder…

Global Warming and the Domino Effect
Easy: Because I didn’t know much technically about global warming, I’m grateful to the people at that address who have now made the science a good deal easier for me to grasp.

Now I understand more about the domino effect that is occurring in our atmosphere because we’re too high above what’s considered a safe number of parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere here on Earth.

The Meaning of ‘350’ and ‘390’
‘350’ refers to the 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide that has now been determined as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

We are already above that safe zone at 390 parts per million – and it’s those additional parts per million that has been causing havoc and climatic catastrophes, according to scientists, climate experts, and progressive governments.

Melting Arctic Ice Caps
For example, it’s the additional 40 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere that’s accelerating artic warming with catastrophic results.

With ‘350’ and ‘390’ now in my mind, when I see photographs of the ice caps melting complete with polar bears stranded on huge chunks of it – I understand more how the delicate balance of our Earth is being compromised.

The Worst African Drought In 40 Years
Likewise, that additional 40 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is causing other early climate impacts, like the one I saw on the late evening news last night where a BBC reporter was reporting about the worst drought in 40 years that’s happening as you read this across Eastern Africa.

In fact, up to three million people in Eastern Africa face starvation right now because there hasn’t been any rain in that part of the globe for two years. Thousands of animals who provide families with their livelihoods have died in the drought too.

An End To Scenes Like This?       {© Quillcards Ecards}
An End To Scenes Like This?     {© Quillcards Ecards}

The Meaning of ‘275’
Besides the safe upper limit of 350 parts per million for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and the getting-more-and-more-dangerous zone of 390 parts per million that we are currently living in, the ‘350’ website taught me one more important number about global warming – namely, 275.

What does that number ‘275’ stand for?

Well, for the entire course of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere was made up of 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide.

That was an optimal number. In fact, some carbon dioxide on Earth is essential. Without some of it and other greenhouse gases that contain heat in our atmosphere, Earth would be too cold for us humans to inhabit.

Rising Carbon In Our Atmosphere
Humans began to burn coal, gas, and oil to create energy and other goods beginning in the 18th century. That’s when the amount of carbon in the atmosphere began to rise. Most of our daily creature comforts including electric lighting, cooking food, heating and cooling where we live rely on energy sources like coal and oil.

The Consumption of Fossil Fuels
It is these substances – the fossil fuels known as petroleum, coal, natural gas – that give off carbon dioxide and other gases that are trapped in the atmosphere.

And from the 18th century onwards, people have been taking more and more carbon that’s been stored for millions of years beneath the earth as fossil fuels and releasing it into the atmosphere by using it for our increasingly extravagant lifestyles.

It’s All In The Numbers
This is what made the 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere rise first to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide and now to the increasingly more dangerous 390 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

Melting glaciers, severe droughts, dangerously rising sea levels, increasingly acidic oceans – according to experts, these alarming changes all point to the need to target 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere before it is too late.

Promoting ‘350’ At The UN Conference In Copenhagen This December
In December of this year, world leaders will meet for a two-week long United Nations conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

At that conference, delegates from various elements from every nation from all over the world will meet to establish a new global climate change agreement.

What’s In A Number
That’s where 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere comes in as the target to try and keep us safe – from the climate catastrophe of extreme weather, drought, famine, and forced migration that are becoming all too familiar trigger points of crises on Earth today.

References:
350.org
Wikipedia
BBC
Genevalaunch
Bear Springs Blossom Nature Conservation

We’re changing the look of ecard communications.
Check Out Our Ecards.