The Little Things Count

As you may have heard there's a rather large meeting in Copenhagen between world leaders and delegates from almost every country on the planet.

What's it about?
Climate talks will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark between all members of the United Nations - which is 192 out of 195 countries.
The number of leaders planning to come to the December 7-18 talks has risen to 98 (possibly more by now) out of the 192 members of the United Nations. Most world leaders will attend on last two days of the talks, Obama recently changing his mind about when he would attend.


Why is it a big deal?

Many scientists believe this is the last chance we (as humans) have to do something about climate change, and it needs to big.


Islands are already disappearing and some of these nations, such as the Maldives are now carbon neutral as a result. These island nations will need to evacuated before 2050 if the IPCC's predictions prove true. Although, Dr. James Lovelock's predictions are much worse, which is discomforting considering he's a climate maverick, inventor, and the most important scientific thinker alive (he's done for Climate Science what Einstein and Newton did for Physics).
These predictions, of a 6c rise by 2100 are why there is a need for action. There are two choices we currently have:

1. Do nothing.
2. Do all we can, now.


What are the consequences of these two choices?

Say we do nothing, and the worst predictions are true, we will be unprepared and social and economic collapse would occur in a heartbeat. It will become the survival of the fittest and there will likely be climate wars.
We do nothing, it doesn't happen - HAPPY DAYS!
We do all we can and it IS true, we are as prepared as possible and strong enough to tackle whatever nature throws at us - we can survive, even though socially and economically strained beyond comprehension.
We do all we can and....! Nothing. Ooops! Massive cost, for what? Nothing, although we are being very nice to the planet.


Which is more of a risk to you?

THIS is why it's a big deal: what happens at the coming climate talks has the potential to change the course of the human race 50 years down the line. Also, we cannot be certain of anything! Gamble with the future of a race? Hmm, would you take that risk?



What are they aiming for?

They are aiming to do as much as possible, but as often is with politics, some countries will refuse to climb aboard until another country does first. The current argument between industrializing nations such as China and India, is that the developed countries who went through the same process had no restrictions and it's their fault emissions have risen so much and they aren't doing enough themselves to be 'cleaner'.
Developed countries counter with "we need everyone on board for this to make a difference" and the US & Canada often refuse to agree upon a deal until India and China do, these are the largest polluters in the world, following one another and getting nowhere. This is what worries many, as if that happens in Copenhagen, a lot will have been lost.

Climate scientists are convinced the world must stop the growth in greenhouse gas emissions and start making them fall very soon. To have a chance of keeping warming under the dangerous 2C mark, cuts of 25%-40% relative to 1990 levels are needed, rising to 80%-95% by 2050. So far, the offers on the table are way below these targets.

As for the stolen e-mails? 1,700 UK Scientists have signed a statement saying climate change IS due to human activities.
Climate skeptics misrepresented both the content and the significance of the stolen e-mails, quotes were also cherry-picked from the sources.

The Met. Office has released temperature records to debunk these claims. Which is a considerable amount of evidence, if one reads the article here.


The best way to get world leaders to come up with a climate deal that is fair, ambitious, and binding is to:

1. Sign the TckTckTck petition.
2. Raise your voice at Hopenhagen.org.
3. Educate yourself about basic climate science.
4. Educate others.
5. Write to your local government, environment minister or national leader.
   

It's everywhere, talk of going green, "global warming" and this thing it causes, "climate change", but how much do you really know about it?
Let's start with Gaia, the theory that is now widely accepted and is described as the earth as: "The Gaia Theory posits that the organic and inorganic components of Planet Earth have evolved together as a single living, self-regulating system. It suggests that this living system has automatically controlled global temperature, atmospheric content, ocean salinity, and other factors, that maintains its own habitability." [Source]

With strong evidence of past hot and cold periods during Earth's lifetime, a natural cycle has been deducted. After collision with an asteroid that is believed to have wiped out the then dominant species, dinosaurs, the Earth was still in a hot state, hence, an ice age followed, on a geological timeline, fairly soon afterward. This was Gaia re-adjusting, so much that glaciation extended further south than Canada's modern border and into northern Europe. As diversity increased in the cool period almost to the point of destabilization - likely through population - Gaia readjusted again to bring about the diversity of the experienced until at least the 1800's.
Since the industrialization of the current M.E.D.C's (more economically developed countries) and the invention of the combustion engine and 'discovery' of electricity we have been consuming fossil fuels at a near exponential rate as our technology has become more sophisticated.
This is a problem for Gaia as she was already trying to balance the warm period, but with the release of greenhouse gases, so called because they trap and re-radiate heat, the natural balance has been upset. Of course, as the majority of greenhouse gases now come from unnatural sources.
Considering the amount of geological time it takes Gaia to adjust, and the fact that the average global temperature has increased by 1F in the last one hundred years, and by 4F in some regions, the vast majority of scientists now accept that climate change, as a result of global warming, is mainly caused by humans.

Global warming causes climate change purely due the sensitivity of the world's climate to changes in temperature, and not only climate, but ocean current's too. Ocean currents determine how warm or cool parts of the world are, for example, if the Gulf Stream were to change course and move south toward Spain, the UK, along with north-western Europe would become as cold as parts Greenland for a considerable amount of the year.
North Eastern Europe would experience winters similar to those in Siberia currently, if it were to move further north, the opposite would happen and British tourists would be less likely to holiday in southern Spain!
Ocean currents can affect weather patterns to an extent too, but not as much as the inland temperatures. Weather patterns will change independently, as they constantly too, but the frequency of extreme weather would increase. A warmer summer in the Caribbean would likely result in a more severe hurricane season, which has been seen recently, we all know where.
When the atmospheric composition changes, there will likely be effects. Carbon dioxide is now at levels of 390 parts per million, when in 1970 the levels were close to 330 parts per million, and in 1880 levels were around 290 ppm. Oh, and, in the last 800,000 years, the CO2 concentration has never gone above 310 parts per million (see below)

Hardly a natural increase?

Such a big change in a very short of amount of geological time is likely to have many consequences.

These continually accelerating changes are why our world leaders need to leave Copenhagen having signed an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement, with all countries involved, especially the U.S., China and Canada. For too long we have sat back and denied, debated and been sheepish when it comes to policy. This December could be the last chance our world leaders have to collectively combat climate change. If you want to let them know you want the same, I suggest you explore the TckTckTck campaign, and sign your name along with 1.93 million other citizens worldwide who have done so already. Together we can make a lot of noise.

Thank you for reading!



This has been my contribution to Blog Action Day along with some of my own photographs, located here.

In the first half of 2009 the UN launched a new climate campaign, TckTckTck, since then 1.37 million citizens from around the world have signed their name to the list of people calling for a climate deal that is viable, realistic and that will prevent climate change instead of preserving our economies and wrapping them in cotton wool. Since it's launch other events and partner campaigns have joined TckTckTck.

Avaaz had 3.5 million members in every country of the world, with a mission of: "Avaaz.org is a new global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want." Over 13.5 million actions have been taken since January 2007 and they continue to support the TckTckTck campaign.

350 is another supporter and partner of the TckTckTck campaign, launched in 2007 with a campaign called "Step It Up". Currently an International Day of Climate Action on October 24 is planned with over 1700 events worldwide, from Parades to Festivals. 350 has a mission is to: "...inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet." Why the number 350? This is the amount of CO2, in parts per million, that scientists accept as the safe limit for humanity, currently we are at 385 parts per million.

A new climate film that includes the UN's award winning IPCC's worst climate predictions has also sent shockwaves through its audiences, it's called The Age Of Stupid and stars Pete Postlethwaite, the film is also supported by another campaign, Not Stupid, where the public can take action and send "Stupid" or "Not Stupid" to politicians of their own country. There is also a pledge anyone can sign to say what they will do if the UK government builds a new coal power plant, Pete will give back his OBE in protest. The film is available on DVD and was premiered around the world on September 21.
From October 5th anyone, anywhere will be able to buy a license to screen the film at their church/pub/school/business. The cost to market, make and distribute the film has come from public donations and anyone being able to buy shares in The Age Of Stupid. Many are still unaware of the film.

Each of the these campaign websites have interesting facts on Climate Change and the road to Copenhagen where world leaders will sign a new climate deal, to replace to Kyoto protocol that ends in 2012. They are worth exploring to educate oneself and see what all of the fuss is about! TckTckTck is one of the most successful climate campaigns to date, recently, 60 artists and celebrities took part in the recording of a re-mix of the hit "Beds Are Burning".





What can you do?










Share it, dig it, stumble it, post it, tweet it, anything you can to raise awareness and add to the already loud voices of 1.37 million others around the world who are calling for climate action. You can read the evidence and the facts within this blog and via campaign websites, see for yourself and ask yourself if YOU are ready for climate justice. Share and ask your family, friends and colleagues, Are You Ready?



Thank you for reading.