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.
   

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.