This December, the United Nations will hold a climate-change conference in Copenhagen, as they do annually. However, this year the stakes are at an unprecedented high. James Hansen, a NASA climate scientist, recently released a study showing that the highest concentration of CO2 the Earth's atmosphere can maintain is 350 parts per million, above which irreversible damage will occur: permafrost melting and releasing gases, ice caps melting, sea levels rising.
Currently, we are at 387 ppm. Now is the time to act, when we still have a chance to lower our emissions, change our lifestyles and unite globally to preserve our planet and life as we know it, for ourselves and our progeny.
On Oct. 24, United Nations Day, 1,600 [public] actions in 130 countries will take place to show our elected officials, each other and ourselves that we want 350 ppm included in an international treaty; we want our leaders to act; and we are willing to do our part. One action will take place in downtown Asheville in front of City Hall from 2-4 p.m. A picture will be taken at 3:50 and combined with others from around the world to show our support for a fair, ambitious and binding climate action.
— Elisha Scales
Asheville
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.