Moving Planet

Propelled by the news of the accelerating impacts of climate change, some of the world's leading climate scientists have now revised the highest safe level of CO₂ to 350 parts per million. That's the last number you need to know, and the most important. It's the safety zone for planet earth. As James Hansen of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the first scientist to warn about global warming more than two decades ago, wrote recently:

"If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO₂ will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm."
That will be a hard task, but not impossible. We need to stop taking carbon out of the ground and putting it into the air. Above all, that means we need to stop burning so much coal—and start using solar and wind energy and other such sources of renewable energy –while ensuring the Global South a fair chance to develop. If we do, then the earth’s soils and forests will slowly cycle some of that extra carbon out of the atmosphere, and eventually CO₂ concentrations will return to a safe level. By decreasing use of other fossil fuels, and improving agricultural and forestry practices around the world, scientists believe we could get back below 350 by mid-century. But the longer we remain in the danger zone—above 350—the more likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts.

With your help, we can spread this important piece of information to our fellow citizens, communities, countries, and the world. 

Source (and more detailed information) : 350.org 

The involvement of Nektarina Non Profit with 350.org was always about low carbon travel and transport. On October 24th 2009 350.org organized a worldwide event called International Day of Climate Action, and we, just two months "old" as an organization pitched in by raising awareness about the connection between opting for a low carbon transport option and reduction of CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

October 24th 2009, International Day of Climate Action, Central Train Station Zagreb, Croatia

On October 10th 2010, 350.org organized a worldwide Global Work Party, and we installed a 6m x 2m banner on the front facade of the Central Train Station in Zagreb, but also inspired people and youth all across Central, Eastern and South Europe to join us and do their share. Experience some of the photos from that great day by visiting our Flickr Gallery.

"Cut Carbon, Choose a Train"

a huge banner installed on the front of the Central Train Station in Zagreb

This year, on September 24th, 350.org is organizing yet another worldwide event - Moving Planet - an event that is raising awareness on the importance of moving away from fossil fuels, and embracing in full low carbon travel options.

Why focus on moving away from fossil fuels?
The global fossil fuel infrastructure is a threat to our future everywhere, and a common target for our movement. It’s polluting our oceans, our land, our communities, our air, and our children’s lungs. It's corrupting our politics with over $600 billion in subsidies globally, and hundreds of millions in campaign contributions in the United States in the last 10 years. And looming largest, the continued burning of coal and oil is what will tip climate change into climate catastrophe - getting off fossil fuels is the number one thing we need to do to get below 350ppm.  Fossil fuels connect to many issues—sustainable agriculture, transportation, and water to name a few.  But please don’t feel limited by this focus, and feel free to organize around the climate issue most relevant to where you are. (source and more information Moving Planet) 


Yesterday (Sunday, Sep 18th) people in Zagreb gathered together on their bicycles, asking their City Government to (finally) help them be equal participants in the traffic by marking bicycle lanes and by installing more bicycle parks. More and more people opt for bicycle as their means of transportation to work, to university or to the green market, but the city it lacking the infrastructure to support them (and to attract and inspire more people to do the same - move away from fossil fuels by choosing a low carbon transport option).

Over a thousand people gathered for this event, locally called "Pedala nije sala" (Pedaling is not a joke), agreeing to help promote low carbon travel options throughout this week, building thus a momentum for the Moving Planet, but also beyond these dates and events - promoting cycling as a way of life, a long-term decision to change the way we move around and impact our planet.

Enjoy more photos from this event by visiting our Flickr Gallery, and join us by visiting Moving Planet web page and finding and event near you, or organizing an event yourself. Let's Move The Planet!