Kentville Endorses 350 Day of Action

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Oct 20, 2009, 2:39:44 PM10/20/09

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-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-

KENTVILLE NS – On October 13, the Town of Kentville Council Advisory Committee signified its unanimous support and endorsement of the 350 Day of Climate Action as a part of a regional initiative to raise awareness of the need for a fair, ambitious and binding global climate agreement at this December’s UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.

On October 24, 2009, a planetary Day of Climate Action is planned for citizens worldwide to share in the united message of the urgent need for global leadership on the issue of global climate change.

Provincially, Shelburne, Bridgewater, Kentville and Wolfville have signified their formal support of this event through municipal council resolutions endorsing the 350 Day of Climate Action. Locally, 350 events are being planned in Wolfville, Windsor and Berwick to mark the 350 Day of Climate Action on Saturday, October 24. For more information on these events, please see www.350.org

The number “350” refers to the broad scientific agreement that the long-term global goal for greenhouse gas emission reductions needs to be set at 350 parts per million (ppm) of atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. Currently global concentrations of CO2 are at 385.92 ppm and rising.

Scientists argue that 350 parts per million of CO2 is the safe upper limit if we wish to have a planet similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted. Scientists argue that reducing global carbon concentrations is necessary to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic impacts of global climate change such as increasing sea levels, flooding and extreme weather events affecting communities worldwide.

It is estimated that meeting the “350” goal will require the countries of the world to collectively reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by at least 45 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by at least 95 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050. From December 7 to December 18, 2009 governments of the world will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 to negotiate the terms of a new global climate agreement.

ATTACHED PHOTO: Kentville Environmental Advisory Committee shows its support for the 350 Day of Climate Action.

Brennan Vogel is the Sustainability Coordinator with the Town of Kentville and can be reached at 902-679-2512 or ic...@kentville.ca