Luke Buchanan is concerned about climate change, and he thinks you should be too. While studying for his Bachelor’s Degree at Tulane University in New Orleans, Luke Buchanan volunteered with an organization called Event 350. Event 350 is an organization that aims to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The number 350, explains Luke Buchanan, is a key number for the organization; Event 350 aims to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to at or below 350 parts per million (ppm). Currently, says Luke Buchanan, the levels are at about 400 ppm. Carbon dioxide concentration is an important figure in the fight against global warming. Luke Buchanan found that his work with Event 350 encouraged him to change his behaviors on a larger scale, taking more public transportation, lobbying for solar energy, and actively learning about social justice and the role of global justice in the fight against global warming. Working with Event 350 made Luke Buchanan aware of just how imbalanced carbon dioxide emissions are, with the majority of carbon emissions coming from the United States. Rapidly developing nations like China and India, while emitting more carbon dioxide than they used to, still can’t compare to the United States when it comes to carbon emissions, explains Luke Buchanan. It’s important that people know that the mission of Event 350 isn’t arbitrary, says Luke Buchanan. No, the organization’s mission is based on hard science – specifically the 1988 work of a NASA scientist. Luke Buchanan frequently shares the highlights of this paper with individuals who doubt the reality of global warming. The studies, explains Luke Buchanan, were the first to definitively show that global warming is a real phenomenon. By working with Event 350, Luke Buchanan aimed to help a greater number of people understand that some of the aspects causing climate change are reversible, and that they can make concrete changes towards a better future. What Event 350’s message comes down to, explains Luke Buchanan, is the reality that climate change doesn’t have to keep proceeding the way it currently is. Furthermore, the way to bring about change is to speak your mission in many different languages – that’s why Event 350’s slogan centers on a number. Numbers translate across languages, says Luke Buchanan. 350 ppm is the same in English as in Bengali and Swedish. By using this slogan, Luke Buchanan sees Event 350 as remaining true to its goal of global justice and responsibility. http://350.org/about http://co2now.org/ http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html
Related Articles -
Luke Buchanan, Carbon Count, Event 350,
|