1Sky Mobilizes Thousands Nationwide to Take Part in Largest International Display of Action on Climate Crisis in History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Contact: Alex Posorske (301) 270-4550 x230; alex@1sky.org

Takoma Park, MD – As the momentum for a strong clean energy jobs bill continues to increase, 1Sky, one of the largest collaborative campaigns in the country dedicated to bold federal action on climate change, announced today that 1Sky organizers and volunteers will play a lead role in over 200 nationwide events tomorrow advocating for strong domestic and international action on climate change.   

These events will be part of over 4,600 global actions in more than 177 countries taking place for the October 24 International Day of Climate Action sponsored by 350.org.

The International Day of Climate Action – the largest collective international display of action to fight climate change the world has ever seen – is designed to give a unified voice to the global calls for world leaders to take bold action against climate change on the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.  Here in the U.S., the more than 200 1Sky  events will take place in 45 states and the District of Columbia, capitalizing on the grassroots momentum built this year to push for movement on the Senate clean energy jobs bill.

“In order to stabilize our planet, it is critical that we reduce the carbon concentration in our atmosphere to levels the scientists believe are safe – 350 parts per million,” said 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell. “We are a nationwide campaign calling for bold action now by the United States: We need to pass a strong clean energy bill now and we need even more engagement from President Obama himself to get the job done.”

350 parts per million – the namesake of 350.org – refers to the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that, according to the latest science, is the maximum safe level.  Currently the earth’s atmosphere is at 387 parts per million and rapidly moving towards 400. Eighty-nine countries have already endorsed the 350 target, as well as the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, the world’s foremost climate economist, Sir Nicholas Stern, and Nobel prize-winner Al Gore.

Events within the 1Sky nationwide network range from a huge rally of hundreds in New York City’s Times Square and a state-wide dance party in Vermont to hundreds of smaller gatherings in other cities around the nation.  Events sponsored by the 1Sky network will focus on pushing the Senate and President Obama to work for strong climate legislation before the Copenhagen conference.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, the Senate’s energy and climate bill, was introduced in early October.  For 1Sky’s analysis of the bill, see www.1sky.org/S1733.  Hearings on the bill are expected to start on October 27th in the Environment and Public Works Committee.