Is it too late to save our planet and ourselves from climate change? That is a question that has been asked by scientists, government officials, and the general public since the discovery of climate change in the 19th century. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to humanity’s health, causing air pollution, disease, extreme weather, food and water scarcity, and many more problems that are taking lives, animal and human alike. A report written by the World Economic Forum says that by 2050, climate change will cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide.
With facts like these, it seems that the answer to the question I asked, in the beginning, is a firm “yes”. But if you took a few minutes to look at the progress that has been made instead of how far we still have to go to save ourselves from climate change, you would realize that we’re not out of this fight yet. One of the soldiers in this battle is an organization that is creating a worldwide grassroots movement against climate change to bring it to heel.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
The Goal of Lowering the CO2 Threshold
The beginning of this organization was in 2008, with a well-known environmental author and activist named Bill McKibben a a group of his friends from Middlebury College. They saw that the threat of climate change was growing exponentially and that they had to take a stand against it. They understood that the threat of climate change was too big for them to handle by themselves. So how could they combat a worldwide threat? Simple: get the world to help in the fight.
The name of the organization is based on the science of climate change. When the organization was founded, the atmospheric level of CO2 was 385 parts per million (ppm), which was above 350 ppm, the safe upper limit that scientists including NASA’s James Hansen deduced. Anything more than 350 ppm increases the risk of triggering irreversible impacts such as ice sheet loss, substantial sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. Because of this significant threshold, the organization was named 350.org, to remind people of the goal that must be achieved. The mission of 350.org is the inspire others to join the battle against climate change to create a world fit for future generations.
The Strategy Against Climate Change
The approach that 350.org uses in combatting climate change is grassroots mobilization, empowering and mobilizing people and communities on a local level to join the cause. 350.org believes that the most impactful and meaningful changes start from the ground up, rather than being forced from the top down. It organizes a wide range of events to inform the public of the importance of preventing climate change and building community among activists. Many of their campaigns are designed to inspire local groups to take action in ways that are relevant to the overall goal of reducing carbon emissions like opposing new coal plants or promoting renewable energy solutions.
350.org works to put pressure on both governments and corporations to adopt sustainable policies by mobilizing large numbers of citizens to speak out for change, with the idea that with enough voices, leaders will be more likely to listen and act. 350.org helps to connect activists, organizations, and communities so they can support and amplify each other’s efforts to stop climate change, and share strategies, experiences, and successes.
350.org involves young people in their campaigns and supports youth-led initiatives so they can provide fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to tackling climate change, providing them with education resources and leadership development to form them into people capable of making a sustainable future.
350.org has used digital media to amplify its global mobilization, using social media influence on several platforms, organizing webinars and virtual events to educate, train, and mobilize activists, launch multiple digital campaigns such as the Fossil Free Campaign (successfully pressured over 1,300 institutions to commit to divesting from fossil fuels) and Rise for Climate (mobilized thousands of events and actions around the world, successfully pressuring policymakers and corporations to commit to renewable energy targets and policies), and coordinating globally on a local scale to organize events like the Global Climate Strikes (inspiring millions of people to participate in climates strikes around the world). All of these actions are done by 350.org to mobilize more citizens into the battle to save our world from climate change.
The Blows Against Climate Change
Since its founding over a dozen years ago, 350.org has spread its reach worldwide, operating in over 188 countries and empowering people to join the unified movement against climate change. It has been behind some of the world’s most significant climate rallies and events, including the People’s Climate March in 2014, one of the largest environmental protests in history with an estimated 311,000 participants, and described as “an invitation to change everything”. Its divestment campaign has led to 350 institutions and local governments alongside thousands of individuals representing over $1.5 trillion in assets pledging to divest from fossil fuels.
350.org played a vital role in stopping the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have carried crude oil from Canada to the U.S., posing a threat to the environment and contributing to greenhouse gases. Alongside being a grassroots movement, 350.org has pushed for stronger climate policies on national and international levels, playing a significant role in what led to the Paris climate talks and the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Facing Down Resistance
Despite its noble mission to act against climate change, 350.org faces opposition in the form of major oil and coal companies who don’t like their work for obvious reasons, along with some politicians who aren’t on board with shaking the status quo, even though their planet and lives are at risk. Even though these people have great influence and power, 350.org refuses to get discouraged or intimidated into backing down. 350.org is dedicated to uniting the world in bringing the CO2 level to 350 ppm and preventing a worldwide climate crisis.
How to Help and Why
We can help in the movement of 350.org in big and small ways, from taking a few minutes to sign an open letter calling on the COP29 President to remove an oil boss from the organizing committee of this year’s UN climate conference, giving some time to become a monthly donor, and dedicating time and effort to joining a local group or forming your own.
You might think that the issue of climate change has become so big that any one person alone can’t solve it and you’d be right. One person alone can’t do it. That’s why we all have to come together to fix it. All of us are in some way responsible for the climate change problem. Our descendants shouldn’t have to live in a world ruined by our mistakes. It won’t be an easy task and it won’t be finished for quite some time, but together, it is and will remain achievable.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” – Edward Everett Hale
If you liked this post, leave a comment or share it on your social media to spread awareness about 350.org and its dedication to making sure climate isn’t an issue for future generations, then you can be an Exemplar of Change!
To learn more about 350.org, its efforts to build a global grassroots movement against climate change, and how you can get involved, look at the links below!
Exemplars of Change 
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