Kentville Supports 350 Day of Climate Action: October 24

On October 13, the Town of Kentville Council Advisory Committee signified its unanimous support and endorsement of the 350 Day of Climate Action. On October 24, 2009, a planetary day of climate action is planned to share in the united worldwide message of the urgent need for global leadership to respond appropriately to the issue of global climate change.

Provincially, Shelburne, Bridgewater, Kentville and Wolfville have signified their formal support for the 350 Day of Climate Action. Locally, 350 events are 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 avoid the catastrophic impacts of global climate change such as increasing sea levels, flooding and extreme weather events.


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 global climate agreement.