As part of global 350 events calling for climate action, The Wilderness Society unfurled a large banner in a logging coupe in the Styx Valley calling for the protection of the world’s forest to help return atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to 350 parts per million.
350 represents the level of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere the world needs to return to, to be able to avoid dangerous climate change. Scientists believe 350 parts per million of CO2 should be the target of international negotiations in Copenhagen later this year.
“Some of the solutions to climate change are really simple and we need to start implementing them now so we can achieve this 350ppm target,” said Gemma Tillack, Climate Change and Forests Campaigner for The Wilderness Society.
“We can start to reduce our emissions by protecting our native forests, which are some of the most carbon dense forests in the world. It makes sense to protect Tasmania’s forests as one response to reducing the release of carbon into the atmosphere.”
“Protecting our forests is the best contribution Tasmania can make to the global fight against climate change and our Governments needs to realise this,” said Ms Tillack
Approximately 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions result from deforestation (permanent clearing of forests) and forest degradation (including logging). It is likely that the Copenhagen climate deal will include a mechanism to reduce the emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
“The good news is that if we immediately protect the world’s forests from further logging and clearing we can make quick, large reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions and be on the right track to securing a safe climate,” said Ms Tillack.
“Australia must support the 350 target before Copenhagen and join the 89 countries who have already endorsed it,” concluded Ms Tillack.
Gemma Tillack is part of The Wilderness Society’s International Climate Change team and has been attending the UN climate talks over the past year. She is available for media briefings before and during the Copenhagen Climate talks.
This community event is part of the biggest global day of action in history – the 350 International Day of Climate Action. The event comes just six weeks before the world’s nations convene in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference where the new international climate treaty will be decided.
Images of the event are available on request.
Visual documentation From the Day of Action will be delivered to the United Nations on Monday. Images of the events from around the world, including the Styx event, will be featured on giant video screens in Times Square in New York as part of a 350 countdown, and are accessible at request.
This event has been coordinated internationally by 350.org and organised locally by The Wilderness Society Tasmania.
For more info on the global events or 350 visit http://www.350.org/
Gemma Tillack
