Waking Up Our Leaders to Climate Change: Global movement demands action

categories: Activism, Arctic & Antarctic, News, Politics, Science, Wildlife & Biodiversity

Published September 18, 2009 @ 04:08PM PT

Polar bears and Arctic sea ice copyright Greenpeace/Nick Cobbing

Nowhere in the world are the effects of global warming more plain than in the Arctic. Glaciers across Greenland, for instance, suddenly started disintegrating and gushing melt-water into the ocean at an alarming rate in the first half of this decade.

The melt accelerated so much that scientists began to fear that the entire Greenland ice sheet — which contains enough water to raise sea levels as much as 20 feet — might be in serious trouble.

A Greenpeace expedition to the Arctic has been searching for clues that might explain this unprecedented meltdown. The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise made history when it successfully navigated the entire length of the Nares Strait in mid-June — a time of year when the strait is typically impassable because of sea ice. The crew has sent back some startling images of the impact global warming is having on the Arctic, while independent scientists onboard have confirmed that warmer water from Southern latitudes was not only making its way up to Greenland’s glacial fjords but also lapping at the glaciers themselves, contributing to their decline.

Arctic Sunrise in the Arctic copyright Greenpeace/Nick Cobbing

The National Snow and Ice Data Center announced today that 2009 saw Arctic summer sea ice recede to the third lowest extent ever recorded. The agency restated its warning that the Arctic could be free of sea ice altogether in the summer as soon as 2030.

Polar bears have been listed under the Endangered Species Act because their crucial sea ice habitat is vanishing; Pacific walrus are now being considered for listing as well. Milder winters have caused some sea geese to stop migrating South for the winter.

Even with these danger signs in the Arctic, world leaders have made no significant progress addressing climate change, largely because they’re waiting for the US to lead the charge. Will we come through? The Guardian recently published a very troubling report that far from getting out in front on climate policy, the Obama administration has made new proposals that would massively restructure the treaty to be discussed at this December's international climate negotiations. "Sources on the European side say the US approach could undermine the new treaty and weaken the world's ability to cut carbon emissions," reports the Guardian.

So where is the global movement demanding that President Obama and the rest of the world’s leaders take bold action?

A new global climate action campaign, TckTckTck.org, aims to be that movement. Representing a coalition of groups, including Greenpeace, Oxfam, Avaaz.org, Christian Aid, 350.org, and many, many more, TckTckTck has already logged over a million signatures of people who have joined together “to show world leaders that the support for a fair, ambitious, and binding climate treaty is diverse, broad, and crosses borders.”

In addition to aggregating signatures from concerned citizens the world over, the TckTckTck.org website has some pretty cool and useful features to help you stay on top of the news, get active, and organize your own circle of friends and family. The site features a “major moments” calendar that lays out the key dates from now until the Copenhagen climate talks, as well as a lot of excellent content, such as the climate "Campaign Stories" blog.

It also features a tool really like: the climate orb – an interactive globe that lets you explore people’s stories about how climate change is already effecting their lives.

Signing on with TckTckTck is a great way to show world leaders that there is broad support among citizens of Earth for bold action on global warming. But if you prefer to act a little closer to home (and right here on Change.org no less!), you can sign this petition by Earthjustice calling on the Obama adminstration not to open the newly ice-free Arctic to drilling.

Or you can sign the United Nations Foundation’s petition calling on President Obama to support a strong international climate treaty in Copenhagen.

Or if it's real-world action you prefer — and you can be in Pittsburgh next week — you can join the climate contingent at the People's Uprising march that will take place Sept. 24, during the meetings of the Group of 20 (G20) major world economies.

As I wrote last week, inaction is the biggest danger we face: Absolutely nothing will happen unless you get out there and make your voice heard. Whether it's signing a petition, making a phone call, or marching, join the global movement demanding fast, bold and effective action to stop global warming.

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Comments (6)

History teach us all there to care about the endowment we must not full Mother Nature. We reduce harsh winter snowstorms and blizzards and coldest summers and wet weather. Have a Smart Growth Reforms in places in the United States

Re-duct the high Populations of growth. Children are born with ride
lock mother children should be born with a Mother and Father. Children deservea Mother and Father Marriage should be between a man and woman. We need to closing the boarders so that elegual aliens. They need to come to this country the right way wait their turns earn it the right way. No wonder we have unpredictable strums, such as swine flu that is going around. Have the Flu Vaccines manufactured in the United States to ad void flu vaccines shortage

jgallant2000@comcast.net

Jocelyn Gallant

Salem, New Hampshire

Posted by Jocelyn Gallant on 09/20/2009 @ 12:29AM PT
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Flu Vaccines should be manufactured here in the United States the Phymarcile company should Bering back the flu vaccines that has lead us to vaccines shortages I am concern with this swine flu out brake that did not go a way we have not learn from the Great Ppandemic out brake of 1918 Rather manufactured the flu vaccines in Liverpool, England.

Jocelyn Gallant

jgallant2000@comcast.net

Salem, NH

Posted by Jocelyn Gallant on 09/20/2009 @ 12:34AM PT
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Global Warming is the Place to get it all of your chest.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 09/20/2009 @ 11:27PM PT
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;-)

Posted by Oceania OZ on 09/20/2009 @ 11:31PM PT
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We only have one Earth! Once it's gone it's gone.

Posted by Scott Flannigan on 09/22/2009 @ 05:35PM PT
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Agree! We have to save this earth for our loved ones. The best way to stop global warming and stop swine flu is to stop animal farming. Animal Farming is responsible for over 60% of green house gases (see World Bank's report) and is the source of most pandamic diseases in the past 20 years. And the poor animals! I hope the TckTckTck.org pays attention to this aspect.

Posted by Ming Ching on 09/26/2009 @ 11:13AM PT
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Author

Mike G. has been a progressive and environmental activist since he knocked on his first door as a canvasser in college. He's been writing about progressive and environmental causes on the web almost as long. He is currently a Web Editor at Greenpeace USA, covering the org's global warming, forests, and nuclear energy campaigns. Mike has two English degrees gathering dust in his closet: a Masters from San Jose State (in California) and a Bachelors from the University of Texas, Austin. When not being a web geek, he is a writer (mostly of sci-fi), editor, cyclist, and musician. He lives in San Francisco and loves it there.