Massachusetts citizens gathered at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park Saturday to petition Massachusetts to be the first state to lower the level of carbon dioxide emissions to under 350 parts per million, the safe upper limit scientists have found for the atmosphere.’
The Boston Under Water Festival, part of environmental organization 350’s International Day of Climate Action, aimed to inform the public about the dangers of carbon dioxide emissions and to show policy-makers the significance of climate change.
The festival was one of 5,200 other actions that took place all over the world, according to the organization. The organization is named for the upper limit number the festival-goers were rallying for. The level is currently around 390 parts per million.
Festival co-coordinator Vanessa Rule said it was necessary to recognize the global context of climate change.
‘One of the things that’s so important is to realize that it can’t be at one country’s level or one state level,’ she said ‘Even though you need to act locally, we all need globally to be acting together.’
Dave Madan, a festival volunteer, said he thinks the Boston event is just a small part of fighting climate change.’
‘Politicians are going to see that people around the world in large numbers gathered and so whether it’s the impact of this directly or it’s that whole collective impact, it’s hard to piece that out,’ he said.’ ‘I think it’s important that they know that there is political will among people to make this happen.’
Organizers of the festival said they wanted to show the government how many people are passionate about climate change and understand the importance of global warming and its effects on the earth.’
An environmental activist Jeffrey Ostrom said he wants people to understand the importance of climate change and environmental action.
‘I do volunteer with Greenpeace and many other groups that I believe in that are doing good things with the climate,’ he said. ‘Solidarity and trying to help the planet is what brought me here.’
Scientists have predicted that if action is not changed regarding harmful emissions, the world will be flooded due to melting polar ice caps by the year 2030, according to posters at the event. Signs reading ‘I survived the flood of 2030’ filled the park. Another sign showed the Boston Citgo sign engulfed by waves, and attendees brought props including life vests and wetsuits.
‘We need to act now,’ he said. ‘Scientists are in agreement that there are only 350 parts of CO2 in the atmosphere per million that the atmosphere can safely hold. And that’s pushing it, and right now we’re at 390, maybe higher, and global warming will be irreversible if we don’t do anything about it within the next six years.’
Michele Naughton, an event volunteer and a Boston University Educational Resource Center staff coordinator, said she people should work to combat climate change with even small actions such as turning off the lights or turning down the heat when away from home.’
‘It starts with simple stuff,’ Naughton said.’ ‘It’s the simple stuff that starts really small, and those small changes really make a big impact when they get all combined together.’
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