Performance350, a series of events anticipating the upcoming Cop15 environmental summit, is taking place currently across Bristol.
Cop15, billed by Oxfam and others as the most important meeting in history, is an annual United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Expectations are high this year as Cop15 is intended to not only extend and improve the Kyoto Protocol, but to update it in light of the new scientific understanding of climate change.
One of the major hopes for the conference is for world leaders in Copenhagen to rectify the lack of participation by some countries, notably the United States, and the inimical concessions enjoyed by others.
Locally-based environmental conservation charity Converging World is organising Bristol’s participation in the international Climate350, with music gigs and speeches at venues such as ‘Mr. Wolf’s’ to raise awareness.
One area of particular emphasis at the event is the importance of limiting carbon dioxide levels to 350 parts per million (ppm), the scientifically supported upper boundary considered safe.
Climate350 is compiling a petition in a drive to put pressure on policy makers to sign up to this ambitious target.
One student told Epigram “This is a perfect way to increase student awareness and involvement about environmental issues”.
ROB MITCHELL
NOELLE TANKARD
19/10/09
