Campus & Community

Sept. 24 rally on SUNY-ESF campus part of global effort to focus attention on climate crisis

Friday, September 16, 2011, By News Staff

Count the Syracuse area among hundreds of sites worldwide that will call for–with one symbolic voice all on the same day–the planet to move beyond fossil fuels.

movingplanetThat upcoming day is Saturday, Sept 24. The “392 and Rising—Getting to 350 Rally” will be held from 10–11 a.m. on the Quad at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) to call attention to the dangers posed by the ever-increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere and the impacts of climate change.

Community participation in the 350 Rally is welcome. Though not required, anyone planning to attend may sign up online at http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/syracuse-new-york-onondaga-co/1831.

The event will take place during the annual SUNY-ESF Alumni & Family Fall BBQ Weekend. Because the barbecue is an advance sale ticket event, and due to the SU football game at the Dome that day, there is no parking on campus.

Syracuse’s 350 Rally is being held in association with moving-planet.org, which is organizing an international series of events on Sept. 24 to bring attention to the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.

In 1959, the first year that data on atmospheric CO2 was collected, the CO2 concentration was 316 parts per million (ppm). Today it is 392 ppm. Atmospheric CO2 has accelerated upward from decade to decade. For the past 10 years, the average annual rate of increase is 2.04 ppm. This rate of increase is more than double the increase in the 1960s, when the rate was 0.88 ppm. According to CO2Now.org, 350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts and progressive governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

350 Rally schedule

  • 10-10:20 a.m.
    On the SUNY-ESF Quad participants will form the number 350 to symbolize the importance of getting the CO2 concentration back to 350 ppm. In case of rain, the number 350 will still be formed outside, but the presentations starting at 10:20 will be moved to Marshall Auditorium. Note for media: The third floor of Bray Hall will be accessible for taking photos of the human 350 figure.
  • 10:20 a.m.
    Neil Murphy, SUNY-ESF president, will speak on the dangers of the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and the impact on climate change.
  • 10:30-10:50 a.m.
    Andrew Maxwell, City of Syracuse director of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and Matthew Millea, Onondaga County deputy county executive for physical services, will present on city and county efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • 10:50-11 a.m.
    Samuel Gordon, CNY Energy Smart communications coordinator, will talk about personal commitment and ask people to take the ENERGY STAR Pledge. Participants will be able to sign paper copies of the pledge stating their commitment to reduce emissions through energy conservation actions.

GreeningUSA and CNY Energy Smart are organizational partners for the 350 Rally. The SUNY-ESF Environmental Studies Student Organization is co-sponsoring the event as part of the ESF Alumni & Family Fall BBQ activities scheduled that day.