350.org

350.org is a global grassroots climate movement working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all. Founded in the United States by author Bill McKibben and a group of university friends, the organization derives its name from the target of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million, a level deemed safe by leading scientists like James Hansen. It operates through a decentralized network of local groups and digital campaigns, mobilizing millions of people worldwide for actions ranging from mass demonstrations to targeted fossil fuel divestment initiatives.

History

The organization was founded in 2008 by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and several of his former students from Middlebury College, including May Boeve and Jamie Henn. Its founding was inspired by the climate science of NASA's James Hansen, who identified 350 parts per million as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. The first major global action occurred on October 24, 2009, with the "International Day of Climate Action," which saw over 5,200 synchronized rallies in 181 countries, including iconic locations like the Great Barrier Reef and the Taj Mahal. This event was recognized by CNN as "the most widespread day of political action in the planet's history." Subsequent years saw the growth of major campaigns like the opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline and the global Fossil Free divestment movement, solidifying its role in the international climate justice landscape.

Mission and goals

The core mission is to build a global movement to solve the climate crisis by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels below 350 parts per million. Its goals are centered on a rapid, just transition away from coal, oil, and natural gas toward 100% renewable energy. This involves stopping new fossil fuel infrastructure projects, dismantling the political and financial power of the fossil fuel industry, and supporting community-based energy solutions. The organization frames climate change as a fundamental issue of social justice and equity, emphasizing that solutions must prioritize frontline communities most affected by extreme weather and environmental degradation.

Campaigns and activities

Its campaigns leverage grassroots organizing and digital activism to create political and economic pressure. A landmark effort was the multi-year campaign against the Keystone XL Pipeline, which involved mass civil disobedience at the White House and contributed to the project's eventual rejection. The global Fossil Free divestment campaign has pressured institutions like Stanford University, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the University of California system to divest endowments from fossil fuel companies. Other major initiatives include opposing new coal plants from the United States to Turkey, supporting the Sunrise Movement's push for a Green New Deal, and organizing global mobilizations like the "People's Climate March" in New York City and the "Rise for Climate" marches worldwide.

Organization and structure

It operates as a decentralized international network with affiliated teams and partners across all inhabited continents. The organization maintains regional hubs in locations such as Nairobi, São Paulo, Jakarta, and Paris, allowing for context-specific campaigns. Decision-making and strategy are often developed collaboratively across this network, though a central team based in Brooklyn provides coordination and digital infrastructure. Funding comes primarily from individual small donors and foundation grants from organizations like the ClimateWorks Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. A key structural feature is its reliance on distributed local groups, which plan actions tailored to their national or regional contexts, from opposing Adani Group's Carmichael coal mine in Australia to challenging Shell plc in the Niger Delta.

Impact and reception

The organization is widely credited with helping to redefine climate activism by pioneering the use of mass, globally coordinated grassroots actions and placing the fossil fuel divestment movement on the international agenda. Its campaigns have influenced policy decisions, such as the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline and numerous institutional divestment commitments totaling over $40 trillion. It has received praise from figures like Desmond Tutu and has been featured extensively in media outlets including The Guardian and The New York Times. Critics, often from the political right or within the fossil fuel industry, have accused it of economic disruption and ideological extremism. Meanwhile, some within the climate justice movement have urged it to deepen its commitments to decolonization and the leadership of Indigenous communities in places like the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic.

Category:Climate change organizations Category:Environmental organizations established in 2008 Category:Non-governmental organizations based in New York City