350.org
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| 350.org | |
|---|---|
| Name | 350.org |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Founders | Bill McKibben; James Hansen (influential scientist) |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Region served | Global |
| Purpose | Climate change activism |
350.org is an international environmental organization focused on reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and mobilizing grassroots campaigns to influence climate policy. Founded during the late 2000s climate movement, the organization emphasizes divestment from fossil fuel assets, mass public mobilizations, and campaigns against coal, oil, and gas infrastructure. It has coordinated global actions linking local activists, academic institutions, indigenous groups, and faith communities.
History
350.org was announced following a series of writings and talks by Bill McKibben and drew intellectual support from James Hansen and other climate scientists. Its origins trace to networks active around events such as the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference and grassroots movements influenced by Sierra Club campaigns and student activism at universities like Harvard University and Oxford University. Early campaigns included collaborative efforts with groups connected to the Greenpeace international network, climate NGOs operating in the European Union and partnerships with indigenous organizations in regions such as the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic campaigns opposed to offshore drilling led by coalitions including Friends of the Earth.
Mission and Campaigns
The stated mission centers on reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations to 350 parts per million and pressuring institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and national governments such as those of the United States, China, and India to shift away from fossil fuels. Campaigns have targeted fossil fuel finance by promoting divestment among institutions including universities like Yale University, University of California, and pension funds tied to municipal bodies in cities such as New York City and San Francisco. The organization has organized global days of action synchronized with diplomatic moments including the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) and worked alongside climate litigation actors involved in cases before courts in countries like Netherlands and Philippines.
Organizational Structure and Funding
350.org operates as a networked NGO with regional hubs across continents, collaborating with local organizations such as 350.org India-affiliated groups, African climate coalitions, and Latin American partners. Governance has involved founding leadership with advisory input from scientists affiliated with institutions like Columbia University and activists linked to movements including Extinction Rebellion and student groups modeled after campaigns at University of Cambridge. Funding sources have included philanthropy from foundations similar to those backing climate advocacy in the United States and Europe, grants from environmental foundations, and crowd-funded donations from supporters in countries like Canada, Germany, and Australia. The organization has maintained partnerships with legal advocacy groups and labor organizations when coordinating campaigns against projects financed by entities such as BlackRock and multinational banks including HSBC and Barclays.
Major Actions and Protests
Notable actions organized or coordinated in partnership with allied groups include global “International Day of Climate Action” events, mass mobilizations in cities like London, Washington, D.C., and Sydney, and targeted protests at fossil fuel infrastructure such as tar sands pipelines running through regions in Canada and offshore drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. 350.org-supported divestment drives led student activists to pressure institutions like Oxford University and Harvard University; allied civil disobedience with organizations such as Sierra Club and Greenpeace included blockades and sit-ins at extraction sites and financial institutions. Large-scale campaigns were timed to influence summits like COP21 in Paris and subsequent United Nations Climate Change Conference meetings.
Criticism and Controversies
Critiques have come from a range of actors including fossil fuel industry trade groups, some economists affiliated with universities such as University of Chicago-linked scholars, and political leaders skeptical of rapid divestment strategies. Critics argue that divestment campaigns can divert resources from policy advocacy used by parties like Democratic Party lawmakers or market-based mechanisms promoted by institutions such as the World Bank. Controversies have arisen over coalition choices, campaign tactics that led to arrests during protests in jurisdictions like United Kingdom and United States, and debates with environmental justice groups in regions like the Rust Belt and Appalachia over the socioeconomic impacts of rapid transition policies.
Impact and Influence on Policy and Public Opinion
350.org has contributed to mainstreaming calls for fossil fuel divestment and influenced institutional decisions at universities and municipal pension funds following campaigns that echoed actions in cities such as Seattle and Boston. Its public campaigns have shaped media coverage alongside outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian and intersected with legislative debates in bodies such as the European Parliament and national legislatures in Canada and New Zealand. The organization’s mobilizations helped frame climate discourse for international forums including COP21 and inspired allied movements that engaged with legal challenges in courts such as the Supreme Court of the Netherlands or public inquiries in nations like Australia.