350.org

350.org is a global environmental organization focused on addressing climate change through grassroots activism and renewable energy promotion, founded by Bill McKibben, Phil Aroneanu, May Boeve, and Jon Warnow. The organization's name is derived from the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million, as determined by NASA scientist James Hansen and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. 350.org has collaborated with various groups, including the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and World Wildlife Fund, to raise awareness about the urgent need for sustainable energy and climate action. The organization has also worked with influential individuals, such as Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Desmond Tutu, to promote its mission.

● History

The history of 350.org began with a 2008 article by Bill McKibben in The Nation, which highlighted the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources like solar power and wind power. This article inspired a group of Middlebury College students, including Phil Aroneanu and May Boeve, to organize a campaign to raise awareness about the climate crisis and promote sustainable development. The organization's first major campaign, International Day of Climate Action, was held on October 24, 2009, and involved events in over 180 countries, including Australia, China, India, and South Africa. 350.org has since become a leading global organization in the climate movement, working with partners like the European Union, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank to promote climate justice and energy efficiency.

● Organization

350.org is a decentralized organization with a global network of local groups and volunteers in countries like Canada, Germany, Japan, and Brazil. The organization's leadership team includes May Boeve, Bill McKibben, and Kenny Bruno, who have worked with other environmental leaders, such as Van Jones and Naomi Klein, to develop the organization's strategy and campaigns. 350.org has also established partnerships with other environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund, to amplify its impact and promote biodiversity conservation. The organization's work is supported by a range of foundations and donors, including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

● Campaigns

350.org has launched several high-profile campaigns to address the climate crisis, including the Do the Math tour, which highlighted the need for fossil fuel divestment and renewable energy investment. The organization has also worked on campaigns like Break Free and Rise for Climate, which have brought together activists and community leaders from around the world to demand climate action and energy transition. 350.org has collaborated with other organizations, such as the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Climate Justice Alliance, to promote climate justice and human rights in the context of climate change. The organization's campaigns have been supported by influential individuals, including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Greta Thunberg, who have helped to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action.

● Methods

350.org uses a range of methods to achieve its goals, including grassroots organizing, social media campaigns, and nonviolent direct action. The organization has organized protests and rallies in cities around the world, including New York City, London, Paris, and Beijing, to demand climate action and policy change. 350.org has also used online activism and petition campaigns to mobilize public support for climate policies and renewable energy development. The organization's methods have been influenced by the work of social movement theorists, such as Frances Fox Piven and Saul Alinsky, and have been shaped by the experiences of environmental movements around the world, including the anti-apartheid movement and the civil rights movement.

● Impact

The impact of 350.org has been significant, with the organization helping to build a global climate movement and promote climate action in countries like United States, China, and India. 350.org's campaigns have contributed to the growth of the fossil fuel divestment movement, with over $12 trillion in assets now committed to divestment. The organization's work has also helped to raise awareness about the need for renewable energy and energy efficiency, with many countries now committing to renewable energy targets and climate policies. 350.org's impact has been recognized by awards, such as the Right Livelihood Award and the Sierra Club's EarthCare Award, and has been acknowledged by leaders like Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Justin Trudeau, who have highlighted the importance of climate action and global cooperation in addressing the climate crisis.