Power Shift Finland is organised by 350Finland.org that is part of 350.org.

350.org was founded in 2008 by a group of university friends in the United States, 350 was named after 350 parts per million, the safe concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, today the amount is almost 400.

350 uses online campaigns, grassroots organising and mass public actions to oppose new coal, oil and gas projects and build a 100% clean energy solution. These public actions are lead from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organisers in over 188 countries.

Power Shift Finland is part of Global Power Shift. In June 2013 over 500 climate leaders from 135 countries gathered in Istanbul to share and develop skills to organise movements and campaigns, later they returned in their country and and 86 national Power Shift were created.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Right now annual global average temperature is about 1 degree Celsius hotter than average and it is going to rise for 0.5 degree Celsius more in the next years.

Global warming amplifies the intensity, duration and frequency of heat waves, droughts and wildfires, the planet´s atmosphere and ocean are heating up ten time faster than in the last 65 million years.

A warmer atmosphere increase the likelihood condition for drought, throught 2015 and 2016, 36 million people in Easthern and Southern Africa have been left without food.

Since 1995, 90% of the energy trapped by the atmosphere as been absorbed into the oceans causing bleachin events in the coral reef, 25% of the marine species are supported by the reef; the sea level is rising around 3.4mm/year, when the salt water mix with fresh ground water destroy the ability to grow important food crops and supply fresh water.

Because of climate change the storms, cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are bringing heavier rainfall causing more flooding and blowing with stronger winds.

The amount of ice on earth is declining, this is driving sea level rising, reducing the earth´s ability to reflect heat energy back out to space and endangering unique ecosystem.

Timing of season and distribution of habitat is changing and warmer climate zones are moving towards the poles.

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Rising temperature correlate almost exactly with the release of greenhouse gases; before the industrial revolution of the 18th century, our atmosphere contained more or less 280 parts per million of carbon dioxide, the amount on which the civilaization developed and life on Earth adapted.

Now the use of fossil fuels is all around the world and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is rising fast, today there are 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In the same time animal-based agriculture is creating other greenhouse gasses like methane and nitrous oxide and it is causes  15% of global emissions; fossil fuel is the 57% of global emissions, the explanation is that carbon dioxide stay active in the atmosphere longer than methane and other greenhouse gasses.

CORE BELIEVES OF POWER SHIFT

Power Shift believes in a different future; it wants to keep fossil fuels in the ground and move to renewable energy that are getting cheaper and popular with every day.

It wants to help build a low-carbon economy promoting investment in community with sustainable solution and supporting them to confront the effect of the climate change. It pressures the government to limit emissions by running local and national campaigns targeting leaders and it is present in the big regional and international events, like climate negotiation and economic summits.

Bringing people together is on of the most important goal of Power Shift, not just environmentalist but students, business owners, labor unions, universities, faith groups and more that are able to create coalition strong enough to put pressure on government and stand up to fossil fuel industry.

This year in Helsinki Power Shift is organised by Luonto-Liitto/The Finnish nature league.

From the 30th of September to the 1st of October Harjun nuoritalo (youth house) will host The Power Shift event ”Nordic cooperation and climate action”. Three panels are available and you can choose depending on your interet.

They are:

The Arctic President

Climate education

Togheter for the change (for swedish speaking)

The registration will start in August. More information are in the web site:  http://world.350.org/finland/kampanjat/power-shift-suomi/