350.org (organization)

350.org is an international environmental organization founded by Bill McKibben (author of The End of Nature, Eaarth: Making Life on a Tough New Planet, etc). McKibben is one of America's leading figures in environmental activism, having written extensively on the effects of climate change. The name 350.org comes from the fact that the organization is aiming to keep environmental carbon dioxide concentration at or below 350ppm, which is considered the safe upper limit. The organization works to have governments adopt policies that will help lower carbon emissions. Despite 350.org's efforts, however, in 2013 CO2 levels surpassed 400ppm for the first time. This hasn't discouraged the organization, however, as they continue to take on governments and the fossil fuel industry in order to fight climate change.

One of this organization's major accomplishments was campaigning to block the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, eventually succeeding when President Obama officially rejected the proposal in 2015. Another big initiative is the Fossil Fuel Divestment campaign, which urges cities, universities, religious institutions, etc., to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. So far they're making good progress, with fossil fuel divestment programs popping up all over the United States in different churches and universities.

Another event that 350.org organized is the International Day of Climate Action, which took place on October 24, 2009. Essentially, they put together over 5,200 synchronized environmental demonstrations around the world in order to influence delegates attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Other activities that 350.org put together include the 10/10/10 Day of climate action (as a follow up to the previous year's), various climate marches, protests, planting trees, etc. Basically all these activities serve to spread the group's message and try to persuade politicians as well as the general public to rethink their stances on climate change and carbon emissions.