SUSTAINABLE Living Armidale’s next Thursday Forum will put the spotlight on investment in fossil fuels and global warming, with a showing of the US documentary Do The Maths.
The film has been made by the international campaigning organisation 350.org, which highlights that 350 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere is the level up to which the world can expect minimal global warming.
In May, the planet reached 400ppm of CO2 and the documentary depicts that unless action is taken, we face catastrophic warming.
Scientists from Australia’s Climate Commission say that to stabilise the global climate at two degrees warming or less, the world has to leave about 80 per cent of existing fossil fuel reserves in the ground.
Do The Maths is a call for organisations and individuals to withdraw their investments from the fossil fuel industry. In the US, the campaign is successfully targeting colleges/universities and city governments – already Seattle and San Francisco have withdrawn their investments.
The NSW and ACT synods of the Uniting Church in Australia have this year divested from fossil fuel and extractive industries.
“In Australia the super funds have large investments in fossil fuels,” SLA Energy Group spokesperson Patsy Asch said.
“And as founder of 350.org, Bill McKibben said ‘it makes no sense to pay for your retirement by investing in companies that guarantee you won’t have a planet worth retiring on’.”
The SLA Annual General Meeting will be held at 7pm, on 4 June at Kent House, (141 Faulkner Street, opposite Central Park) followed by the film screening and discussion. All interested people are welcome. A gold coin donation is appreciated and light refreshments will be available.
