Published: October 25, 2009 08:30 am      

Event puts spotlight on climate change

TRAVERSE CITY -- Melissa Ryba wants to raise awareness about climate change.

So as hundreds of area residents Saturday formed themselves into the number 350 -- the desired parts per million of carbon emissions in the atmosphere -- Ryba walked through a mock power plant at the Open Space and became a carbon molecule.

With each loop, the human molecules walked farther apart to simulate fewer emissions.

The demonstration was part of the International Day of Climate Action, an effort to bring attention to climate change that spanned hundreds of countries and all seven continents.

"It affects everybody," said Ryba, of Traverse City. "It's not rich or poor. It's our environment."

Planning for Traverse City's event took more than a year. A local chapter was inspired by international group 350.org, which promotes action to address climate change.

Ideally, the group wants the maximum carbon presence in the atmosphere reduced to 350 ppm. The current level is close to 390 ppm.

The organization posted photos of events Saturday from countries including Guatemala, Italy and Ethiopia. Traverse City participants were photographed forming 390, 370 and 350 to illustrate a decline in emissions.

"Getting back to 350 doesn't mean that we won't feel the impact of climate shift," said Brian Beauchamp, a policy specialist with the Michigan Land Use Institute and coordinator of the TC-350 group. "Reversing the trend is going to help mitigate even more violent shifts."

Going backward will be difficult because the American economy relies heavily on burning fossil fuels, Beauchamp said.

A warming planet could mean more invasive species in the Great Lakes, lower lake levels and warmer low temperatures that could disrupt the region's agriculture base, Beauchamp said.

"Humans can do something or we can do nothing," he said. "The worst-case scenario is that the science is right and we do nothing about it."

In December, the United Nations will host a climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. That's part of the reason participants said Saturday's event was important.

"We're at what I believe is a tipping point," said Jim Sluyter, of Traverse City, who works for the land use institute. "If we don't deal with it now, it will be increasingly difficult to deal with it in the future."

After the group photos, participants planned to write letters to U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, of Michigan, to urge them to support climate change legislation in Congress.

Politicians will pay attention if enough people take a stand, Beauchamp said.

"They need to hear from us," he said. "That's really what today is all about."