Activists draw attention to a global day on climate change

In Addis Abbas, Ethiopia today some 15,000 people gathered in a massive rally calling for a strong international climate change treaty.  Students, representatives from government, NGOs and even the police federation marched through the city and packed Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square, carrying colorful signs emblazoned with the number 350.

The rally is the first event of more than 4800 planned in nearly 180 countries as part of the 350 campaign. Advocates want world leaders to make a commitment to polices that will lower carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million in order to stabilize the impacts of climate change.

Activists are hoping to send a message to world leaders, who will be meeting in Copenhagen in December to discuss a global climate treaty. But many speculate the meeting will not result in a unified agreement, especially without commitments from the United States and China.

In Boston today, President Obama delivered a speech focusing on climate change. Speaking to students and teachers at MIT, the President reiterated his administration’s goal to make the US a leader in developing clean energy.

“There’s going to be a lot of debate on how we move from an economy that’s importing oil to one that is exporting clean energy technology, how we harness the innovative potential that’s on display here at MIT to create millions of new jobs, how we will lead the world to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. There are going to be all sorts of debates, both in the laboratory and on Capitol Hill. But there’s no question that we must do all these things."

Obama said Senator Kerry is getting bi-partisan support for the climate change bill, but many on Capitol Hill say it's unlikely Congress will pass a climate change bill by December's meeting in Copenhagen.