Activists demand climate action

Thousands of people have gathered for protests in more than 180 countries, calling for international action to curb the emissions causing global warming. The International Day of Climate Action focused on the number 350, referring to 350 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere which some scientists say must not be exceeded to avoid runaway global warming. The thousands of small-scale events, staged 50 days before a UN summit on climate change, began with a gathering on the steps on the Sydney Opera House, before spreading across the globe. "We had no idea it we would get the overwhelming support, enthusiasm and engagement from all over the world that we're seeing," Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org which co-ordinated the day's events, said. "It seems far-fetched that you could get this many people to rally around a scientific data point, but the number just keeps climbing. It shows just how scared of global warming much of the planet really is, and how fed up at the inaction of our leaders."