Following the release last week of a report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change focusing on the “extreme” vulnerability of our low-lying delta region to the impacts of global warming, 16 groups and hundreds of New Orleanians kicked off Step It Up 2007, a National Day of Climate Action. Groups around the nation are joining forces on Saturday, April 14, demanding that Congress pass legislation to cut the heat-trapping emissions causing global warming 80% by 2050, the amount scientists say is needed to prevent the worst impacts.

“We know first hand that climate change is a problem and the world’s leading scientists all agree,” said City Council President Oliver Thomas. “So we’re doing what we can to address the problem, and Step It Up is a step toward making sure that others address the issue too.”

Approximately 500 citizens, students, and community leaders gathered on the levee at the end of Reynes Blvd. in the Holy Cross Neighborhood, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and is rebuilding with a focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. The community wants to serve as a model of sustainable development and is the site for the Earthday 2007 Clean Energy Homes Tour that will take place Sunday April 22nd at 1:30pm at the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development.

The Save NOLA Stop Global Warming STEP IT UP kickoff was sponsored by: ACORN, Alliance for Affordable Energy, Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane & Xavier Universities, Coalition for Louisiana Progress, Fleischman Associates Organizational Transformation, Global Green, Gulf Coast Fund, Gulf Restoration Network, Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, LEAN, Save Our Wetlands, Sierra Club, STEP IT UP 2007, Sustainable Churches for South Louisiana, & Tulane Environmental Law Society.

“College students have started or been a part of every major movement in U.S. history, and global warming is going to effect us and our children most,” stated Abbie Kamin, a Tulane student organizer. “Global warming is real, we’ve experienced it first hand, and we can’t afford to wait any longer to address it.”

The event featured the Soul Rebels Brass band, speeches by local elected officials, student and community leaders, and national Sierra Club President Lisa Renstrom, local cuisine, and citizens in red "Save New Orleans, Stop Global Warming" shirts spelling out “STEP IT UP” for a photograph to be sent to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation.

“We’re sending a message to Baton Rouge and Washington DC to STEP IT UP and cut carbon 80% by 2050 – the amount necessary to stabilize our climate and avert the worst impacts of global warming,” said one of the event organizers, Micah Walker Parkin of the Alliance for Affordable Energy.

We launched Step-It-Up on the levy in the lower 9th ward in New Orleans - the most iconic spot possible for the event

***Please fix caption of NOLA SIU pic***

The New Orleans SIU picture's caption says that, "we spell out... "on the Levees that seperate New Orleans from Sea level rise, and have failed so spectularily in the past.

The picture was shot on the Mississippi River Levees, which did not fail during the storm, or any storm I am aware of. ... and to be a factor in protecting NOLA from Sea Level Rise, the oceans would need to rise over 4 feet, which isn't predicted to occure for at least 150 more years. Now we do have levees that do protect us from sea level rise and did fail spectarily during the storm, but that is not where this picture was taken.

Hope this helps!

Christophor

Hey Chris - Thanks for your insights. I stand by the caption, as 4 feet of sea-level rise is certainly in store if we see significant loss of greenland and/or antarctic land ice. Oh, and storm surge + sea level rise certainly spells bad math for all of NOLA's levees.