October 24, 2009 Climate change activists evoke '350' worldwide Play video

(NECN/ABC) - From Boston, Massachusetts to Beijing, China. From Paris, France to Sydney, Australia, the number 350 was written with bodies, printed on headbands, and rung out with bells.

Demonstrators around the world united in a single message: bring down the carbon levels in our air.

"Three-fifty is 350 parts per million of carbon in our atmosphere. That's what most scientists are saying we have to get back to. We're now at 387. So that's a real shift in thinking away for something we have to do in the future, something we need to do right now and below our current levels," protest organizer Blaire Palese said.

The world-wide demonstrations come ahead of next month's international climate conference in Copenhagen.

"It is very important that as long with having a just and justifiable treaty, they also have a treaty which is in line with science. So that is really important and that's the reason we are having this campaign in the run (up) to Copenhagen," climate activist Roselin Dey said.

To clean the atmosphere scientists must come up with technology that limit's global dependence on fossil fuels. In a speech Friday at MIT, President Obama said the move would not only be good for the climate, but the pocket book as well.

"Nations everywhere are racing to develop new ways to produce and use energy. The nation that wins this competition will be the nation that leads the global economy. I'm convinced of that, and I want

For millions around the world no matter who wins the race, the finish cannot come too soon.

ABC's Daria Albinger reports.

Some video courtesy of APTN.