Inspecting Climate Models

Sex sells. While people all over the world last Saturday submitted photos of themselves spreading the word during 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action, a handful of fashion models drew attention to the cause in their own way: by taking off their clothes.

At the beginning of this video, the models are dressed in heavy layers to represent 387 parts per million, the current harmful level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. How on earth do we possibly escape the life-altering effects of this warmer climate and get down to the ideal limit of 350 ppm? The models creatively demonstrate the importance of reaching this goal by undressing to almost the bare minimum as the numbers tick down.

The ad is certainly intriguing, but it raises some questions. The ladies are marketed as "supermodels" but it's unlikely that anyone reading this knows any of their names (post 'em in the space for comments if you do). Also, it occurs to us that the video almost encourages global warming; as it gets hotter, will hot girls be taking their clothes off more?

As we approach Copenhagen, innovative methods to convey messages about global warming are surely welcome. But while this video might leave some wanting to watch it again, that desire may not be out of concern for the environment.

--Michael Mullaley