A presentation on climate change sparked a debate about carbon dioxide and its effects among a 10-person audience Tuesday night at the State College Borough Municipal Building.

Andy McKinnon, of Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa., led the presentation, called "350: The Sane Response to Climate Change." The number 350 refers to a movement advocating an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions to 350 parts per million -- an amount many scientists consider to be the "safe upper limit," according to the Web site 350.org. The movement concentrates on a United Nations global climate treaty that is expected to be completed in December.

The presentation was given to show the importance of addressing climate change in a responsible manner, McKinnon said.

However, State College resident Jim Kerhin voiced his disagreement with several points in McKinnon's presentation during a question-and-answer session.

"I'm sorry, but I think this is one big hype. I don't buy into this at all," Kerhin said, citing another presentation he recently attended, which he called the "antithesis" of McKinnon's.

"The climate is always evolving ... and I believe we can't do a darned thing about it," he said.

McKinnon invited Kerhin to e-mail him with his sources on climate change to further discuss the topic.

Zach Van Horn (junior-nuclear engineering) also asked about the position of the 350 movement regarding nuclear power.

McKinnon speculated that the movement discouraged nuclear power, although he added that he wasn't certain of the movement's official position.

Van Horn, a member of an outreach program affiliated with the American Nuclear Society, said he tries to attend environmental events to explain how nuclear power could be beneficial. He added that he found the debate between Kerhin and McKinnon to be informational.

"I think it was helpful to get both points of view," he said. "It would be unproductive for [McKinnon] to talk to a room full of people who all agree with him."

McKinnon said he was glad the debate occurred. "It forced me to consider my perspective and to keep an open mind," he said.

The presentation was a precursor to the International Day of Climate Action this Saturday, when between 600 and 800 people are expected to spell out the number 305 on the HUB-Robeson Center lawn at 1 p.m., McKinnon said.

"Saturday is the big day ... the culmination of everything," he said.