Ben & Jerry's unveiled a new ice cream flavor aimed at raising awareness of the upcoming global climate talks in Paris in December. The flavor, "Save Our Swirled," features the acronym "SOS" on the ice cream container.
The container also states, "If it’s melted, it’s ruined."
The flavor consists of raspberry ice cream with marshmallow and raspberry swirls, along with dark and white fudge ice cream cones.
The company, which has long positioned itself as a progressive organization, is combining the flavor with a climate activism campaign.
For its part, Ben & Jerry's is working with the activist group Avaaz to encourage people to sign a petition demanding strong action on climate change when diplomats meet in Paris in December to negotiate a new climate agreement. This agreement would go into effect in 2020.
The Avaaz partnership is aimed at advocating for a global shift to 100% clean energy by 2050, "and complete phase-out of carbon pollution."
On its website, Ben & Jerry's states it has a "long history of fighting for climate justice and finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of our business." The company launched a carbon offsets program for its Vermont manufacturing facilities in 2002, and ran a global warming campaign along with the Dave Matthews Band in 2008.
If it’s melted, it’s ruined...a powerful #climate message in our new flavor, Save Our Swirled. http://t.co/TEksbxmS6T pic.twitter.com/NlDOFkrBam— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) May 28, 2015
"We've invested early and often in efficiencies throughout our manufacturing facilities, supply chain, and Scoop Shops to increase energy efficiency and shrink our carbon footprint," the website adds.
The level of carbon dioxide, the most important global warming pollutant, in the atmosphere is at a record high for all of human history, and 2014 was the warmest year on record globally. So far, 2015 is trending even warmer, adding a sense of urgency to the typically slow-moving climate talks.