Earth Hour 2015: 10 reasons why climate change is the issue of the year

Earth Hour is nearly upon us (Saturday March 28, 2015 between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in your local time zone) and this year, more than ever, we’re thinking about why we turn off the lights.

On Saturday, we turn off the lights as a symbolic gesture, the first step toward taking action for our planet. In doing so, we make a powerful, visual statement of our concern for environmental issues and show support for meaningful action on climate change. Last year over 12 million Canadians participated in Earth Hour with 350 cities and towns across the country. And this year, to get you into the spirit once again, we want to share 10 reasons why now is the time to take climate action.
1. “Man-made climate change is one the biggest threats the world faces today.” It is not just us saying this but also Barack Obama…David Cameron…UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Pope Francis, WWF, Leonardo Di Caprio and Emma Thompson…you get the idea! Watch them in our video.
2. Climate change will have major and unpredictable effects on the world’s water systems, including an increase in floods and droughts, causing in turn, an impact on food supply, displacement and conflict.

3. Seasonal shifts, extreme weather conditions, change in precipitation patterns caused by climate change will impact farming and agriculture, a source of food and livelihood for more than half of the global population.
4. The world has warmed by 0.8°C since pre-industrial times. Reports by NASA, the MET, Japan’s Meteorological Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that 2014 was the hottest year on record.
5. At the current rate of degradation, the iconic Great Barrier Reef could be dead within a human lifetime.

6. A report released by WWF and leading meteorologists shows that human-induced global warming was a key factor in the severity of the 2002 drought in Australia, generally regarded as the worst ever.
7. This year, winter sea ice in the Arctic hit a new low. Loss of sea ice habitat has already been observed to have negative consequences on animal populations and the communities that depend on them in the north.

8. Rising sea levels threaten entire nations on low-lying islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.​
9. In December this year, world leaders will be gathering in Paris to make commitments to fight climate change and ensure a sustainable future for our planet. We think we should all be aware of what the discussions will be- don’t you? Stay informed on what your government is doing to fight climate change and share your stories with us on Facebook or Twitter. ​

10. Climate change might seem too huge or too abstract a challenge but real impact can be achieved – all it takes is the first step. Join Earth Hour to help deliver tangible environmental outcomes and use #YourPower to help change climate change!
Visit earthhour.org for more information on Earth Hour or to find an event near you!