Climate change for Valentine's: what might you lose that you love?
Published in The Guardian on 29 January 2015.
Share what treasured things in your community could be affected by climate change or something you love about the planet that may be lost forever.
Environmental campaigners are calling for people to declare their love for the planet on 14 February – Valentine’s Day. The Climate Coalition, made up of more than 100 UK organisations campaigning for action on climate change, is asking people to submit photos of things they love that they fear losing due to the effects of climate change. Submissions so far include photos of rivers, coral reefs, wildlife and “the changing of the seasons”.
The UN has acknowledged that people in developing countries will be among those most affected by climate change, with a gradual rise in sea levels, higher temperatures and more unpredictable rains. The coalition’s campaign comes after the UN Development Programme head, Helen Clark, called for world leaders to acknowledge the impact climate change is having on the fight against poverty.
Image: Logo for Climate Coalition's Show the love campaign.Source: http://fortheloveof.org.uk/
Mohamed Adow, senior climate change adviser at Christian Aid, a member of the coalition, said the campaign was an opportunity to capture the attention of world leaders in the lead-up to UN climate talks in Paris in December.
“This year is an important opportunity for tackling the ever-increasing threat of climate change,” Adow said. “The Climate Coalition’s show the love campaign aims to make sure that the government and big business know that people around the world care about climate change.
“The campaign aims to show politicians who are embarking on a general election campaign that tackling climate change is important to us because it will affect the things we love most, like our lifestyles, our children’s futures, our hobbies, passions, safety and wellbeing, both here and globally.”
We’d like to hear from you – what treasured things in your community could be affected by climate change? It may be a feature of your local environment, something your community relies on, or something more abstract. Upload your photos and stories via GuardianWitness and we’ll choose our favourites to share on the site. If you’re unable to upload photos, share your thoughts on how climate change could affect life in your community.
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