KYOTOplus Campaign Reaches 100,000 Signatures

October 21, 2009 (Ottawa) – Representatives from the KYOTOplus Coalition, which includes more than 60 organizations, including Nature Canada, will deliver the names of 100,000 citizens who demand positive action on climate change when they visit the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

Minutes before delivering the petition, two 100 foot banners with the names of nearly half the signatories will be unfurled on Parliament Hill, during a 10:00am news conference. This will be only a representative sample of the names collected by groups such as Nature Canada, Greenpeace, Sierra Club Canada, Oxfam and others.

“Thousands of concerned Canadians have united under the KYOTOplus banner to call for an end to political foot-dragging and a beginning to real action on climate change,” said Mara Kerry, Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation. “We need a credible plan as part of a global effort to combat the climate crisis.”

The KYOTOplus campaign will continue to collect signatories to its petition (which you can read online) right up until the United Nations climate talks set to take place this December in Copenhagen, at which time the balance of the names will be delivered to Prime Minister Harper, as well as to COP15 president Connie Hedegaard (Danish Minister for Climate and Energy) in Copenhagen.

“We greatly appreciate the many Nature Canada supporters who raised their voice by signing this petition,” said Kerry. “Climate change affects us all, and it’s encouraging that so many Canadians are willing to join the effort to find solutions.”

People who live in the Ottawa area are encouraged to visit Parliament Hill on Thursday, October 22 at 10:00am to view the massive banners acknowledging the petition signatories. Two days later, join a global day of action October 24 and take part in events across the country, including °C-Day: Fill The Hill in Ottawa, and urge Canada’s government to take positive climate action! Events in your area are listed at 350.org.

-30-