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Earth Day is fast approaching, and it will be a chance for you and your family to show the world’s leaders your support for the Paris Climate Accord. The United Nations has said that we must lower global greenhouse gas emissions by 7.6% every year until 2030. “This must happen so that the Paris goals can be met and our planet can be saved for future generations,” says Richard Sheiner MD, the administrator for Fridays for Future Montreal, the official sponsor of the campaign “15 Minutes for the Planet – the 7.6 Campaign.” Dr. Sheiner states that the April 22nd campaign, which is being shared with Fridays for Future chapters around the world, is going to be a big day in the fight against global warming. “On Earth Day, we are asking individuals and families to join the campaign by bringing outside signs that say, “1.5 degrees celsius requires 7.6% reduction in global greenhouse gases per year.” Then, demonstrate outside for 15 minutes with your neighbors, wearing masks where appropriate and following social distancing guidelines. Don’t forget to take a picture of your sign and post it on Instagram, using the hashtag #7point6campaign. The campaign will continue every Friday at 7:00 p.m. for 15 minutes. During the week, display the sign in your window or at your office until change happens. By doing this, you can show your desire for the world to come together and enact policies that will drop greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, don’t forget to sign the petition addressed to Secretary John Kerry that supports cutting emissions by 7.6% per year this decade. There’s a lot we can do to save our planet if we come together as a global family.”
Dr. Sheiner, the organizer of the event, is also the founder and president of the Centre for the Promotion of Global Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Paris Climate Change Agreement as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “We want to prevent the rise of global temperatures from exceeding 1.5-degrees centigrade. We still have an opportunity to prevent the worst outcomes of the climate crisis. Our window to avert this disaster is narrowing, and this decade will be crucial to deciding the fate of humanity. We can turn Earth onto a far healthier path, but we must act now. That starts with bringing emissions down every year until 2030, which we are not doing. That is alarming and is the reason for ‘15 Minutes for the Future – the 7.6 Campaign.’”
Dr. Sheiner began his environmental career training with Vice President Al Gore in Mexico. He is a Climate Reality leader. In addition to his background as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Sheiner was trained as a family therapist during his psychiatric residency at McGill University in Montreal.
He believes that we need to see the climate crisis as a global family crisis. He states that in family therapy when we are missing family members, it’s difficult to have a successful outcome. In the same way, he believes that we need to involve more individuals and families that are part of our global family to solve the climate crisis.
Earth Day, April 22, he says, is the right time for children, parents, and grandparents to join together and strengthen the fight against climate change.
Remember to sign the petition to John Kerry and then on April 22 at 7:00 p.m. to take your signs outside for 15 minutes. Continue doing so every Friday at 7:00 p.m. after that until we see change happen. Look for chances to talk with your neighbors and friends about why 1.5-degrees centigrade is so important. The more people are aware of the danger our planet is in and join in the fight, the more we can do as a global family.
You can follow the 7point6campaign and receive updates on the Earth Day event at
