The Climate Reality Project -- Ilulissat

What can change in a day? Everything. On September 14, the world will focus its attention on the truth about the climate crisis. For 24 hours, we will all live in reality. Pick a faraway place or a city near you. Make it yours for one day. We’re hitting every time zone — but only once. 7 p.m. in your time zone. Choose a location and get involved.

Ilulissat -- 

Located on Greenland’s western coast, Ilulissat is Greenland’s third largest city. It is also one of the biggest tourist destinations in Greenland. Why? Because of the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord — a glacier.

Glaciers are a common sight on Greenland, which is covered by a massive ice sheet. And rising temperatures across Greenland are already causing the edges of the ice sheet to melt. Glaciers are not known for their speed, but the fastest rate of ice loss is in southwest Greenland. For example, a glacier in Kangerlussuaq is moving toward the sea twice as fast now as it was in 1995. The increased flow of freshwater into Greenland’s coastal area, along with rising sea temperatures, will likely change the distribution and abundance of fish — impacting both traditional sources of food and Greenland’s main industry.

But the bigger story about Greenland’s ice sheet is its contribution to global sea level rise. The future of coastal communities, from Tonga to Jakarta to Indonesia to New York, will be shaped by how fast the ice sheet melts away into the sea

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