Press Release

Venice, CA – "Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World," a public education campaign and national traveling photo exhibit raising awareness about plants and animals threatened by climate change, will open January 9 at the G2 Gallery in Venice as part of its nation wide tour to raise awareness about the threat to wildlife from climate change and global warming.  The exhibit comes to the Los Angeles area as part of a one-year, multi-city tour that will wrap up in Washington, D.C. this spring, where it will present signatures from its "Call to Care" petition to legislators, reminding them to keep imperiled species threatened by climate change in mind when drafting climate change legislation.

"Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World" is a collaboration of art, justice, science and faith groups that aims to inspire hope, wonder and action through the beauty and power of images. Featuring work by award-winning wildlife conservation photographers, the 40-print exhibit brings the public face-to-face with the wildlife most threatened by climate change.  The Irreplaceable exhibit is co-sponsored by Earthjustice, Noah Alliance , Restoring Eden,  International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), and Conservation International's Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS.)

The Irreplaceable exhibit will be on display at the G2 Gallery, located in Venice, CA. The G2 Gallery is a firm believer in the unity of art and justice. Since opening its doors in March 2008, the G2 Gallery has been committed to promoting the appreciation and conservation of our natural environment through photography and other art forms. G2 presents an illuminating range of exhibits that showcase nature and wildlife photography by artists who inform, inspire and generate greater awareness of the environmental issues we face.   For more information on the G2 Gallery, visit their website at www.theg2gallery.com.

In addition to this breathtaking exhibit, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World" is offering media a special "sneak preview" of its DVD, showcasing images of plant and animal species threatened by climate change, and featuring interviews with experts from faith, art, environmental justice and science, including: Cristina Mittermeier of the International League of Conservation Photographers; Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, Director of the Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network; Trip Van Noppen, President of Earthjustice; Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden; Dr. Eric Chivian, Director of the Center for Health and Global Environment (Harvard Medical School); U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and others.

Scientists have predicted that global warming will become a leading cause of species extinction in the coming decades. The latest United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found that 20 to 30 percent of animal and plant species could be at an increased risk of extinction, with up to 60 percent species loss in some areas if global warming continues as predicted.

"Global warming has emerged as the most pressing challenge facing the world today. Our nation's wildlife -- from the Arctic's polar bears to species home to California-- are being affected and we will be  judged by future generations on how we respond," said Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice. "Our coalition of faith, science, art and justice partners has united for this exact purpose: to protect imperiled wildlife from the threats of a warming world."

"All faith traditions teach that we are called to care for the vulnerable. And in today's world, this includes species suffering because of climate change," said Suellen Lowry, Noah Alliance program director.