International Polar Bear Day

Every year, this global event draws attention to the challenges polar bears face in a warming Arctic—and how we each can help.

You’re invited to celebrate with us!

First, take our pledge to exercise your rights as a citizen and speak up for bold action on climate—on Polar Bear Day and every day! We’ll keep in touch with alerts and ways to get involved.

Next, help us make it a global day of action for the bears by taking part in our Thermostat Challenge at home, work, or school.

It’s simple: just lower your thermostat on February 27th to reduce your carbon emissions and help polar bears. And then make every day a polar bear day by buying and installing a programmable thermostat or taking extra steps to reduce your energy consumption throughout the year.

Special Polar Bear Day Coverage: Visit our Facebook page throughout the day to hear short, live broadcasts from an array of scientists, staff, and special guests—and post your questions!

Schedule

7 am MT - Alysa McCall, Polar Bears International (introduction, live from Yellowknife, Canada)
8 am MT – Yorkshire Wildlife Park (polar bear care, live from the UK)
9 am MT – Dr. Thea Bechshoft, University of Alberta (fun polar bear facts and research, live from Denmark)
10 am MT- BJ Kirschhoffer and Krista Wright, Polar Bears International, with guest Dr. Megan Owen of San Diego Zoo Global (maternal den research, live from Svalbard, Norway)
11 am MT - Cassandra Debets and lab members, University of Manitoba (seals and belugas in Hudson Bay, live from Winnipeg, Canada)
12 pm MT- Ron Togunov and Alex Beatty, University of Alberta (polar bear migration and movement patterns, live from Edmonton, Canada)
1 pm MT – Liz Larsen, Utah’s Hogle Zoo (Utah’s contributions to polar bear conservation, live from Salt Lake City, USA)
2 pm MT- Alysa McCall, Polar Bears International, (Polar Bear Cams, live from Yellowknife, Canada)
3 pm MT - Jody Reimer and Erin Henderson, University of Alberta (the Arctic ecosystem and polar bears, live from Edmonton, Canada)
5 pm MT - Geoff York, Polar Bears International (human bear conflict, live from Bozeman, Montana, USA)
6 pm MT - Alysa McCall, Polar Bears International (wrap up, live from Yellowknife, Canada)

Donate

Choose the “in honor of” option and receive a handsome International Polar Bear Day e-certificate, instantly!, in your name or a loved one’s honor.

Check out our Thermostat Challenge Toolkit for ideas on expanding the challenge in your community—a great project for schools.

Share your Thermostat Challenge photos on social media with #PolarBearDay, #TheromostatChallenge, and/or #Hygge. What is hygge? It’s a Danish word that loosely translates as coziness: so, turn down the heat and put on your favorite sweater, snuggle up under or a warm blanket, light candles, or bundle up for a walk in the snow!

Using less energy produced by carbon-based fuels reduces our carbon emissions and can slow and even stop global warming, in turn saving our sea ice. Polar bears require sea ice for efficient hunting. Without sea ice, polar bears will decline in range and numbers, making them vulnerable to extinction in the future.

Did you know?

Heating and cooling account for roughly half the energy consumption in an average home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

*Please note: the schedule is somewhat fluid and people/topics may change depending on connections and other variables.

• For more information go to Polar Bears International.