Climate change is eroding the snowpack upon which winter athletes depend. It is also diminishing the freshwater resources for billions of people on the planet.

Olympians and Paralympians have an opportunity to sign a petition -- Olympic Athletes Against Climate Change -- asking world leaders to take action to address human-caused carbon emissions when they meet next year in Paris, during the United Nations Convention on Climate Change.

Many athletes, however, are reluctant to use the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a political platform. As of January 25, 2014, only 82 athletes, mostly North Americans, have stepped forward to sign the petition. Encourage the other 5,900 to take an Olympic-sized stand for this Olympic-sized issue. Reassure them that climate change transcends mere politics; it's a phenomenon without borders.

Support them to sign the petition today.

(Photo by Noah Hoffman)