We Are Uniting for Climate! At COP23
Youth Climate Action Awards Ceremony at COP23
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“Showcasing the power of young people as key players in reaching innovative and ambitious solutions to combat climate change”
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Pacific Dancers, Singers and Youth Voices to Connect Virtually with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23)
This week, on the 15th and 16th of November, local perspectives on climate change and Pacific culture will take centre stage in Suva to be showcased and shared around the world through performances by some of Fiji’s most powerful performers and youth orators.
The events, “Fiji live to COP23: Uniting for Climate Action”, will be streamed through Facebook Live directly into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), happening in Bonn. Taking place on two nights – November 15th at 9:30 pm in Fiji (9:30 am in Bonn) and November 16th at 9:15 pm in Fiji (9:15 am in Bonn) from the University of the South Pacific (USP), the events will reach the entire conference as well as a global audience through social media. On Thursday, His Excellency the President of Fiji will also address the audience to introduce and launch the final event.
The events will include performances from the Fiji Conservatorium of Music, Pasifika Voices Choir, and the Oceania Dance Theatre, and speeches from two finalists in the Children’s Forum Oratory Competition, held last month, who will share what it means to unite for climate action. Ms. Anne Dunn, Miss Hibiscus and Miss Pacific Islands 2016, will host the two events upon her return from the COP where she is currently speaking as a youth climate ambassador for Fiji.
"One of our Presidency’s top priorities has always been to make a direct connection between the climate conference and the people of Fiji in order to impress on the global community just how urgent this issue is for us and for all Pacific Islanders. We want people in Bonn and around the world to hear directly from the Pacific why we all need to unite for climate action."
Akini Qauqau, Cultural Manager for the COP23 Presidency
The live events will showcase how Fiji and the Pacific islands are moving further, faster, and together for climate solutions.
"We’re excited to be bringing the voices and culture of Fiji and the Pacific live to the delegates at COP23. Now is the time for action, to raise ambitions and roll out climate solutions and investments. That is why we have been supporting the “Uniting for Climate Action” campaign for COP23."
Max Edkins, Program Manager, Connect4Climate, World Bank Group
This year, over 25,000 delegates are attending the COP in Bonn; the Fiji live events will be shown on screens around the entire conference centre and in the main Pavilion.
“We see the world through the stories we make to define who we are and where we are going. Singers and dancers, from time before history, help us change our story to meet new challenges and climate change is telling us that we need to change our story fast. Good luck and thank you to all the performers of Fiji!”
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
The Facebook Live stream will be hosted on the Fijian COP23 Presidency Facebook page, open to everyone across the world to watch and experience first-hand the voices and culture of the Pacific Islands. The events will be seen in Bonn during the critical high-level segment of the conference when the negotiations are finalised and actions to be taken are confirmed. It is hoped these messages, direct from Fiji, will help inspire strong commitment and action by delegates in Bonn.
“Fiji live to COP23: Uniting for Climate Action” initiative is a partnership between the Fijian COP23 Presidency, Connect4Climate program of the World Bank Group, and UNFCCC. It is supported by the University of the South Pacific (USP), Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Italy’s Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea and implemented by Apidae Development Innovations, Australia. The live broadcast is a part of the “Uniting for Climate Action – Further Faster Together” communication campaign for COP23.
Key facts
WHEN
Wednesday, 15th November, 9:30 pm in Fiji / 9:30 am in Bonn Thursday, 16th November, 9:15 pm in Fiji / 9:15 am in BonnWHERE
For those in the Bonn Zone: The event will be streamed on the large screen in the exhibition area, as well as on screens throughout the Bonn Zone. For those in the Bula Zone: The event will be streamed on the screens on the New York plenary meeting room. For those around the world: The event will be streamed live on the COP23 Presidency’s Facebook page.|
Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition: Winner Announcement
During the Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition, NYU Shanghai received more than 160 amazing photos, which show the attitude and thoughts towards climate. Thanks to all the participants!
The winners will be contacted in the next two days for receiving their prizes. The first 50 people who submitted their photos will receive a ¥50 voucher for FIELDS tomorrow!
Here are the six winners picked by the jury:
Prize: Ginger 500 RMB voucher, and a feature on Connect4Climate social media
“This is a shoot of China’s urban jungle. Slowly seeing less and less of this city as the years and pollution gets worse.”
By Killian Hauser
Prize: Ginger 300 RMB voucher
“Taken in northern Xinjiang, this pictures precisely epitomizes how two key factors of climate-light (temperature) and wind (rainfall)-shape the world. From right to left, on every hill, there is a sharp distinction of vegetation between the windward slope (the right side) and the leeward slope (the left side) because of different light and rainfall. From bottom to the top, we can also see the differentiation of plants due to the change of altitude. It's a precious moment when a grand concept -- "climate" manifests itself through a single picture."
By Wang Zixin
Prize: FIELDS 200 RMB gift card
“The human mark is but a punctuation. Photo was taken in Zhangye on Oct 1.”
By Yifei Li
Prize: Happy Buddha 100 RMB gift card
By 市井少年
Prize: Miss Bon Bon pineapple cakes and mushroom chips
“水墨 West Lake, Hangzhou My best effort to recreate the ancient ink paintings of ancient china, I traveled to Hangzhou after studying the legend of Lady Bai for years, only to find the same timeless beauty one foggy morning.”
By Justin Scholar
Prize: Heike-Mate case of bottles
“Dun Huang."
By Jean Baptiste White
Sustainable Innovation Forum at COP23
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The 8th Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF) takes place steps away from the COP23 ‘Bula Zone’. The event will be hosted on DHL’s lawn, in the shadow of the 162.5 meter Post Tower - a building powered by 100% certified renewable energy, with a cooling system that uses natural, local sources of wind and water, allowing it to consume 30% less energy.
World Bank Group Youth Summit 2017: Technology and Innovation for Impact
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We find ourselves amid the greatest information and communications revolution in human history and must take advantage of this rapid technological change to make the world more prosperous and inclusive. With youth being the early adopters and the most active users of Information and Communication technologies, their participation is essential in expanding the reach of technology and fulfilling the transformative potential of the digital revolution.
The Climate Run
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The Climate Run is an event supported by the Global Youth Climate Network – an initiative of Y2Y - in partnership with Connect4Climate, that invites everyone who is passionate about climate change and the world to take part in a 5K or 15K charity run for climate. The run will take place December 10 in Washington D.C. at 8am.
