SXSW Conference & Festivals

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The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries.

Global Green's Annual Pre-Oscar Awards and Concert

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Global Green will roll out the green carpet for hundreds of eco-conscious stars and allies at its 14th annual pre-Oscar party on February 22.

"An Inconvenient Sequel" premieres at Sundance Film Festival

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An Inconvenient Sequel, the followup to watershed environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth, will make its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival as a Day One screening, part of The New Climate, a program dedicated to conversations and films about environmental change and conservation.

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2016 and climate: uncertainty, progress, inspiration and urgency
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What a year.

2016 will be remembered. There is no doubt about that.

Some years come and go with little fanfare; containing a handful of celebrity deaths, the emergence of any number of new artists and the proliferation of the requisite number of political scandals that will top that year’s Wikipedia entry. But all in all, the totality of events contained within any loop around the sun tend to fall within a standard deviation. 2016, however, was anything but standard. 2016 will cast a shadow of uncertainty over 2017 as it begins. But true to its perplexing nature, 2016 will also carry over a legacy of significant progress, inspiration and a touch of urgency for a year many will be looking to characterize as the calendar switches over.

Uncertainty is one of those words mostly relegated to the private sector. Not in 2016. The volatility investors fear in commodities market came to the ballot box. Again and again. Say what you will about the election of Donald Trump election to the American presidency, but it was neither widely predicted nor the only political shift of the year. Brexit was supposed to be the big surprise of the year. Then you have the ousting of a Brazilian head of state, an impeachment in South Korea, an attempted coup in Turkey and the failed passage of a public referendum to bring peace to Colombia before a deal was finally struck. All that happened in the second half of 2016. This has created a global landscape that is the very definition of uncertainty, and with upcoming elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands highlighting the 2017 calendar, there is no guarantee things will become more certain this time a year from now.  

"Say what you will about the election of Donald Trump election to the American presidency, but it was neither widely predicted nor the only political shift of the year," writes Andrew Schenkel. The White House in Washington, D.C. Photo Credits: Daniel Pinto Lopes

But it’s not all valleys. There have been plenty of peaks.

Through all the uncertainty that dotted the 2016 timeline, there was a remarkable amount of progress when it comes to the fight to contain climate change. Momentum didn’t end when the Paris Climate Agreement was reached in the end of 2015; it continued. On Earth Day in April, 175 nations signed the Paris Agreement, which sparked a marathon of domestic actions around the globe that lead to ratification after ratification in capitals from Belize to Zimbabwe. By October, enough countries ratified the agreement to bring it across legal thresholds and by the COP 22 meetings in Morocco, the Paris Agreement officially went into force. This is lightning speed for diplomacy, but that pace was matched when it came to renewable energy. Across the word, city and city kept announcing plans to go 100 percent renewable. During the third quarter of 2016, in the United States alone, 4,141 MW of solar energy was installed. That’s a 191% increase over the same quarter just one year ago. Around the world the Renewables now supply almost a quarter of electricity worldwide.

COP22 opening ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo Credits: Max Thabiso Edkins

In addition to the legitimate progress made in the transition away from fossil fuels, there are plenty of sources for inspiration within 2016. Years from now, the victory at Standing Rock will likely be remembered as a flashpoint for activism, with victory secured under the hardest conditions during very difficult times. With the people of the United States still in recovery mode after a divisive presidential election, “water protectors” from around the country joined forces with the people of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota. After weeks of protests, frigid temperatures and combative conditions, the Army Corps of Engineers ordered a withdrawal of the pipeline project and now an alternative route must be found.

Connect4Climate received inspiring climate change solutions stories from young people around the world that raised their voices through the Film4Climate Global Video Competition. Photo Credits: Max Thabiso Edkins

Of course inspiration comes in many forms, and the sheer diversity of voices and faces calling for climate action is a theme that wove its way through a bumpy 2016. This was seen at Standing Rock where native peoples, war veterans and families from across America joined forces. It was also seen in numerous other climate initiatives throughout the year. We saw this in the Film4Climate global video contest. By the time the deadline came, more than 860 videos from 155 countries were submitted and the winners were truly globally representative. Awards went to filmmakers in the United States, France, Spain, Finland, Kiribati, Australia, India, Brazil, Greece, Morocco, and Laos. When the winners for the Film4Climate contest were announced in Morocco this November, there was no shortage of inspiration. Then after the first place film “Three Seconds” was shown, there was literally nothing but inspiration in the room. All of this inspiration will be needed for 2017.

And to add some fuel to the inspirational fire….a touch of urgency.

Urgency is a natural byproduct for a year like 2016. It’s not just because of the mashup of political uncertainty, diplomatic progress and flickers of inspiration, but it is due to some stark realities that show climate impacts are a now problem not a future problem. 2016 ended with the city of Beijing recording its longest string of red alert air pollution days in a row. The five-day red alert came out on the heels of reports that 2016 would at least be tied for being the warmest year on record (with 2015) and is likely to be the warmest year in history. In November, Arctic ice levels hit a record low, and we are now in “uncharted territory”, according to researchers. Equally depressing are reports of accelerated impacts to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef showing it suffered its worst bleaching ever in 2016 thanks to warmer oceans. And then there is the yearly wrap up of newly extinct species. In October, a major analysis found the number of wild creatures was on track to fall by two-thirds by 2020, compared to 1970.

A hazy day in Beijing, China. Photo Credits: Wu Zhiyi / World Bank

This is the true urgency of the the cause. Not the scorecard of national contributions nor the failure to reach certain benchmarks. Those are marks on a chart. The real indicators are in what we are losing; what we will no longer be able to see. That is where urgency comes from, and above all that is the most constructive thing to take away from an otherwise uncertain year. There’s still plenty to save and plenty to see.

Here’s to harnessing the urgency.

Banner and Thumbnail Images Photo Credits: Becker1999

High Level Dialogue on Carbon Pricing: “Doubling the Wave”

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Paris delivered a strong global climate agreement – one that recognizes the important role of carbon pricing and markets in shifting investment to new, lower-carbon assets. Today, 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are priced.  Businesses are increasingly calling for carbon pricing policies, and are using internal pricing to prepare for future climate risks. But price levels are still too low to shift investment, and a number of major economies still do not have plans to put a price on their carbon emissions.

Connect4Climate highlights of 2016
By

Connect4Climate looks back to 2016 and invites you to check out what we have done throughout the year.

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February, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/march-4-earth-virtual-realit…; target="_blank">March4Earth Virtual Reality (VR)&nbsp;Launch:</a>&nbsp;</strong>First VR video in the World Bank Group</p>

<p>&quot;The idea of being at the center of this march at the Eternal City surrounded by so much human history was a powerful thought. It was electric moment that inspired us to create a Virtual Reality (VR) experience so others could feel that same energy and get transported to this place,&quot; writes&nbsp;Jimmy Vainstein, World Bank GSD Printing &amp; Multimedia on this<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/march-4-earth-virtual-realit…; target="_blank"> blog post</a>.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-n5XTp3t3Q]</p&gt;

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Connect4Climate awarded <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/connect4climate-honored-its-…; target="_blank">Green Oscar</a> at</strong> <strong>the 13<sup>th</sup> Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party, held in Los Angeles, U.S.A.</strong></p>

<p>The World Bank Group&rsquo;s global partnership program, Connect4Climate,&nbsp;awarded for public outreach, youth engagement and advocacy work that it has been doing to advance environmental and climate change education, and to find innovative ways to take climate change concerns to a wider public, especially by working with the creative industries to maximize exposure of the issues at stake and encourage the acceleration of solution.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/lucia-grenna…; style="width: 1000px; height: 755px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">The internationally&nbsp;acclaimed musician Stevie Wonder and Connect4Climate&#39;s Program Manager Lucia Grenna on the green carpet.&nbsp;Photo Credit: Leigh Vogel</p>

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March, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; height: 14px; width: 20px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/film4climate-ficg31…-one-year-later" target="_blank">Film4Climate&nbsp;returned to the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG)</a></strong></p>

<p>FICG31 and Film4Climate presented a selection of out-of-competition environmental and climate-related movies to the many filmgoers, industry representatives, and critics who attended the festival.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/157779769]</p&gt;

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="height: 14px; width: 20px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/imax-power-film-highlights&q…; target="_blank">IMAX&rsquo;s Power of Film to Effect Change</a></strong></p>

<p>Connect4Climate&#39;s program manager Lucia Grenna was invited to a panel discussion on the&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/event/%E2%80%9Cpower-film-effect-change%E2%8…; target="_blank">Power of Film to Effect Change</a>, hosted by the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, in partnership with IMAX and UNEP. More details about the programme and the panelists are available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/“power-film-effect-change”-panel-discussion" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ5-7m972qM]</p&gt;

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April, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px;">​ &nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/photo4climate-instagram-challenge…; target="_blank"><strong>#Photo4Climate Instagram Challenge&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p>We had&nbsp;a special challenge&nbsp;this year in order for&nbsp;you to share your climate story with us on Instagram: capture that moment, landscape, idea, solution or person that is raising awareness and taking on climate change.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/photo4climate_banner_final2-.png" /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/how-can-creative-industries-encou…; target="_blank">Guardian Live Q&amp;A: How can the creative industries encourage climate action?</a></strong></p>

<p>How can creative industries be effectively engaged to raise public awareness of climate change in countries around in the world? How can they reach those who are most resistant to accepting the reality of the situation? And how can they use creativity to challenge potential public fatigue with the subject? An&nbsp;expert panel was convened to discuss these questions and more.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/q%26a_guardi…; style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Bárbara Gomes Simões/Connect4Climate</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/historic-climate-signing-and…; target="_blank"><strong>Digital Media Zone at High-level Signing Ceremony for Paris Agreement</strong></a></p>

<p>On Earth Day, history was written. Connect4Climate, the World Bank Group&#39;s global partnership program, joined the world in celebrating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/high-level-signing-ceremony-paris…; target="_blank">signing of the Paris Climate Change Agreement</a>&nbsp;at the United Nations.</p>

<p>World leaders from 175 Parties (174 countries and the European Union) came together at the United Nations to sign up to the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The signing ceremony far exceeded the historical record for first-day signatures to an international agreement.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/Kerry-signing-UN.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 563px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">US Secretary of State&nbsp;John Kerry&nbsp;signing the agreement with his granddaughter.&nbsp;Photo Credit: Leigh Vogel</p>

<p>Connect4Climate was excited not only to witness the important event, but also <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/historic-climate-signing-and…; target="_blank">to add the youth voice</a> in support of world leaders who signed the Paris Agreement.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blOIUJDxN3Y]</p&gt;

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May, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect4Climate supported Climate Action 2016 Summit in Washington, D.C.</strong></p>

<p>The Paris Agreement was signed by&nbsp;more than 170 countries in New York City on Earth Day 2016. That historical moment was just the beginning&nbsp;of a path to implement ambitious climate action. The Climate Action Summit 2016, held in Washington D.C. on 5-6 May gathered mayors and governors, academia, business leaders and world leaders to discuss one of the most defining issues of our time.</p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/climate-action-summit-day-1&…; target="_blank">Climate Action Summit: Day 1</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/climate-action-summit-last-d…; target="_blank">Climate Action Summit: Last day highlights</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/video/highlights-climate-action-summit-…; target="_blank">Highlights from the Climate Action Summit Interviews</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/video/climate-action-summit-interviews&…; target="_blank">Climate Action Summit Interviews</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/video/climate-action-summit-interview-r…; target="_blank">Climate Action Summit Interview: Rachel Kyte</a></strong></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/Youth4CLimat…; style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Rachel Kyte supports the Connect4Climate program #Youth4Climate. Photo Credit: Daniel Pinto Lopes/Connect4Climate</em></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect4Climate presented at the Embassy of Italy, Washington, D.C for the ‪#&lrm;EUOpenHouse</strong></p>

<p>Connect4Climate presented&nbsp;its initiatives and engaged&nbsp;people on climate change through a Virtual Reality video at the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C., May 14, during the <a href="http://www.euopenhouse.org&quot; target="_blank">#EUOpenHouse</a>.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/EUOpenHouse-Italy-2016.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 750px;" /></p>

<p>More photos are available on <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHskA32K8x&quot; target="_blank">Connect4Climate</a>&#39;s&nbsp;Flickr account.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/event/governments-bonn-take-forward-historic…; target="_blank">Connect4Climate took&nbsp;part of the 4th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment</a></strong></p>

<p>The Dialogue is an annual forum for Parties and stakeholders to share their experiences, exchange ideas, good practices and lessons learned in the area of climate change education and public awareness.&nbsp;Connect4Climate&nbsp;will take part in this event,&nbsp;presenting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/fiat-lux-illuminating-our-common-…; target="_blank">Fiat Lux</a>&nbsp;initiative amongst other public engagement and outreach activities as best case examples of Actions for Climate Empowerment.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/fiat-lux.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 667px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Fiat Lux: Public art projection featuring images of humanity and climate change to illuminate St. Peter&rsquo;s Basilica on the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2015).&nbsp;Photo credit: Joshua Brott-Obscura</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/Film4Climate-Cannes2016&quot; target="_blank"><strong>Film4Climate at Cannes Film Festival</strong></a></p>

<p>Connect4Climate&rsquo;s film arm,&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/initiatives/film4climate&quot; target="_blank">Film4Climate</a>, attended&nbsp;the 69 edition&nbsp;<a href="http://www.festival-cannes.com/&quot; target="_blank">Cannes Film Festival</a>&nbsp;to solidify and build on&nbsp;work done in recent years to green the silver screen by&nbsp;enlisting further&nbsp;support for&nbsp;more sustainable film production and encouraging the inclusion of climate action&nbsp;in content creation.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/FB-Banner.jp…; style="width: 1000px; height: 500px;" /></p>

<div style="clear:both;"><strong>FIlm4Climate Global Video Competition Announced at Cannes Film Festival</strong></div>

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<div style="clear:both;">[video:https://vimeo.com/171178302]</div&gt;

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<div style="clear:both;">-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/files/press-release…; target="_blank">Press Release: Film4Climate initiative to green the film industry receives strong support at the Cannes Film Festival</a></strong></div>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/video/cannes-2016-lucia-grenna-lawrence…; target="_blank">Cannes 2016 - Lucia Grenna &amp; Lawrence Bender</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect4Climate and Columbia University Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED) hosted a <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/webinar-engaging-global-creative-…; target="_blank">webinar</a> &ldquo;What is the real role of the Creative, Media &amp; Entertainment and Advertising Industries in addressing climate change awareness?&rdquo;</strong></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/LuciaQuote.j…; style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></strong></p>

<p><strong>-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/video/connect4climate-cred-webinar-reca…; target="_blank">Connect4Climate, CRED webinar: the recap</a></strong></p>

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June, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/connect4climate-going-wild-l…; target="_blank"><strong>Connect4Climate joined the #WildforLife campaign launched by UNEP</strong></a></p>

<p>WildforLife&nbsp;campaign - launched by&nbsp;<a href="https://wildfor.life/&quot; target="_blank">UNEP</a>&nbsp;- aims to tackle illegal&nbsp;trade in wildlife, warning that such trade is driving many species to the brink of extinction.&nbsp;The&nbsp;campaign is part of an ambitious agenda that is being driven by the UN which recognizes wildlife crime as a serious crime and a threat to our shared sustainable development.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/Wild_life_c4…; style="width: 800px; height: 800px;" /></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/going-wildforlife&quot; target="_blank">Going #WildforLife</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/Film4Climate-Global-Video-Competition-o…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Film4Climate Global Video Competition Opens for Submissions</strong></a></p>

<p>The competition offered filmmakers a chance to have their work reviewed by a jury chaired by Bernardo Bertolucci, and including other preeminent directors, producers, writers and political leaders.</p>

<p>Just during the launch day, #Film4Climate was received more than 4.2 million impression and 211 mentions. The Film4Climate website received about 2000 visitors.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/171117213]</p&gt;

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/initiative/ceos-and-policymakers-meeting-bus…; target="_blank"><strong>Business &amp; Climate Summit&nbsp;in London</strong></a></p>

<p>The<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/business-climate-summit-2016&quot; target="_blank">&nbsp;Business &amp; Climate Summit</a>&nbsp;is the leading annual forum for businesses, investors and policymakers on climate action. It is where business and governments come together to agree on a roadmap for reaching net zero emissions over the next half century. It demonstrates how low carbon strategies are good for business and good for growth - and it builds the partnerships needed to scale up and accelerate the low carbon transition.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/BCS-graphic…; style="width: 1000px; height: 603px;" /></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/un-announces-common-ground-init…’s-‘big-six’-support-sdgs" target="_blank">UN announces Common Ground Initiative with Advertising&rsquo;s &lsquo;Big Six&rsquo; in support of the SDGs</a></strong></p>

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July, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/initiative/every-citizen-can-call-climate-ac…; target="_blank"><strong>Connect4Climate organized a climate change discussion&nbsp;during the&nbsp;Festival of Participation&nbsp;promoted by the&nbsp;Italia, Sveglia! (Italy, Wake up!)&nbsp;alliance</strong></a></p>

<p>Connect4Climate facilitated the discussion on climate action, engaging several stakeholders from different private sector industries, including construction companies, energy providers, tourism players, as well as the local public administration, academia and citizens.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/IMG-20160708…; style="width: 1000px; height: 563px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Max Falcone, Connect4Climate, Sandro Polci, Legambiente, Lorenzo Santilli, Unioncamere Abruzzo, Pietro Laureano, UNESCO, Marco Frey, Cittadinanzattiva, Marco Girolami, Touring Club Italiano. Photo Credit: Connect4Climate</p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/festival-participation&quot; target="_blank">Festival of Participation</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/15c-record-we-must-not-break…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;1.5C: The Record We Must Not Break</strong></a></p>

<p>The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1o5c.org/&quot; target="_blank">&lsquo;1.5C: the record we must not break&rsquo;</a>&nbsp;campaign raises&nbsp;awareness about the impacts of global warming&nbsp;and the need for a substantive increase in ambition by governments and business to hold the global temperature increase below 1,5 C and meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets. It calls&nbsp;for action to prevent warming beyond 1,5 C and therefore avoid risks such as inundation of low lying territories, failed crops and other social, economic and health threats.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/178943792]</p&gt;

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August, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/teach4climate-campaign&quot; target="_blank">#Teach4Climate social media campaign</a></strong></p>

<p>This coordinated social media effort is a commitment to education, engagement, and lifting up innovative and effective climate change education resources and opportunities. In order to create a powerful presence during this school year, we need your help!&nbsp;#Teach4Climate builds on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/youth4climate&quot; target="_blank">#Youth4Climate</a>&nbsp;social media campaign launched in 2015 around the COP21 Climate Talks.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/%23teach4cli…; style="width: 800px; height: 800px;" /></p>

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September, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/film4climate-venice-film-festival…; target="_blank"><strong>Film4Climate at Venice Film Festival</strong></a></p>

<p>Workshop and talks&nbsp;presented by Connect4Climate, World Bank Group, in collaboration with Green Cross Italy and FIMA - Federazione Italiana Media Ambientali.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/F4C-Venice-2…; /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/peace-and-sustainability-worksh…; target="_blank">C4C Video Message presented at the Peace and Sustainability Workshop UAE hosted by Green Hope UAE</a></strong></p>

<p>In a&nbsp;lead up&nbsp;to the forthcoming International Day of Peace, youth organisation Green Hope conducted an epoch conference cum workshop on &ldquo;Peace and Sustainabilty.&quot;. It was attended by scores of students from different schools and universities, as well representatives from corporate.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/Peace-Sustai…; style="width: 1000px; height: 562px;" /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/earth-marrakech-global-climate-…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Launch of the Earth To Marrakech Global Climate Movement</strong></a></p>

<p>At an event at United Nations headquarters, the United Nations Foundation and GOOD magazine announced the launch of&nbsp;Earth To Marrakech, a global movement to raise the volume and profile of the discussion around climate action.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/earth-to-marrakech.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 563px;" /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/celebrating-innovative-climate-…; target="_blank"><strong>Connect4Climate joined our partner&nbsp;Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Climate CoLab&rsquo;s Crowds &amp; Climate conference</strong></a></p>

<p>At this year&rsquo;s Crowds &amp; Climate conference, 27 climate change projects were recognized including the grand prize winner, the Vancouver, BC company Climate Smart for its Business Energy and Emissions Profile (BEEP) Dashboard - a carbon mapping tool that connects cities and businesses working to cut carbon emissions.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/185661285]</p&gt;

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October, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/pakistani-youth-climate-change-…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistani Youth for Climate Change: Gilgit Baltistan</strong></a></p>

<p>The primary purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness about climate change among the youth of Gilgit Baltistan, a region heavily affected by periodic floods, one of the effects of climate change.&nbsp;This workshop was part of the Pakistani Youth for Climate Change initiative, a multidisciplinary project aimed at involving Pakistani young people in the global conversation on climate change.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/185184528]</p&gt;

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/06/fact-sheet-tackl…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Sport4Climate recognized on the White House&rsquo;s press release &ldquo;Tackling Climate through Sports&rdquo;</strong></a></p>

<p>Sports and recreation are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and extreme-weather events. Millions of athletes, from children to professionals, play sports that are directly impacted by weather and climate. A number of athletic facilities and infrastructure are in low-lying, flood-prone regions. Extreme weather and climate change can affect the health and performance of athletes and pose risks to spectators and event staff.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/sport4climate&quot; target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/Sport4Climat…; style="width: 1000px; height: 142px;" /></a></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/sustaining-film-vancouver&qu…; target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Vancouver International Film Festival</strong></a></p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/vancouver-international-film-fest…; target="_blank">Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)</a> is renowned across the world for encouraging and giving a voice to important new trends that can influence thinking for the future. Connect4Climate was pleased to partner this year to support the Sustainable Production Forum &ndash; a day of discussion and illustration offered by the Festival to explore what is happening in the film industry, both locally and internationally.</p>

<p>[video:https://vimeo.com/188209926]</p&gt;

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/film4climate-shortlist-annou…; target="_blank">Film4Climate Shortlist Announced</a></strong></p>

<p>After receiving climate stories from every corner of the world&nbsp;80 videos were&nbsp;selected for the shortlist of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.film4climate.net/&quot; target="_blank">Film4Climate Global Video Competition</a>. The finalists include 20 Public Service Announcement video and 60 short films selected by a technical review committee, who analyzed and evaluated a grand total of&nbsp;864&nbsp;exciting and thought-provoking videos submitted to the Film4Climate Global Video competition over a 3 month period.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="600" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/embed?mid=1DlQc6F0Bp7jnFJJsJvIYOmmXU9…; width="800"></iframe></p>

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November, 2016
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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/celebrating-youth-voices-cop…; target="_blank">COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco</a></strong></p>

<p>The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to UNFCCC took&nbsp;place in Marrakech, Morocco, 7-18 November 2016.&nbsp;Connect4Climate joined the world leaders&nbsp;in declaring fighting climate change is an urgent duty. We were so excited to showcase inspiring climate change solutions stories from young people around the world that raised their voices through the<a href="http://connect4climate.org/article/film4climate-competition-winners-ann…; target="_blank">&nbsp;Film4Climate Global Video Competition</a>&nbsp;and truly pleased to award them for their creativity and efforts solving climate change.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/youth-cop22-connect4climate.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Max Edkins, Connect4Climate, speaks to youth audience with Ahmad Ahlendawi, UN Youth Envoy, at COP22. Photo Credit: Giulia Braga</p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/cop22-marrakech-climate-change-co…; target="_blank">COP22 Marrakech Climate Change Conference</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/connect4climate-cop22&quot; target="_blank">Connect4Climate at COP22</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/ratification-watch-india-positi…-“-force”" target="_blank">Ratification Watch: India is positioned to inch the Paris Agreement closer &ldquo;into force&rdquo;</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/road-cop22-protectin-moroccos-c…; target="_blank">Road to COP22: Protecting Morocco&#39;s Coastline</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/agriculture-must-adopt-climate-…-–-un-report" target="_blank">Agriculture must adopt climate-smart practices to better help poverty reduction &ndash; UN report</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/special-cop22&quot; target="_blank">SPECIAL COP22</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/young-and-future-generations-day&…; target="_blank">Young and Future Generations Day</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>- <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/cop22-are-you-listening-our-voi…; target="_blank">COP22: Are you listening to our voices?</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/sustainable-innovation-forum-unep…; target="_blank">Sustainable Innovation Forum - UNEP</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/celebrating-youth-voices-cop…; target="_blank">Celebrating Youth Voices at COP22</a></strong></p>

<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Social Media Impact</strong></div>

<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>

<ul>
<li>The hashtags #Film4Climate and #Youth4Climate generated more than 5.1K mentions and 3.9K retweets and received more than 134M impressions during COP22.</li>
<li>#Youth4Climate was top-mentioned hashtag for Youth Day and Education Day&nbsp;</li>
<li>#Earth to Marrakech generated over 875M impressions through more than 34,000 posts and reached more than 90 million people in over 100 countries</li>
<li>Film4Climate Competition generated more than 500 articles published in 85 countries in 27 different languages since its launch in June. USA, Italy, Korea, and Morocco are the countries that published articles the most</li>
<li>The hashtag #Film4Climate created more than 314M impressions just on Twitter and received 15K mentions and 11K retweets from its launch in June. The Film4Climate winners announcement is the top tweet with 281 retweets and 315 Likes and over 80K impressions:</li>
</ul>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/article/film4climate-competition-winners-ann…; target="_blank">Film4Climate Competition Winners Announced</a></strong></p>

<p>860 videos from 155 countries.&nbsp;Connect4Climate&nbsp;received inspiring climate change solutions stories from young people around the world that raised their voices through the <a href="https://www.film4climate.net/&quot; target="_blank">Film4Climate Global Video Competition</a>&nbsp;showing that it is possible to take on climate change. We truly believe&nbsp;that young people can alter the course of history and Connect4Climate is extremely proud to be their platform, by helping them transform the planet. As so we are truthfully pleased to award the for their incredible work, creativity, and time invested solving climate change.&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/article/film4climate-competition-winners-ann…; target="_blank">Check here all the winning entries</a>.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/film4climate-ceremony-cop22.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 662px;" /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/t-shirt-pope-high-school-game-a…; target="_blank">Winners of the Italian High School Competition offered Pope Francis a Connect4Climate gift to celebrate #OurCommonHome and advocate for climate action during COP22</a></strong></p>

<p>Pope Francis&nbsp;accepted this symbolic gift with great joy, thanked the students who&nbsp;briefly talked about the environmental education competition and their dedication to climate action. In response&nbsp;Pope Francis congratulated them and said: &quot;Well done guys, keep it up, you are the future.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/popefrancis-connect4climate.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 750px;" /></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/high-school-game-e-connect4clim…; target="_blank">High School Game e Connect4Climate: Una t-shirt per il Papa</a></strong></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" /><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/south-africa’s-powerful-renewable-story-needs-be-told" target="_blank"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;Energy 21&quot; workshop at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa</strong></a></p>

<p>Global&nbsp;and local experts and leaders within the renewable energy industry believe the time to champion renewable energy is now &ndash; as South Africa&rsquo;s energy mix is currently being decided and debated.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/images/legacy/ENGER…; style="width: 1000px; height: 566px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Bulding bridges and establishing partnerships to better combat climate change.&nbsp;Photo credits:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/energy21sa&quot; target="_blank">ENERGY21</a></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/energy21-renewable-energy-21st-ce…; target="_blank">ENERGY21 - Renewable Energy for the 21st Century</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/building-social-currency-climat…; target="_blank">Building social currency for climate leadership</a></strong></p>

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December, 2016
Description

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="font-size: 13px; width: 20px; height: 14px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/c4czone-time-climate-action-now…; target="_blank">Digital Media Zone at World Bank Headquarter during the World Bank&rsquo;s Law, Justice and Development Week and the Climate Investment Funds annual meetings</a></strong></p>

<p>More than 30 climate change and social development experts, academics, young leaders and climate leaders enriched a four-day program of panels, short talks, conferences and screenings of Leonardo DiCaprio&rsquo;s documentary Before the Flood and Years of Living Dangerously, that brought together an online audience of over 65 thousand people through our Facebook live videos, and more than 30 million impressions were reached on twitter using the hashtag #C4CZone.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/Connect4Climate-Digital-Media-Zone.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 562px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Connect4Climate Digital Media Zone at the World Bank, in parallel to Law, Justice &amp; Development Week and Climate Investment Funds annual meeting. Photo Credit: Kaia Rose</p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/connect4climate-digital-media-zon…; target="_blank">Digital Media Zone at Legal Week</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/event/law-justice-and-development-week&…; target="_blank">Law, Justice and Development Week</a></strong></p>

<p>-&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/c4czone-time-climate-action-now…; target="_blank">C4CZone: Time For Climate Action Is Now</a></strong></p>

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In loving memory of Donald Ranvaud
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<p><strong>The Connect4Climate team still&nbsp;mourns the passing of our dear colleague, friend and mentor, Donald Ranvaud. He will always be in our thoughts and actions. May he rest in peace.</strong></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/donald-ranvaud.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 666px;" /></p>

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C4CZone: Time For Climate Action Is Now
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In parallel to the Law, Justice and Development Week, the Connect4Climate Digital Media Zone presented in Washington D.C. an interactive media hub where students, NGOs, private and public sector representatives gathered to underline the urgency of climate action in tackling climate change.

“What COP22 showed us is that decarbonization is the leading driver of what happens next." Achim Steiner, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) opened the Law, Justice and Development Week and the Connect4Climate Digital Media Zone, this December 5th, with a powerful speech underlining the role of private companies leading the way to a clean and sustainable future that relies on renewables as its only source of energy. Achim Steiner was joined by the World Bank Group president, Jim Yong Kim, Laura Tuck, Sustainable Development Vice President of the World Bank, Mafalda Duarte, Program Manager of the Climate Investment Funds, and Sheila Redzepi, Vice President of the World Bank Group External and Corporate Relations accompanied by the three young activists Victoria Barrett, Paola Hernandez, and Brian McDermott, Alliance for Climate Education (ACE).

More than 30 climate change and social development experts, academics, young leaders and climate leaders enriched a four-day program of panels, short talks, conferences and screenings of Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood and Years of Living Dangerously, that brought together an online audience of over 65 thousand people through our Facebook live videos, and more than 30 million impressions were reached on twitter using the hashtag #C4CZone.


Connect4Climate Digital Media Zone at the World Bank. Photo: Kaia de Rose

Over the week our conference attendees had the opportunity to listen from influential leaders on the importance of the Paris Agreement, the link between justice, human rights and climate change, the role of green bonds and social enterprises, how food insecurity ignites conflict, the position of youth taking on this issue, the importance of forests, and what is the path that governments, the public and the private sector companies, and individuals need to follow in order to accomplish the climate goals signed one year ago in Paris during COP21.

 Download the comprehensive report on the outcomes from the Connect4Climate Digital Media Zone at LJD Week 

“We need to reshape the energy sector around the world”, said Patricia Beneke, director and regional representative of the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) Regional Office for North America, sharing an optimistic view of the future. The solution? Putting a price on carbon, advised the present speakers over the four days. “Carbon pricing is an elegant simple solution that saves the environment and generates money", affirmed Tom Kerr, Principal Climate Policy Officer of the International Finance Corporation. "30% of emissions are being covered by a #priceoncarbon but we need to create a carbon market", added James Close, director of the World Bank’s Climate Change Group.

Achim Steiner opened the week with a message that would echo during the Connect4Climate four-day Digital Media Zone: “Young people have the power to make this moment not only be heard but to succeed.” A message that our audience carried home, a message that we hope will ignite a vital and imperative climate action required globally to protect upcoming generations’ future. 

Check other photos here.

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Connect4Climate champion wins International Children's Peace Prize
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Kehkashan Basu (16 years old, United Arab Emirates, theme: environment) was awarded the International Children's Peace Prize at The Hague, the Netherlands. 

Kehkashan began campaigning to protect the environment at an early age. At the age of just eight, she organised an awareness-raising campaign for the recycling of waste in her neighbourhood in Dubai. In 2012, she founded her own organisation, Green Hope, which runs waste-collection, beach-cleaning and awareness-raising campaigns.

Through a series of campaigns and lectures, she has demonstrated to thousands of school and university students how important it is to care properly for the environment.

Kehkashan has addressed various international conferences and Green Hope is now active in ten countries with more than 1,000 young volunteers.

Kehkashan was nominated by her father.

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‘South Africa’s powerful renewable story needs to be told’
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Johannesburg, South Africa, 01 December 2016 – Global and local experts and leaders within the renewable energy industry believe the time to champion renewable energy is now – as South Africa’s energy mix is currently being decided and debated.

There is also an urgency to convert a general awareness and understanding about renewable energy into tangible action.

These were some of the key issues teased out and discussed at the U.S. Embassy Pretoria’s Energy21: Exchange Hub on telling the renewable energy story differently, which wrapped today.

Madiba's message on sustainability.

The event, which drew over 60 people working in the renewable energy sector, focused on tactics for telling the renewable energy story differently in South Africa. Participants considered how to best reach, touch, inform and convert new audiences, which is especially relevant following the announcement of South Africa’s updated Integrated Resource Plan 2020-2030 and the resounding success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPPP).

“South Africa is at the beginning of a very important renewable energy journey,” said Elizabeth McKay, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy.  “Finding new champions of renewable energy and encouraging more action will require us to shift the renewable energy narrative,” she added.  

Driving this message home at Energy21: Exchange Hub – a partnership between the U.S. Embassy South Africa, World Bank’s Connect4Climate and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – were communications, climate change and renewables experts, including the World Bank’s Max Edkins, Green Cape’s Aman Baboolal, FirstRand Limited’s Madeleine Ronquest and Intellidex’s Colin Anthony.

“South Africa’s renewables story is truly inspirational. We are transitioning towards a renewable future, which opens up opportunities.  By communicating more, we strengthen the possibility of a renewables-focused future. It’s also the most pressing challenge of our time and our generation’s time,” said Edkins, Climate Change and Communications Expert at the World Bank’s Connect4Climate programme.

Max Edkins, Connect4Climate. Photo credits: ENERGY21

David Shelby, Director of Public Engagement at the U.S. State Department, said: “In the last five years South Africa has made tremendous headway for renewables – as evidenced by the highly successful REIPPP programme roll-out.  This, in turn, has played an important part in building the economy and job creation. Now is the time to start telling this story and to communicate the benefits.”

Energy21: Exchange Hub saw communications experts paired with current and future leaders in the private sector, non-government organizations, and government who work on renewable energy policy and promotion to partake in strategic discussions and training.

Through discussing tactics – ranging from strategies for creating compelling, sticky content, reaching rural communities, designing communications campaigns to data visualization – influential industry minds explored new solutions for achieving greater awareness and public support for the renewable energy movement.

ENERGY21 participants share their ideas on how to tell the renewable energy story differently. Photo credits: ENERGY21

One of the main messages about renewable energy: it is no longer as expensive as people think.

Dr. Tobias Bischof-Niemz, Manager of CSIR’s Energy Centre, said solar and wind energy cost competitiveness studies build a strong economic case and sound positioning for renewables. 

This is especially important at a time when the Department of Energy’s updated Integrated Resource Plan will be discussed to determine the country’s energy mix structure.  “Building new energy capacity from wind and solar is less costly than coal. Additionally, these also offer CO2 and water reductions,” said Bischof-Niemz.

“While educating the public on renewables must be grounded in science, there is also the need to work together to create public awareness on renewables, to stimulate community interest – in both urban and rural areas – and engage meaningfully.”

This sentiment was echoed by Edkins who believes that success lies in developing strong partnerships to drive a focused message on renewables. Connect4Climate is already testimony of what can be achieved.

Established partnerships with stakeholders, ranging from non-governmental organisations to the United Nations, have helped to harness Connect4Climate’s mandate of combating climate change through actions driven by solutions.

Bulding bridges and establishing partnerships to better combat climate change. Photo credits: ENERGY21

The conversations and outcomes from Energy21: Exchange Hub will continue with the intention of creating a strong and connected network within the renewable energy and communications industry. Participants acknowledged their shared passion for and commitment to telling the renewable energy story differently, leading the way in creating narratives that touches the hearts and minds of all South Africans.

An agreed Action Plan by all Energy21: Exchange Hub participants will continue its momentum throughout 2017.

However, change really begins with each participant and their will to drive home change in their renewables environment.  “For us, success is for each person within the renewables industry to go home and implement one idea from Energy21 in their respective environments,” said Shelby. 

Connect4Climate is a World Bank Group Multi-Donor Trust Fund powered by Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development that drives climate action through advocacy, partnerships, and creative communications.

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