<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_en…; target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/Pope-Encyclical2.png" style="width: 691px; height: 800px;" /></a></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_en…; target="_blank">ENGLISH</a></strong>&nbsp;<strong>|</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_en…; target="_blank">FRENCH</a></strong>&nbsp;<strong>|</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_20…; target="_blank">GERMAN</a></strong>&nbsp;<strong>|</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_20…;|</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_en…; target="_blank">SPANISH</a></strong>&nbsp;<strong>|</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/papa-francesco_20…; target="_blank">PORTUGUESE</a></strong>&nbsp;<strong>|</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/upload/Enciclica_Arabic…; target="_blank">ARABIC</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Pope Francis&rsquo; Encyclical is a definitive moral case for action on climate change.</strong>&nbsp;It is a teaching document that acknowledges, and stands in solidarity with the overwhelming scientific consensus, and vocalises what all know to be true: fossil fuels and unchecked exploitation of the natural world are irreversibly damaging our common home. Taking action on climate change and empowering poor countries to develop sustainably is both morally and economically right.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><strong>The Pope&rsquo;s Encyclical calls for an urgent moral response to a reality established by robust scientific evidence.</strong>&nbsp;It does not speculate on the causes of climate change itself. Pope Francis is doing his job as a moral leader, calling for the protection of vulnerable people and proper stewardship of &ldquo;our common home&rdquo;, the earth. He appropriately labels acts risking the integrity of our planet as &ldquo;sins&rdquo;, provides the environmental movement with a boost of moral support, and condemns indifference, denialism and obstructionism.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><strong>His Holiness is calling for all of us, not just Catholics, to care for people and the planet.</strong>&nbsp;The encyclical on ecology draws from the deep well of Church teaching on these issues to lay out the moral imperative of tackling the root causes of the greatest interlinked challenges of our time: climate change and poverty. The Pope is adding his voice to a global choir of leaders from all walks of life who are demanding action, calling for an end of fossil fuels, a future powered by renewables, and a strong climate deal in Paris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The World Bank says the pope&rsquo;s encyclical is a &ldquo;stark reminder&rdquo; of the link between climate change and poverty.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/the-latest-vatican-laun…; target="_blank">World Bank President Jim Yong Kim</a>&nbsp;says climate change impacts,&nbsp;<strong>&ldquo;including the increased frequency of extreme weather events, are most devastating for the unacceptably high number of people today living in extreme poverty.&rdquo;</strong><o:p></o:p></p>

<p>He says that over the past 30 years weather-related disasters killed more than 2.5 million people and resulted in almost $4 trillion in damage.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><strong>&ldquo;As the effects of climate change worsen, we know that escaping poverty will become even more difficult,&rdquo;&nbsp;</strong>he said. <strong>&ldquo;Climate change also poses a direct risk to the hard-earned development gains over past decades.&rdquo;</strong><o:p></o:p></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/legacy/zanetti-MatchForExpo.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 442px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 20.0063px; text-align: center;">Match for Expo. Photo credit: Zanetti &amp; Friends / TVN Media Group</span></p>

<p>The day before the festival, Connect4Climate organized a&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/learn/article/innovative-solutions-to-waste-…; target="_blank">live web discussion</a>&nbsp;on waste management issues on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/glo…; target="_blank">The Guardian&rsquo;s Global Development Professionals Network</a>. The two-hour Q&amp;A session featured a panel of 10 experts, including John Morton, Senior Urban Environment Specialist at the World Bank, and Delphine Arri, Environment Specialist at the International Finance Corporation.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>The online discussion drew a significant audience, with members posting 178 comments on a variety of solutions to waste. John Morton recognized the importance of monetary incentives to motivate people to improve recycling. David Jones from the Plastic Oceans Foundation added two great examples:<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>&ldquo;In Dahab in the Sinai, no tin is on the ground because the locals understand their value and recycle them&hellip; In&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/mar/18/recycling-waste&quot; target="_blank">Germany</a>, every PET bottle is worth 40 cents for recycling.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>David Jones also raised the point that plastic production accounts for 88% of the world&rsquo;s oil reserves, and about 150 million tonnes of plastic waste is thrown away annually after just one use. In his opinion, to tackle waste effectively our throwaway lifestyle would have to change. John Morton highlighted effective examples for reducing consumption, including a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/ban-against-plastic-…; target="_blank">plastic bag ban</a>&nbsp;in Latin America, or the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/21/polystyrene-foam-b…; target="_blank">Styrofoam ban</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>Highlights from the online discussion were used to fuel panel discussions at Cittadinanza in Festa. The festival&rsquo;s core theme, knocking out waste, was used as a thread to explore a variety of sustainability challenges.<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;color:#787878"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p>A panel discussion on May 2nd, highlighted that the average Italian throws away 76 kg of edible food each year, 42% of it at home. At the same time, food production is being constrained by rapid urbanization: over the past 3 years 720 km&sup2; of Italian land has been paved over, equivalent to the surface area of Milan, Bologna, Florence, Naples and Palermo combined. The social cost of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by this construction has been estimated at 130 million Euros, and it was estimated to have cost the Italian economy 90 million Euros in imported food that could no longer be grown locally.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/10258890_793254317366561_553764725461794792_o.jpg" style="width: 697px; height: 390px;" /></p>

<p align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; text-align: center; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size:9px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(120, 120, 120);">Riccardo Valentini opens the panel discussion on knocking out food waste.&nbsp;</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p>On the food waste panel Michele Bruni of Enterprise Projects Ventures, stressed the need for technology to overcome shrinking agricultural land. Beatrice Costa of Action Aid Italia highlighted the results achieved through pilot programs in schools, which teach youth to not to waste food. The Italian Minister of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin, emphasized the need to find uses for food that is still healthy but no longer meets retail standards.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>Riccardo Valentini, a board member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighted the challenge of feeding 7 billion people, the current global population. He advocated including consumers in creating sustainable solutions<span style="font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;
color:#787878">.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;
color:#787878"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p>A May 3rd panel discussion focused on Environmental Waste. Marco Frey, President of Cittandinzattiva opened the panel and emphasized the need for citizens to own the waste challenge, as businesses are responding to changing consumer demands.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>Every day, the world&rsquo;s population generates enough waste to fill over fourteen large soccer stadiums from top to bottom,&nbsp;<a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/03/16537275/waste-global…; target="_blank">more than 3.5 million tonnes</a>. Walid Norris from Connect4Climate highlighted that if waste management trends continue, landfilled food waste is predicted to increase world methane emissions from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-11/issue-2/…; target="_blank">31 million to 43 million tonnes</a>, a significant jump for the potent greenhouse gas.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>Specific solutions discussed included innovation in consumer products, citing companies like Fater achieving zero waste in their production process and designing fully recyclable products. Similarly Giorgio Arienti highlighted that citizens can now take simple steps to recycle almost every electronic product they buy.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p>At the event&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rokiatraore.net/&quot; target="_blank">Rokia Traoré</a>, recognized as one of Africa&rsquo;s most innovative singers and songwriters, was formally recognized as a new Connect4Climate Global Leader for her commitment and dedication to supporting climate change action around the world. She performed selections from her newest album, &ldquo;<a href="http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/rokia-traore-beautiful-africa-out-now-2…; target="_blank">Beautiful Africa.</a>&rdquo;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/Rokia-Global_Leader_Award-small.jpg" style="width: 851px; height: 315px;" /></p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:9px;">Antonio Guadioso, Walid Norris, Rokia Traoré, and Alessandro Cusso on stage as Rokia receives the Global Leader award. Photo: Luca Liccione / Cittadinanzattiva</span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p>Other events at the festival included book presentations, an electric bicycle tour, theatrical performances and music concerts. As part of Cittadinanzattiva&rsquo;s campaign SpreK.O, or Knocking out Waste, there were also workshops and labs aimed at teaching citizens, especially youth and children, about how to reduce food waste, solid waste and waste in the healthcare system.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><a href="http://connect4climate.org/event/knocking-out-waste-cittadinanza-festa&…; target="_blank">SpreK.O. - Cittadinanza in Festa 2014</a>&nbsp;is an encouraging example of citizens coming together to take ownership of the climate challenge and address it with creative solutions<span style="font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;
color:#787878">.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;color:#787878"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><o:p></o:p></p>

<h4><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>"What's More Precious?" by Nadia Asfour, Selina Chaouki, and Elias El Hage,&nbsp;Lebanese American University</strong></h4>

<p>A young woman comes home to her boyfriend and finds that he is saving water...with a twist.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hg4T4hdt0E]</p&gt;

<h4><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>"Simple things you can do to help the Earth" by Mathilde Sahlen and Ulrikke Nordseth, Oslo National Academy of the Arts</strong></h4>

<p>A short animated movie about small things everyone can do to help slow down global warming. If everyone does a little we'll achieve a lot!</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hg4T4hdt0E]</p&gt;

<h4><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>"The Tap" by Rolando Berry, The Mahindra United World College of India</strong></h4>

<p>We always look for the one who will get the sword out of the stone. What we never get to realize is that this is everyone's job, and can only be done together as a whole.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVP262WcK2U]</p&gt;

<h4><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;"> &nbsp;<strong>"Climate for Change" by Connor Botkin and Marco Arena,&nbsp;University of East Anglia</strong></h4>

<p>What if we saw climate change as an opportunity to transform and improve our lifestyle? Whether it is pushing for cleaner energy or limiting practices that lead to the destruction of our precious forests, through individual action and the collective effort we can act for a healthier, more sustainable future.</p>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNk8gxPNHi0]</p&gt;

<h4><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>"Global Warning" by Nadia Morghen and Marco A. Piccinini,&nbsp;Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - Sede Lombardia</strong></h4>

<p>[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7VX5HpZ45U]</p&gt;

<p>The entire Connect4Climate staff is grateful to all of the teams that entered the iChange competition. We would like to thank each of you for the hard work and initiative you showed by creating moving, humorous and inspiring films to encourage climate action worldwide. Below are your video submissions in a playlist.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R9Bax9NBv8Q?list=PL9R0MYGYsvksN6ap-H-L9B2…; width="800"></iframe></p>

<p>We also would like to extend our thanks to the iChange panel of judges. Your hard work and dedication have made the iChange competition possible. The iChange jury includes:&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Donald Ranvaud</strong>, Producer -&nbsp;<em>iChange Jury President</em></p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Rachel Kyte</strong>, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Group</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Don Edkins</strong>, Executive Producer, Why Poverty?</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>David Forrest</strong>, Producer, Completion Bond</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Freddy Paul Grunert</strong>, CEO, Selph2&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Sandy Lieberson</strong>, Producer, Film Studies Professor</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Hamish McAlpine</strong>, Producer &amp; Distributor</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Peter Mettler</strong>, Film Director &amp; Cinematographer</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Rick Rockwell</strong>, Director - Internationational Media,&nbsp;American University&nbsp;School of Communication</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Luciano Stella</strong>, Producer, Distributor</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Alberto Contri</strong>, President, Pubblicità&nbsp;Progresso &amp; Lombardy Film Commission</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Gianluca Favro</strong>,&nbsp;Country Manager - Italy,&nbsp;DLB Group Worldwide</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Nicolò&nbsp;Bongiorno</strong>, Director &amp; Screenwriter</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Herve de Clerck</strong>, Founder, AdForm &amp; Dream-Leader, ACT Responsible</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Mario Zanone Poma</strong>, President, Mediocredito Italy</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Ugo Nespolo</strong>,&nbsp;President, National Cinema Museum of Torino</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Piero Chiambretti</strong>, Actor</p>

<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/C4C-drop-green.png" style="width: 20px; height: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Greta Scacchi</strong>, Actress</p>