New York, 8 September – Today, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) joined the UN climate change secretariat’s initiative Climate Neutral Now, becoming the first international sports organisation to do so.

The Climate Neutral Now initiative represents a global community of organisations committing to becoming climate neutral by the second half of the 21st century. Climate Neutral Now calls on organisations and individuals to measure, reduce and report greenhouse gas emissions and compensate those which cannot be avoided with UN-certified emission reductions. The initiative was launched in September, 2015 by a founding group of organisations that included Microsoft, Sony, the adidas Group and Marks & Spencer.

Today’s announcement was made during a panel discussion at UN headquarters in New York. FIFA’s Secretary General, Ms. Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, and Mr. David Nabarro, Special Adviser on Agenda 2030 for the UN Secretary General, were in attendance, along with the Director of Strategy of the UNFCCC secretariat, Halldór Thorgeirsson, and FIFA’s Head of Sustainability and Diversity, Federico Addiechi.

The event also featured a video message by actor and activist Edward Norton, champion of Climate Neutral Now and UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. The message invites individuals and organisations to take action, including through the Climate Neutral Now initiative. 

FIFA’s Secretary General, Ms Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura said:

“Each one of us, as well as every organisation, has to take responsibility for the world we live in and lead by example. By joining the Climate Neutral Now campaign, we pledge to continue to strive towards becoming greenhouse gas emission-neutral by the mid-21st century. We also commit, as we did in Brazil in 2014, to measuring, reducing and offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions at the next edition of the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in Russia in 2018. Beyond that and through the power of football, we also aim to inspire greater awareness and best practices in sustainability standards.”

UNFCCC’s Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa said:

“The climate talks in Paris this past December highlighted the critical role that non-state actors—corporations, NGOs and individuals—are playing in addressing climate change. Every sector has an important role, but we are excited by the potential that sports organisations represent. More than one billion people watched the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. There’s enormous potential for inspiring sports fans around the globe, in addition to the action that the sports organizations are taking in-house.”

Actor and Climate Neutral Now supporter Edward Norton said:

“Do something about your personal climate footprint  –  it can be as simple as driving a little less, using  mass transit a little more,  turning of the television or AC in the room when you are not in it, just simple little things to observe and change wasteful habits that we all have.”

September has a history of being a pivotal month on the climate calendar and 2016 appears to be no different. China and the US, the world’s largest historical emitters of carbon emissions, rang September in over the weekend, when they announced they would each be ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement. This announcement signaled that September 2016 could resemble the two previous Septembers, which like the weeks ahead, were packed with climate action.

Last year, September saw Pope Francis head to the United States where he delivered a number of messages, including an emphasis on climate change, to the US Congress in Washington, DC and then to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The UN General Assembly in New York last year also saw a number of countries announcing their “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” or INDCs for what would become the Paris Agreement two months later. Last year the UN also moved forward with its long-crafted Sustainable Development Goals. A year before, in 2014, September saw the the largest climate demonstration in history take place in New York when the People’s Climate March put climate at the forefront of the UN agenda ahead of that year’s General Assembly. The recent US and China announcement about ratifying the Paris Agreement this time around, indicates that 2016 may fit the mold of previous Septembers.

Have you ever felt the urge to save the world and do something that could change someone´s life? Did you do it yet? If not, don´t worry, there is still time. The Humanitarian Day is all about that. It is about caring, taking action, inspiring and being inspired, thriving for change, improving the living conditions of impoverished people, being kind to people and animals and giving with all of your heart.

We have challenged you to share your pictures of people taking action to fight climate change on #HumanitarianDay - 19 August 2016 - and we are ready to announce this week´s finalist: congratulations Allan F. Castañeda, your picture really enhances youth´s voice in Philippines promoting environment protection.

Take a look at the original caption:

"Voices of the Youth"
My #Photo4Climate: #HumanitarianDay, these youth from Bulusan, Sorsogon in the Philippines joins on a rally in Juban, Sorsogon promoting environment protection and to stop #climatechange. They are against Geothermal Exploration around the Bulusan volcano. A placard shows the scenario of before and after the Geothermal Exploration and its effects to the ecosystem once implemented. This eye opener helps the present and future generation to build a better and safe nation.
Photo Credit: Allan F. Castañeda

In a lead up to the forthcoming International Day of Peace, youth organisation Green Hope conducted an epoch conference cum workshop on “Peace and Sustainabilty.". It was attended by scores of students from different schools and universities, as well representatives from corporates. The day began with a tree planting session, during which Green Hope members planted over 80 saplings.

The conference stressed on the overriding importance of peace in achieving sustainability. SDG #16 ( The United Nationals Sustainable development goal # 16) specifically focuses on “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”. Yet peace runs like a thread through all 17 of the Goals. Every year on the International Day of Peace, the United Nations calls on the peoples of the world to remember their common humanity and join together to build a future free of strife.

This year’s theme – the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace – highlights how ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring broadly shared prosperity all contribute to global harmony.  Green Hope founder/president , 16 year old Kehkashan Basu said “We the youth are the Future Generations and we must take the initiative of breaking these shackles of hatred and bring forth a new order . This is the objective behind our event today , to bring together a diverse section of civil society so that we discuss the ways and means of achieving peace and its profound impact on sustainability. “

The conference, hosted by the Apple International School,  began with a Peace song composed and performed by the Green Hope team after which there were interactive presentations to highlight the critical inter-linkages between peace and the sustainable development goals. The conference attendees were hugely motivated to receive a  video message from  Mr Max T Edkins, the Climate Change Expert at World Bank’s Connect4Climate initiative . In his message, Max emphasized climate change being the most fundamental challenge facing the current generation and its intricate linkage with all the sustainable development goals. The audience also received a video message on the conference theme from Mr Jan-Gustav Strandenaes , Senior Advisor on Governance at the Stakeholder Forum.

[video: https://vimeo.com/181270389]

This was followed by an interactive panel discussion , comprising of an  eminent panel of experts which included Dr. Federica Busa – Director Theme Development Dubai Expo2020, Mr. Stephen King -  Professor at Middlesex University Dubai, Ms Ellen Vroonhof – Program Manager at Netherlands based Kidsrights Foundation, Dr Masumeh Kazmi from the Iranian Salman Farsi school and Ms Panjala Dutta –Principal Apple International School.

The highlight of the conference was a painting competition, wherein the participants used art to convey the theme of Peace and Sustainability. Green Hope believes that peace building begins with conflict resolution and these must  be resolved using a bottom-up approach. Grassroots organizations, as well as local authorities and civil-society representatives, should be the main actors in the conflict resolution process. Thus this conference sought to bring together various stakeholders to determine the pathway to a peaceful and sustainable future.

The Connect4Climate team 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.

Donald passed away while attending the Montreal World Film Festival as a competition juror. He is celebrated as a champion of truth and a passionate proponent for climate action.

In July 2016, Donald Ranvaud received an Hon DLitt (Honorary Doctor of Letters) from the University of Warwick.

Some of our memories

It's young people who will push for the #solutions4climate - Donald Ranvaud @Connect4Climate #youth4climate #COP21 pic.twitter.com/nIAPtMoLGx

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) December 9, 2015

.@rene_leys announced the #Film4Climate charter at #COP21 - an international effort to advance sustainability pic.twitter.com/rVYsP7ZILE

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) December 9, 2015

.@Connect4Climate team at #COP21 with @BiancaJagger & @fmei7777 for the #YFGDay! Time for action! pic.twitter.com/erOM7pZIk8

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) December 3, 2015

#NEXTCannes with @Connect4Climate yesterday with @giuliacamillabr, Donald Ranvaud, @rokiatraore and @opuech pic.twitter.com/CQPHgfaAfZ

— Marché du Film (@mdf_cannes) May 20, 2015

Donald Ranvaud from Connect4Climate hands @BiancaJagger a @CrucianiC bracelet to be part of our global #community pic.twitter.com/AGviW02zML

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) November 20, 2015

Donald Ranvaud talks about #Film4Climate to green the industry in cooperation with @FICGoficial at the @berlinale pic.twitter.com/C4MVLHANM6

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) February 10, 2015

[video: https://youtu.be/-kZmPzJLWy0]

Our Donald Ranvaud is joined by @CaptPaulWatson & @YanaRusinovich from @seashepherd & Iván Trujillo of @FICGoficial pic.twitter.com/DADKCs42uF

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) May 18, 2015

Donald Ranvaud talks about #Film4Climate to green the industry in cooperation with @FICGoficial at the @berlinale pic.twitter.com/C4MVLHANM6

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) February 10, 2015

Donald Ranvaud speaks at the #Action4Climate screening at #chifilmfest. Learn more: http://t.co/sfqiaqHfV9 pic.twitter.com/7h0uyOvH5e

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) October 16, 2014

Ranvaud discusses #Film4Climate with @Ecoprod_France and the Green Film Initiative at @Berlinale #Talents workshop pic.twitter.com/LPEX3V8fvz

— Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) February 17, 2015

Donald, we miss you.

Today’s generation is the first generation to feel the impacts of climate change and the last that can really do something about it. Teaching young people about climate change – its causes, effects, and what we can do about it – is vital. Addressing climate change is a multi-generational problem that demands both immediate action and long term skills, understanding and solutions.

With another school year rapidly approaching, a flotilla of partners (please see below) are working together to support educators in enhancing the climate literacy of American students and citizens. The campaign will demonstrate new and innovative ways to expand climate change learning opportunities for students, and will equip educators with science-based information and resources.

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 next school year, we need your help! This toolkit provides you with all the information you need to engage in the #Teach4Climate social media campaign, and equips you with a list of important climate education initiatives taking place in the U.S. and beyond during the 2016-2017 school year. This document will be kept up to date throughout the campaign, so don’t forget to check back!

Credits: Climate.gov

The #Teach4Climate social media campaign is an effort lead by the Alliance for Climate Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), NASA, American Meteorological Society Education, the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), the CLEAN Network, The Wild Center, the World Bank Group’s global partnership program Connect4Climate, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, Earth Day Network, Climate Interactive, National Council for Science Education, and others.

It is an open discussion for all to join in the call for education, awareness and action on climate change, among both students and citizens. The event supports the White House Climate Education and Literacy Initiative, launched in December 2014 to connect students and citizens with the best-available, science-based information about climate change.

#Teach4Climate builds on the #Youth4Climate social media campaign launched in 2015 around the COP21 Climate Talks.

Read the full article online here.