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How Climate Change is Challenging the Olympic Games
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OLYMPIC ATHLETES CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE

 

At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, more than 100 Olympians from 10 countries signed a petition urging world leaders to take action to address climate change on a global scale.

Athletes have noticed rising temperatures affecting their sports and failure to address climate change could jeopardise winter sports and the Winter Olympics. In 2014, temperatures in Sochi reached 68 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the warmest winter games in history.

Olympic Biathlon Athlete, Cross Country Skiing. 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City. Photo Credit: Pixabay

Connect4Cllimate Sport4Climate Trailer

Overview of activities achieve under the Connect4Climate program, with a few Sport4Climate initiative highlights.

[video:https://vimeo.com/176512547]

100 athletes support #1o5C #Sport4Climate

[video: https://youtu.be/ri8bety-fX0]

#1o5C: during the #Rio2016 Olympics, more than 100 athletes come together to tell the world that 1.5°C is the record that we should not break. #Sport4Climate

The planet's climate thanks to these lovely athletes!

Find out more at 1o5c.org

Rio: the Olympics for Climate Action
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Athletes gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the opening ceremony of the greatest show on Earth, the Olympics, held in South America for the first time.

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Campaigning for climate action
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/Beatriz_Luz-Max_Edkins-Marina_Werneck-Candyce_Da_Cruz_Rocha-Martin_Raiser-crop.jpg" style="width: 1000px; height: 562px;" /><br />
<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Beatriz Luz, Exchange4Change Brasil, Max Edkins, Connect4Climate, World Bank Group, Sport4Climate Champion pro-surfer Marina Werneck, Candyce Da Cruz Rocha, World Bank and Martin Raiser, World Bnak Country Director.<br />
Photo Credit: GIP &ndash; Public Interest Management</em></span></p>

<p>Over two weeks athletes hoped to smash records, but only in the arena. Many <a href="http://climatechangenews.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6316d25f7b68…; target="_blank">lent their voices</a>&nbsp;to a campaign to limit global warming to 1.5C, the critical threshold for those on the front line of climate impacts. The <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/15c-record-we-must-not-break…; target="_blank">&ldquo;1.5C: The Record We Must Not Break&rdquo;</a> campaign is supported by the <strong>Sport4Climate</strong> initiative of the World Bank Group&rsquo;s Connect4Climate Program, and led by the <a href="http://www.thecvf.org/&quot; target="_blank">Climate Vulnerable Forum,</a> <a href="http://www.care.org/&quot; target="_blank">CARE</a>, <a href="http://www.climatenetwork.org/&quot; target="_blank">CAN International</a>,&nbsp;in partnership with <a href="http://www.undp.org/&quot; target="_blank">UNDP</a>, <a href="http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/&quot; target="_blank">The Stanley Foundation,</a> <a href="http://www.weareherenow.com/&quot; target="_blank">Here Now</a>, <a href="http://www.wave.earth/&quot; target="_blank">WAVE</a>, and <a href="http://www.gip.net.br/&quot; target="_blank">GIP &ndash; Gestão de Interesse Público</a>.</p>

<p>The campaign was officially launched on July 28 at the &ldquo;Climate Change: What does the Olympics have to do with it?&rdquo; symposium in Rio de Janeiro. Hosted by the Museu do Amanhã, with the Rio Olympics Organizing Committee Sustainability Unit and the Climate Observatory, the symposium featured engaging statements calling for ambitious climate action.&nbsp;<strong>Martin Raiser</strong>, World Bank Country Director for Brazil, emphasized the intimate link between ending poverty and tackling climate change during the opening panel: &ldquo;Our own research shows us that without concerted action, climate change could push 100 million more people into poverty by 2030.&rdquo;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We will not <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/endpoverty?src=hash">#endpoverty</a&gt; if we don&#39;t tackle <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/climatechange?src=hash">#climatechange</a&gt; - M. Raiser quotes <a href="https://twitter.com/JimYongKim">@JimYongKim</a&gt;, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/1o5C?src=hash">#1o5C</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sport4Climate?src=hash">#Sport4Climate</a&gt; event <a href="https://t.co/5wWMc6xUxT">pic.twitter.com/5wWMc6xUxT</a></p&gt;
&mdash; Max Thabiso Edkins (@maxthabiso) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxthabiso/status/758693232884772864">July 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Mr. Raiser&rsquo;s contribution was well received by the Brazilian Minister of Environment, <strong>José Sarney Filho</strong>, and other symposium participants. The Minister reiterated Brazil&rsquo;s commitment to sustainable development: &ldquo;We will transition with safety and determination to a low-carbon future that will not cost our economy&hellip;In our fight against climate change we have no choice but to win, let&rsquo;s be inspired by our athletes.&rdquo;</p>

<p>I joined the panel on the &ldquo;Paris Agreement, 1.5&deg;C to stay alive&rdquo; presenting the Sport4Climate initiative of the World Bank&rsquo;s climate change communication program, Connect4Climate. I emphasized the opportunity for young people to engage in the rapid transition to a low-carbon resilient future. Climate education is key for today&rsquo;s youth to implement and advance climate solutions, and communication helps build the social currency for strong political commitments.</p>

<p>The symposium presented the <a href="https://www.rio2016.com/sustentabilidade/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Rel…; target="_blank">decarbonizing plan for the Rio Olympics</a> and in closing the symposium our Sport4Climate Champion, pro-surfer <strong>Marina Werneck</strong>, launched the <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/15c-record-we-must-not-break…; target="_blank">&ldquo;1.5&deg;C: The Record We Must Not Break</a>&rdquo; campaign. From stage she encouraged all to &ldquo;ride the good wave,&rdquo; support ambitious climate action, and not break the global warming record beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ma_werneck">@ma_werneck</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sport4Climate?src=hash">#Sport4Climate</a&gt; champion: &quot;ride the good wave&quot; &amp; don&#39;t break the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/1o5C?src=hash">#1o5C</a&gt; target <a href="https://t.co/uRodYO2A4i">https://t.co/uRodYO2A4i</a&gt; <a href="https://t.co/k05EBiZgZN">pic.twitter.com/k05EBiZgZN</a></p&gt;
&mdash; Connect4Climate (@Connect4Climate) <a href="https://twitter.com/Connect4Climate/status/758779675153928193">July 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>In closing the <a href="https://youtu.be/aIzQvwj-D5Q&quot; target="_blank">campaign video</a>, which now has spread across the web, was unveiled: &ldquo;Humanity has always overcome its limits. Broken records.&nbsp;Because of Human activity the average temperature on Earth increased by 1&deg;C in the last century. If it increases by more than 1.5&deg;C some countries will be flooded, others will become sicker, hotter or drier. Is it right to steal the future of millions of people? 1.5 degrees is the record we must not break.&rdquo;</p>

<p>[video: https://youtu.be/aIzQvwj-D5Q]</p&gt;

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Stop breaking climate records
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<p>The location and timing for the climate message at the <strong>Rio Olympics</strong> is right. Brazil, with its natural beauty, abundant biodiversity and the importance of the Amazon in regulating climate change, can lead the charge on climate awareness.&nbsp;Historical events leading up to the games have&nbsp;certainly also set the stage.</p>

<p>In 2015 the world came together with the announcement of the <strong>Paris Climate Change Agreement</strong>. More than 170 countries then signed the agreement at the United Nations on Earth Day in April 2016, a record-setting signing event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>2015 was also a record year in terms of heat, sea level rise and extreme weather, as confirmed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/features/2015-state-climate-highl…; target="_blank">&ldquo;State of the Climate&rdquo; report</a>, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) with input from hundreds of scientists from 62 countries.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The impacts of climate change are no longer subtle,&rdquo; <strong>Michael Mann</strong>, a leading climatologist at Penn State,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/02/environment-climate…; target="_blank">told the Guardian</a>. &ldquo;They are playing out before us, in real time. The 2015 numbers drive that home.&rdquo;</p>

<p>While climate impacts are being felt around the world, the momentum for climate action is certainly there. With the Olympics calling for ambitious climate action, now is the time to solve this generation&rsquo;s crisis.</p>

<p>Athletes are showing their support for ambitious climate action.&nbsp;Competitors from the&nbsp;Marshall Islands, Afghanistan and South Sudan &ndash; countries on the front line of climate impacts &ndash; are leading the charge. Brazilian surfers, footballers and water polo players have also lent their voices. More than 100 athletes told the world that 1.5&deg;C is the record we must not break.</p>

<p>[video: https://youtu.be/ri8bety-fX0]</p&gt;

<p>Follow your sporting heroes in the climate movement with <strong>#Sport4Climate</strong> and <strong>#1o5C</strong> hashtags across social media.</p>

<p>Add your voice:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1o5c.org/&quot; target="_blank">www.1o5c.or</a></p&gt;

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Sport4Climate in the Media
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/climate_truth_s4c.PNG" style="font-size: 13.008px; line-height: 20.0063px; width: 400px; height: 424px;" /><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/twitter%20nexus.PNG" style="width: 400px; height: 316px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/GREENPEACE_S4C.PNG" style="font-size: 13.008px; line-height: 1.538em; width: 400px; height: 279px;" />&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/gef-S4C.PNG" style="width: 400px; height: 317px;" />&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/facebook_council.PNG" style="width: 400px; height: 380px;" />&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/facebook_green.PNG" style="width: 400px; height: 413px;" /></p>

1.5°C: The Record We Must Not Break

Humanity has always overcome its limits. Broken Records. Because of Human activity the average temperature on Earth increased by 1°C in the last century. If it increases by more than 1.5°C some countries will be flooded, others will become sicker, hotter or drier.

Is it right to steal the future of millions of people? 1.5 degrees is the record we must not break. Join the campaign: www.1o5c.org

#1o5C #Sport4Climate

1.5C: The Record We Must Not Break
By

Launched at the "Climate Change: What the Olympics have to do with that" symposium at 

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What can you do?
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<p style="text-align: center;">Raise your hand for the world:</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/raiseyourhand.PNG" style="width: 600px; height: 384px;" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Photo Credit: 1.5C Campaign.</em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Take a picture of 1.5&deg;C on your hand like in this photo.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Send a copy by email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:renee.miller@purpose.com">Renee</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:joao.talocchi@purpose.com">Joao</a>&nbsp;at Purpose to be uploaded at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1o5c.org/&quot; target="_blank">www.1o5c.org</a>.</p&gt;

<p style="text-align: center;">After July 28th post it on<strong>&nbsp;Twitter, Instagram &amp; Facebook</strong>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C&nbsp;and&nbsp;#Sport4Climate.</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Hold This Sign For The World:</p>

<p style="font-size: 13.008px; line-height: 20.0063px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/sign.PNG" style="width: 600px; height: 451px;" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Photo Credit: 1.5C Campaign</em></span></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Print the campaign file and take a photo holding this sign. Materials are available in 3 languages here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/err5s6p7kmke9qu/1.5C_A4_Type_English.jpg?dl=0… href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/xs4zktg2x30kh8q/1.5C_A4_Type_French.jpg?dl=0"… href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrbd1l1skyhqcqh/1.5C_A4_Type_Portuguese.jpg?d…;

<p style="text-align: center;">Send a copy to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:renee.miller@purpose.com">Renee</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:joao.talocchi@purpose.com">Joao</a>&nbsp;at Purpose to be uploaded at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1o5c.org/">www.1o5c.org</a>.</p&gt;

<p style="text-align: center;">Post it on&nbsp;<strong>Twitter, Instagram &amp; Facebook</strong>&nbsp;using the&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C and #Sport4Climate.</strong></p>

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

<p style="text-align: center;">Share your Video with the World:</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Record a 10&rsquo; &ndash; 30&rsquo; second video of yourself telling the world why you&rsquo;re standing up for climate change and why 1.5&deg;C is the record we must not break.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Send a copy to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:renee.miller@purpose.com">Renee</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:joao.talocchi@purpose.com">Joao</a>&nbsp;at Purpose to upload at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1o5c.org/">www.1o5c.org</a>.</p&gt;

<p style="text-align: center;">Post it on <strong>Twitter, Instagram &amp; Facebook</strong> using <strong>#1o5C and #Sport4Climate.</strong></p>

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Take Action!
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<p>Suggested Tweets &amp;&nbsp;Short Messages:</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>#Sport4Climate</strong>&nbsp;Competing for Gold. United for #ClimateAction.&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C</strong></li>
<li>The smallest temperature increase can make the biggest difference for some people&acute;s survival.&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C</strong></li>
<li>#ClimateChange affects all, the poor the most. Stay below&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C with #Sport4Climate</strong></li>
<li>Keeping&nbsp;#GlobalWarming&nbsp;below 1.5C keeps us in the race.<strong>&nbsp;#1o5C #Sport4Climate</strong></li>
<li>Raise the bar. Not the Sea Level.&nbsp;<strong>#1o5C</strong></li>
<li>#ClimateChange: I am doing my part to stay below <strong>#1o5C</strong>.<strong>&nbsp;#Sport4Climate</strong></li>
<li><strong>#Sport4Climate</strong>&nbsp;is United for Climate. Support a <strong>#1o5C </strong>target</li>
</ul>

<p>Download the&nbsp;<a href="http://connect4climate.org/publication/%E2%80%9815c-record-we-must-not-…; target="_blank">Info Pack</a>&nbsp;of the 1.5C: The Record We Must Not Break Campaign.</p>

Climate Change: What The Olympics have to do with it?

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Climate change and extreme weather events threaten the viability of much of global sport as it’s currently played, either in the back yard, at local grounds, or in professional tournaments.

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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