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UNFCCC and FIFA join forces to combat climate change
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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.”

 

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Another September to Remember for Climate Change?
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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.

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World Humanitarian Day: #Photo4Climate Finalist Photo of the Week
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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

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Peace and Sustainability Workshop UAE
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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.

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In loving memory of Donald Ranvaud
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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

Untitled

C4C Cruciani bracelet at Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF)

Donald Ranvaud chaired the iChange jury 2 - Max Edkins

© Max Edkins

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

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Green Day Venice: How is the film industry taking on climate change? #Film4Climate

Green Day Venice: How is the film industry taking on climate change? #Film4Climate

With William Bridge of Global Green

Donald Ranvaud & Kenny Young

Benja Fran Donald... 12 barracuda-99 barracuda-88 barracuda-40 IMG_7589

Iceland

Donald, we miss you.

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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

Maintaining the Momentum: A call to action on climate change
1.5°C: Le Record Qui Ne Doit Pas Être Battu

L'humanité a toujours surmonté ses limites et brisé des records. En raison de l'activité humaine, la température moyenne sur terre a augmenté de 1 degré Celsius au cours du siècle dernier. Si la température augmente de plus de 1,5 degré, certains pays seront inondés, d'autres deviendront plus malades, plus chauds, ou plus secs. 

Est-il juste de voler l'avenir de millions de personnes? 1,5 degré c'est le record qui ne doit pas être battu.

#1o5C #Sport4Climate

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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