Millions connected to the All4TheGreen week supporting an ambitious G7 Environment outcome

The All4TheGreen week in Bologna featured more than 80 events under the auspice of the Italian G7 Presidency that connected the G7 Environment Meetings to a global audience from June 5 to 12. Coordinated by the Connect4Climate program of the World Bank Group, a coalition of businesses, NGOs, academia and local and regional authorities called for greater awareness of climate and environmental issues, declaring that they are all in support of the green transition to a low-carbon, resilient, and sustainable future.

 

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Italian Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti launched the All4TheGreen week of activities on World Environment Day, June 5, with a message to all: “The Paris Agreement should be implemented by all countries; it increases the economic competitiveness of these countries.” His interview on the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, set the scene for a week of bold environmental commitments and inspiring messages broadcast to a global audience. In the evening of June 5, an audience of thousands were dazzled by a moving performance by Enzo Bosso’s Concert for the Earth.

 

Throughout the week, Connect4Climate ran the SDG Media Zone with Pvblic Foundation and in partnership with the United Nations. Live interviews were streamed on Facebook and discussants were connected directly to the UN Ocean Conference in New York. Speakers included participants and organizers from all the events around the city, connecting Bologna to a digital audience, reaching most countries around the world.

 

 

On social media, the All4TheGreen hashtag reached over 120 million impressions with thousands of re-tweets on Twitter. More than a million people reached on Facebook through 70 live broadcasts on Connect4Climate’s page from the All4TheGreen SDG Media Zone.

 

Winners of the All4TheGreen photo contest were presented as one of many art exhibits throughout the city, which also saw a giant “atom sculpture” made of recycled cans, carbon-neutral textile designs, miniature sculptures, and exhibits of icebergs, amongst others.

 

 

 

The Blue Prize winner of the All4TheGreen contest, Probal Rashid from Bangladesh, who will travel to New York in September for the High-Level Panel on Water, was announced during a live dialogue with the SDG Media Zone in New York for the UN Ocean Conference.

 

 

With Earth Day Italia the Connect4Climate program hosted an Interfaith Dialogue on June 9 that resulted in a letter presented during the opening of the G7 Environment Ministers Meeting, calling for all leaders to increase ambition on climate action and environmental protection.

 

 

UC Scient Galilei won the High School Game (HSG) contest. This is the main educational event that takes place in high schools and in exclusive locations of many Italian provinces in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities, and the private sector. Since 2016, Connect4Climate took part into HSG competition with a specific line of quiz based on climate change issues.

In partnership with the Cineteca of Bologna, Connect4Climate featured a diverse selection of environmentally focused films such as Before the Flood and Racing Extinction to a seated audience of thousands throughout the week. The Piazza Maggiore was lit up by Europe’s biggest open-air cinema screen, which was completely powered by a solar array to the side of the Piazza.

 

 

 

Urban parks were also revived with tree-planting ceremonies and solar-powered electric car charging stations were inaugurated for use by the city.

 

 

"We have imagined this week of great mobilization in the city as a unique opportunity for common knowledge and awareness," explained Italian Environment Minister Galletti. Bologna was a showcase for environmental and climate solutions, the talk of the town was to go green, and these messages were heard loud and clear during the G7 Environment.

 

 

During the opening ceremony, children wearing the #All4TheGreen T-shirts presented the week of activities to the Ministers in attendance, and the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, presented the summary letter of the All4TheGreen Interfaith Dialogue. “As referred to in Pope Francis’s Laudato si', we need a bold commitment to take on climate change. Remember this is the future of our planet”, underlined Zuppi. 

 

 

The All4TheGreen week contributed to the strong outcome of the G7 Environment calling for increased sustainable financing “fundamental” to the achievement of sustainability and climate goals. The final statement also saw the G7 pledge continued action on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, resource efficiency, marine litter, green jobs, and climate change.

 

 

With deep historical roots in culture and academia, Bologna has shown the world what it means to be “all for the green” and leaders have taken note. Climate action and environmental protection have received a welcoming boost of green energy.