August 12, 2017

Connect4Climate

Deadline extended until the end of COP23. Therefore, entries must be made by November 18th, 2017.

Join the call for unity in the lead up to and through COP23. We are uniting for climate action. Share your stories, events and messages with #Uniting4Climate.

Overview

World Bank’s Global Partnership Program, Connect4Climate is joining the Government of the Republic of Fiji’s incoming Presidency of COP23 in collaboration with Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Italy’s Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea and other partners to present the #Uniting4Climate communications campaign. The campaign is meant to highlight unity in support of climate solutions; countries, cities, regions, businesses, civil society and individuals are “Uniting for Climate Action.”

In the lead up and during COP 23 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) partners will share messages, host events and showcase climate solutions under the #Uniting4Climate hashtag.

The communications campaign could include solutions to rising oceans and managing vulnerability, the opportunities in climate action, and how low-carbon resilient economies are being built through united actions. Partners are encouraged to share their climate actions and solutions in the lead up to COP23, promote events and activities around COP23, and emphasize the unity in climate action coming out of COP23 towards building a low-carbon resilient future.

Further, Faster, Together - Uniting4Climate - COP23

Uniting4Climate Panel at UNGA72 in New York

Connect4Climate partnered on the SDG Media Zone at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which was active from September 18-22, 2017. Connect4Climate supported with speakers, communication coverage, moderation, and also offered a climate-themed day on September 21, 2017.

VR/360-Video Competition

The Uniting4Climate International VR Pitch Competition asks for a pitch – a proposal for a VR production in the form of a 400-word description and a 1 minute sample video – that will use the particular qualities of VR to illustrate and explain to best effect climate solutions and action, inspiring the unity behind solving the climate challenge. The aim is to enable the widest possible international participation for creative people with a passionate interest in, or strong experience of, climate change action and solutions, but also an appetite for exploring the VR production experience.

The submissions should describe simple, but ingenious ideas that will enable relatively low-cost VR production with the focus primarily on the subject matter rather than the technique. The potential cost vis-à-vis the creativity envisaged will be taken into account in the judging process.

The #Uniting4Climate competition was presented at the Venice Film Festival during the panel discussion “Enhanced Proximity or Alienation? The Societal Effects of Virtual Reality” co-organized with the Venice Production Bridge and the European Commission DG Connect in the context of the European Film Forum as part of the daylong event “Virtual Gets Real.”

People watching videos at the VR Island at Venice Film Festival. Photo Credits: Francis James Dobbs/Connect4Climate

People watching videos at the VR Island at the Venice Film Festival. Photo Credits: Francis James Dobbs/Connect4Climate

Read more about the announcement of the #Uniting4Climate competition at the Venice Film Festival: https://www.connect4climate.org/article/press-release-uniting4climate-virtual-reality-pitch-competition-climate-solutions-presented

Participate

Your browser will redirect you to the #Uniting4Climate website in where you can upload your standard 'video pitch' and concept description

Background

This year, Fiji assumes the Presidency of COP 23 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) determined to maintain the momentum of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the concerted effort to reduce carbon emissions and lower the global temperature - becoming the first Small Island Developing State to assume the Presidency.

Format

The #Uniting4Climate communications campaign invites all partners and all audiences to share their climate change experiences online with the hashtag #Uniting4Climate. It supports the COP23 communications and outcomes by fostering a sense of unity in addressing the climate challenge.

Prizes

Philanthropist Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions is the exclusive production partner of the competition, and will produce the VR video of the winning concept. Vulcan Productions previously partnered with the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program to produce the spectacular large-scale architectural projection and public art display of images of climate change on St. Peter’s Basilica, which was seen by an audience of several billion people, and also served as the presenting partner of the recent Film4Climate video competition, which last year attracted more than 860 entries from 150 countries.

Winning entries will also receive special recognition at relevant Connect4Climate events, and be prominently featured and promoted through the social media channels of Connect4Climate and Partners.

Special Prizes

Other special prizes or Highly Commended Acknowledgements may be awarded depending on the submissions received and the opinions of the jury.

Winners

The Judging Panel will select the winner or winners (individuals or teams of up to 5) based on the following equally weighted criteria:

(1) Content

(2) Innovation and originality

(3) Overall impact of the project

In the event of a tie for the main prize, the winner will be selected based on the criteria described in (1), then (2), and (3). If there is still a tie, the winner will be selected based on the vote by the Judging Panel President.

The winning entry or entries will also receive special recognition at relevant Connect4Climate events, and be prominently featured and promoted through the social media channels of Connect4Climate and Partners.

Deadline

Deadline extended until the end of COP23. Entries must be made by November 18th, 2017. For full competition rules and eligibility requirements, please visit: uniting4climate.net

Jury

The winners of the #Uniting4Climate competition will be selected by a distinguished jury of preeminent directors, artists, activists and political leaders:

Louie Psihoyos

Louie Psihoyos, Director (The Cove, Racing Extinction)

Gian Luca Galletti

Gian Luca Galletti, Italy’s Minister for the Environment, Land and Sea

Kristalina Georgieva

Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer, The World Bank

Bianca Jagger

Bianca Jagger, Founder, President and Chief Executive of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation

Susan Rockefeller

Susan Rockefeller, Conservationist, Film Maker, Founder, Musings

Carole Tomko

Carole Tomko, General Manager and Creative Director of Vulcan Productions

Inia Seruiratu

Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture, Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management and COP23 High-Level Climate Champion

Gabo Arora