Campaign

„Listen up, people!” – says the dinosaur to save humanity from extinction while delivering climate message

Business Spirit News reporting — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 16:15:20 +0000

„Listen up, people!” – says the dinosaur to save humanity from extinction while delivering climate message

Tags

Climate Change

Climate Action

Campaign

COP26

Topic

Climate Action

Climate Conference

United Nations

The UN's new short film features a dinosaur with global celebrities urging world leaders to take climate action.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is taking an unprecedented turn in the history of climate crisis communication by bringing a talking dinosaur to speak up at the United Nations’ headquarters, urging global leaders to scale up climate actions.

His main message ‘Don’t choose Extinction’ is part of the numerous efforts the UN is taking to make the upcoming COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow matter and force leaders to commit to more ambitious climate actions.

In their new ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign, a velociraptor, a figure well-known from the Jurassic Park Hollywood movie, bursts into the iconic UN General Assembly Hall, famous for history-making speeches by leaders from around the world.

The dinosaur starts delivering a speech to a shocked audience, filled with influential decision-makers and diplomats, telling that “it’s time humans stopped making excuses and started making changes” to address the climate crisis.

‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign by UN to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

“At least we had an asteroid. What’s your excuse?”

the dino continues with a warning, referring to the popular theory explaining the extinction of dinosaurs 70 million years ago.

Frankie, the speaking dinosaur, goes on to highlight how financial support for fossil fuels through subsidies is irrational in the face of a changing climate.

‘The film is fun and engaging, but the issues it speaks to could not be more serious,”

said Ulrika Modéer, Head of UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy.

UNDP research released as part of the campaign shows that the world spends an astounding US $423 billion annually to subsidise fossil fuels for consumers – oil, electricity generated by burning other fossil fuels, gas, and coal.

To put the amount into perspective, with this money, every person in the world could easily get the COVID-19 vaccinations or pay three times the annual amount needed to eradicate extreme global poverty.

Frankie, the dinosaur, is urging global leaders to scale up climate actions.

To better distribute the message, global celebrities are voicing the dinosaur in numerous languages, including actor Jack Black in the English version and other actors like Eiza González (Spanish), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Danish), and Aïssa Maïga (French).

This first-ever film to be made inside the UN General Assembly using computer-generated imagery (CGI) alongside the communication campaign hope to make it easier to understand the somewhat complex issue of Fossil Fuel Subsidies and climate emergency.

Modéer adds:

“The UN Secretary-General has called the climate crisis a ‘code red for humanity.’ We want the film to entertain, but we also want to raise awareness of just how critical the situation is. The world must step up on climate action if we are to succeed in keeping our planet safe for future generations.”

The public is invited to take action as well, and the campaign aims to educate people while giving them the chance to make their voices heard.

While we are facing devastating climate predictions, the ‘Don’t Choose Extinction” campaign emphasises that this is not inevitable.

If we join forces, we still have a shot at limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and avoiding a catastrophic scenario.

Creating the short film and bringing Frankie, the dinosaur, alive is an example of how collaboration can raise awareness about the climate crisis and inspire change.

The production involved Activista Los Angeles (a multiple-award-winning creative agency), David Litt (US President Barack Obama’s speechwriter) and Framestore (the creative studio behind James Bond, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers End Game).

The digital ecosystem that empowers people to take action as part of the campaign was built by Wunderman Thompson.

In addition, Mindpool produced a collective intelligence engagement tool for the online platform.

The PVBLIC Foundation, an innovative non-profit organisation, provides strategic communications and media support for the campaign.

Background style

Light

Sponsored?

October 2021

Irish charity and community sector calls for action in pandemic recovery

Business Spirit News reporting — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:17:38 +0000

Irish charity and community sector calls for action in pandemic recovery

Tags

Topic

A public awareness campaign was launched to promote the value and impact of the charity and community sector in Ireland.

Charities and community groups in Ireland have come together to launch the We Act national campaign to put community recovery in the spotlight for the Covid-19 aftermath and promote the value and impact of this sector nationwide.

The public awareness campaign was launched on 27th October, revealing the results of a survey conducted in March 2021 amongst 1000 people aiming to gain insights on the perceptions, experience and understanding of the charity and community sector.

“The Covid-19 crisis brought a renewed public focus on the work of our sector. From support lines for older people to laptops for children in emergency accommodation, when we saw a need in our communities, we responded to it.

The pandemic demonstrated that – in times of real need – charities and community groups are at the forefront of our national response,”

said Sarah Monaghan, We Act spokesperson and Campaigns Manager at The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises.

Launch of the We Act campaign in Ireland to promote the value and impact of the charity and community sector. Image: Naoise Culhane

There are 34,000 organisations in this sector, employing almost 165,000 people and further 1 million volunteers.

Considering the sector's weight, organisers hope to bridge the gap between some of the views raised in the research and create awareness of the value and impact of charities and community groups in Ireland.

Some of the key findings of the public survey:

70% of people believe the lives of people in their communities would be impacted if charities disappeared overnight. Still, just 8% believe they interacted with a charity or community group in the past year.
62% think charities are more likely to be responsive in their services than the public sector, but only 54% think the staff in the charity sector should be paid similarly to those in the public sector.
70% believe an organisation dealing with homelessness is a charity, while only 8% think an arts organisation is a charity. In reality, both can be charities.
Over 40% believe those who serve on charity boards are paid a salary. But, in fact, charity board members are unpaid volunteers, and the Charities Regulator stipulates explicitly that board members cannot accept a salary for their role.

The report also found that the public very highly trusts charities and community groups as they were the third most trusted institution in Ireland after schools and An Garda Síochána.

While 73% of the public trust charities and community groups in general, this drops to just 60% for large organisations compared to 78% for small organisations.

The We Act campaign will run over the next three years. Image: Naoise Culhane

Monaghan adds to the survey results: “We saw a shift in values towards equality, justice and supports for the most vulnerable in our communities and across the globe. Now, there needs to be a concentrated effort to ensure the innovation, goodwill and community cohesion continues as we recover from the pandemic.”

The We Act campaign will run over the next three years to address the challenges uncovered in the research.

The main focus in these years will be to support the growth of vibrant and sustainable community life and strengthen the charity and community sector while encouraging more members of the public to engage and participate by volunteering, working, and donating.

The campaign is funded through a grant from RTÉ Does Comic Relief that is distributed by The Community Foundation for Ireland.

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland, said, “The Community Foundation for Ireland works with and supports more than 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable organisations.

There are a million stories of the positive impact they have on families, homes and individuals across Ireland, often out of public view.

We want to see more people working and staying in the sector, more people volunteering and engaging at a community level, more people knowing what services are out there should they need them, and more people feeling part of something positive and bigger than themselves.”

A coalition of charities and community groups, led by Boardmatch, Charities Institute Ireland, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Dóchas, The Wheel and Volunteer Ireland, manages the We Act campaign.

Headline image: Naoise Culhane, Photographer

Background style

Light

Sponsored?

October 2021

German climate activist cycles 6,000 km to reduce carbon emission and mobilise people

Business Spirit News reporting — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:19:03 +0000

German climate activist cycles 6,000 km to reduce carbon emission and mobilise people

Tags

Topic

Summer cycling tour will be visiting 200 cities in Germany over 100 days to save tonnes of carbon emission.

The initiator of the climate activist campaign ‘The Climate Bet’, Dr. Michael Bilharz, is set out to cycle 100 days and cover 6,000 km across Germany this summer to engage people in climate protection.

The cycling tour takes place between June 23rd and October 3rd, visiting 200 cities with an emblematic cargo bike.

Organisers aim to use the element of fun to show that everyone can contribute to climate protection and save the next ton of CO2.

"When working for climate protection, a lot of frustration can accumulate.

That's why fun should not be neglected.

Sport is exhausting but also fun and healthy.

Climate protection is less exhausting than we think, extremely healthy because it safeguards life and can be fun.

The Climate Bet summer cycling tour brings it all together,“ says Michael Bilharz, leader of the campaign.

Dr. Michael Bilharz, leader of The Cimate Bet activist campaign

The campaign aims to demonstrate that citizens do not only demand global responsibility for improved climate protection but are also willing to act.

Their goal is to bring the voices of 1 million people and their 1 million tons of saved CO2 to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021.

Bilharz adds: "That's 1.5 per cent of the German population - it can be done, and it would be an impressive sign for climate protection.

To do this, we show what possibilities everyone has to save the next ton of CO2 quickly and effectively."

The Climate Bet is the most extensive activation and participation campaign of its type for better climate action initiated by the German association '3 fürs Klima e.V.'.

Citizens are encouraged to get involved with the summer tour by cycling alongside the Climate Bet team, participating in talks in their own city, and spreading the word about the campaign.

German cities are called to join The Climate Bet campaign to save carbon emission; Image: The Climate Bet

Organisers are also calling on all 200 cities they visit to launch their dedicated municipal Climate Bet actions.

They can mobilise their inhabitants and save tons of CO2 in their climate bet.

Cities such as Aachen, Haan, Potsdam and Backnang have already joined and started to promote climate protection actions as part of their commitment.

People can get involved in two easy ways to show their support by choosing to log their own carbon emission savings on the campaign’s website or donate the equivalent of one tonne CO2 offsetting to certified carbon projects.

The website also offers users options to learn more about how to reduce carbon emission in their everyday life in a playful way, using CO2 avatars.

"Just save the next ton of CO2 and stop resting on the sofa of all the ‘buts’. That's what the climate bet is all about,“

Dr. Michael Bilharz pointed out the importance of personal involvement.

The Climate Bet campaign was initiated by the association "3 fürs Klima", which motivates and supports people to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement target’s on an individual level today.

The members of the association commit themselves to a climate-neutral life and implement this goal with the 'Triad for the Climate': Reduce one's own carbon footprint, compensate for the rest and finally take others with them on the path to a climate-neutral society in order to increase one's personal handprint.

The patron of the campaign is Prof. Dirk Messner, President of the German Federal Environmental Agency.

Background style

Light

Sponsored?

June 2021

Petition to end corporate greenwashing calls leaders to take action

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:11:19 +0000

Petition to end corporate greenwashing calls leaders to take action

Tags

Topic

The Europe-wide ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign aims to end corporate greenwashing and boost carbon accountability.

As the world recalibrates towards sustainability after the setbacks of the pandemic, this year could well be our last chance to keep the 1.5℃ global warming limit within our future reach.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said earlier this year that „2021 is a make-or-break year to confront the global climate emergency”.

Despite a drop in emissions of around 5%, 2020 was not enough to reverse the trend in carbon emissions.

However, more and more companies pledge to reduce their carbon emission, the transparency on the actual measurement remains unregulated, leaving enough room for greenwashing and misleading.

‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign aims to end corporate greenwashing; Image: Plan A

The Europe-wide ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign is launched by Berlin-based green tech startup, Plan A, aiming to start a movement to end corporate greenwashing.

Joined by industry partners, organisers of this activist campaign call on the EU to introduce universal binding transparency standards for corporate carbon emissions accounting in European companies.

That would basically mean that once a company claims to be "carbon neutral" should be legally required to disclose its carbon footprint to the public.

Beyond this specific action, the campaign's goal is to educate businesses and spark new conversations between professionals on what sustainability means in 2021.

The first step of the campaign is a petition launched on the change.org website to collect as many signatures as possible, with an initial target of reaching 1000 signatures.

The petition will then be submitted to the European Commission with a call to action for policymakers and regulators to introduce legal measures in the fight against corporate greenwashing.

“For policymakers, we believe this petition can provide a catalyst for further regulations on transparency and definitions of true sustainable practices for corporate entities.

The drafting of European and national regulations on climate action offers the best possible opportunity to seize the moment,”

explains Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, why they decided to start a petition as part of the ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign.

Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, lead organiser of the ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign

It has become virtually impossible to distinguish between companies that take impactful steps to reduce and avoid CO2 and those that only claim to act sustainably without transparently reporting any actions and results.

Thus, greenwashing distorts the reality that the majority of EU businesses have not actually reported on their carbon reduction targets.

In parallel, there is a growing concern that greenwashing undermines the credibility of those companies that are driving actual change.

"The longer there is space for sustainability claims to be overstated, the longer greenwashing can exist and hinder real change.

By reporting transparently, thoroughly and credibly to the public about their emissions, companies can learn about themselves and from each other.

They will also acknowledge that there is no quick fix for sustainable carbon reduction, but that it is a journey that requires commitment and a sense of responsibility”, says Jordanova.

The campaign is calling leaders to sign the petition to end greenwashing

Greenwashing runs deeper than statements about carbon neutrality and generates confusion in determining whether a company is taking tangible steps towards sustainability or not.

This results in hesitation and represents a significant obstacle for companies wishing to start their sustainability journey.

This moment is a chance to help businesses identify the different forms of greenwashing and find viable steps to combat them.

Since its launch in 2017, Plan A, the main organiser of this campaign, has helped businesses steer away from greenwashing with a software that follows a scientific approach to carbon reduction and creates transparency on corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

The campaign is supported by well-recognised companies such as ecolytiq, Green City Solutions, Onomotion, Joblift and Coya.

Background style

Light

Sponsored?

April 2021