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United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) backs action on Climate Change

From UNICEF

UNICEF’s increasing involvement in climate change. Other UN groups have worked on this for decades, but the connection with children is a new approach.

Thanks to all the excellent work by Country Offices, #ClimateChain has gathered hundreds of powerful images of children standing boldly in front of the environment they want to protect.  #ClimateChain was launched on World Water Day; that week, UNICEF received 236 million potential impressions on social media.

We now leverage this effort for this week’s historic signing of the Paris Climate Agreement at the UN.  On Friday, 22 April, world leaders are to convene at the General Assembly Hall to sign the environmental accord – a record 197 countries pledging their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and start adapting for the effects of climate change.

UNICEF is working to make sure children are front and center of this occasion.

As the leaders gather, they will be greeted by children forming a live Climate Chain, with screens showing images of children around the world forming the Climate Chain. 

Getrude Clement, a UNICEF Digital Youth Mapper, will speak during the opening ceremony, sharing her experience in Tanzania and urging the leaders to uphold their commitments.

After the final speaker, 197 children will flood the aisles of the GA Hall in a key moment to make a powerful statement about climate action.  Wearing T-shirts which say “your promise, our future,” the children will reach their arms out in a Climate Chain, as images of children from around the world in a virtual chain are also shown on screens.

We invite you to post your photos and join the Climate Chain this week, before Friday.

• Join Climate Chain: https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/stand-with-us-join-the-climatechain/
• Facts about children and climate change: https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/5-facts-on-water-and-climate-change/ and https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/why-climate-change-matters-for-children/
• More on the Paris Agreement: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2016/04/parisagreementsingatures/
• UNICEF’s latest Report on Climate Change: Unless We Act Now: The Impact of Climate Change on Childrenhttp://www.unicef.org/publications/index_86337.html

April 20, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general