GLOBAL CITIZEN LIVE CALLS FOR ACTION TO HALT CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOR WEALTHY COUNTRIES TO DELIVER ON $100B CLIMATE PLEDGE, $6B FOR FAMINE RELIEF, AND VACCINE JUSTICE

(New York, New York | September 25, 2021), International advocacy organization, Global Citizen kicked off a month-long countdown for the G20 to address the pandemic, hunger and climate challenges, ahead of the G20 and COP26 summits. The campaign saw 1.1 million  actions and over 70 new announcements thanks to the efforts of many hard working and dedicated partners. The 24 hour global broadcast and streaming event saw announcements aimed at driving equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, urgent action on climate change, and addressing the growing hunger crisis.

The campaign calls on world leaders, businesses and philanthropists to urgently commit resources to meet the $15-20 billion funding shortfall of the US$100 billion promised annually to the most vulnerable countries confronting climate change; businesses to help curb emissions through joining the Race to Zero and pledging 1 billion additional trees by 2022 in support of the 1t.org ambition to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees this decade; $6 billion to provide food to 41 million people facing famine; 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to be redistributed to low-income countries by the end of 2021; and for Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna to Share mRNA Technology with Africa. Throughout the campaign, more than US$1.1 billion, 157 million trees, and more 60 million COVID-19 vaccines were announced. 

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 
“Every single person on this planet has a fundamental right to get this vaccine. That’s the point – yet that’s not happening. While in this country (and many others) you can go almost anywhere and get vaccinated, billions around the world cannot. This year, the world is expected to produce enough doses to meet the target of vaccinating 70 percent of people in every single country. But it is wrong that so much of the vaccine supply has only gone to just 10 wealthy nations so far, and not everyone else.” - Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex

“We have what we need to vaccinate the world. But the experts told us, here’s what’s getting in the way: They said many countries are ready to produce vaccines at home. Yet they aren’t allowed to, because ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical companies are not sharing the recipes to make them. These countries have the means, ability, and the workers to start manufacturing. All they are waiting for is the vaccine intellectual property to be transferred over.” - Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex

World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley said: 
“SHAME on us. At the height of COVID, the billionaires’ average net worth increase per day was $5 Billion.  And, yet, I am begging to feed the poor! SHAME on us... If we do not act today, millions will starve, nations will destabilize and millions will migrate by necessity.  If we are struggling today with a population of over 7 billion, what do you expect will happen when there are over 10 billion people on earth by 2050. And, by 2050, due to climate change, we anticipate over 1 billion people to be displaced around the world!  Wake up NY. Wake up planet earth.”

Alok Sharma, COP26 President-Designate told the audience:
“Quite rightly, future generations will hold us responsible. So join me, and with one loud and united global voice, call on the biggest greenhouse gas emitters, the G20 group of nations, to make much bolder commitments to cut emissions. Call on the richest countries to make good on their promise of money, to support developing countries deal with the impacts of climate change. And call on world leaders to deliver an outcome at Glasgow we can all be proud of.”

Commitments announced through the course of the Global Citizen Live campaign toward defending the planet include: 

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS

• THE ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES (AOSIS) pledged to increase its renewable energy capacity among Small Island Developing States through 2030 up to 10 megawatts.
• BELGIUM pledges €6 million to CGIAR, a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security, and €10 million to Least Developed Country Fund. 
• GREEN CLIMATE FUND announced the acceleration of $1.2 billion dollars in funding to support emissions reductions and climate mitigation 
• NORWAY announced a major increase in their climate investments and launched the Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods, and Development (BOLD) fund, committing $58 million over 10 years.
• STATE OF AMAPÁ, BRAZIL committed to consolidate collective participation in the management of protected areas, to reach 0 % fossil fuel energy sources in public structures and isolated areas by 2050, transform 100,000 hectares of productive areas from agroforestry systems to a low-carbon production model, and support traditional populations and families in humid areas and urban spaces to minimize the effects of climate change. 
• STATE OF AMAZONAS, BRAZIL committed to create another preservation unit in its territory, implement management preservation plans, end illegal activities in state territories with indigenous populations, and achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
• STATE OF CEARÁ, BRAZIL announced another protected area in Ceará, to implement climate adaptation programs, and to achieve zero net emissions by 2050. 
• STATE OF PARÁ, BRAZIL committed to reduce its emissions to zero before 2050, increase the number of protected areas, solidify sustainable forest management and create strong state-wide climate mitigation and adaptation plans. 
• STATE OF PARAÍBA BRAZIL pledged to create an additional protected area with priority for the Caatinga biome, implement climate adaptation programs, and commit to zero emissions by 2050.
• STATE OF PIAUÍ BRAZIL pledged to create another protected area, implement climate adaptation programs, and commit to zero emissions by 2050.
• THE STATE OF HAWAI’I committed through 1t.org to protect, preserve, conserve, or grow 20 million trees by 2022 and 100 million trees by the year 2030.
• THE STATE OF WASHINGTON committed to reforesting 1 million acres and trees and conserving 1 million acres of working and natural forest lands by 2040 through 1T.org 
• THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA, announced that 43 cities in the state would be joining the Race to Zero.
• THE CITY OF PARIS, FRANCE pledged to making a greener and cooler Paris
• THE CITY OF ASKER KOMMUNE signed onto the Race to Zero.

PRIVATE SECTOR RACE TO ZERO COMMITMENTS 
Many of the world’s largest companies worked to develop verified science-based targets to reach net zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. Organizations that officially signed on to the Race to Zero through the Global Citizen Live campaign, include: 

• Akamai Technologies joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• American Express joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Boston Scientific Corporation joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Cisco joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Citi, a member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live.
• Delta Air Lines joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• DocuSign joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• IHG Hotels and Resorts joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Marriott International, Inc.  joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• P&G  joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Stanley Black & Decker has joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.
• Starbucks joined Race To Zero as part of Global Citizen Live by signing on to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Business Ambition for 1.5.

Existing Race to Zero members also worked to encourage peers and partners to sign on to the Race to Zero ahead of COP26. Those organizations include Amazon, Bayer AG, Boston Consulting Group, Capgemini, Dentsu International, DocuSign, HP Inc., Intuit, Lendlease, P&G, RELX, Salesforce, Schneider Electric, Uber, Unilever, Walmart, and Zurich Insurance Group.

COMMITMENTS MADE TOWARD SAVING TREES WITH 1T.ORG

• Aspiration pledged 25 million trees by the end of 2022
• Capgemini pledged 2 million trees by the end of 2022
• Salesforce pledged an additional 30 millions trees by the end of 2022

Commitments announced through the course of the Global Citizen Live campaign toward defeating poverty include: 

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS

• CROATIA pledged 200,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, primarily through COVAX.
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION announced €140 million towards CGIAR and €25 million to Education Cannot Wait. 
• FRANCE committed 60 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to be delivered by Q2 2022, in addition to reallocating 20% of their Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
• GERMANY pledged €50 million to Education Cannot Wait.  
• IRELAND pledged 1.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses primarily through COVAX.  
• IFAD announced $23.7 million in pledges from countries across the world, including: Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Angola, Lesotho, Kenya, Nepal, Tonga, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Solomon Islands, Guyana, Republic of Korea, Maldives, Morocco, and Uzbekistan. 
• LUXEMBOURG announced a €3.8 million commitment to UNFPA supplies. 
• THE NETHERLANDS committed to contribute an additional €25 million to the Act-Accelerator. The Netherlands also announced that they would continue their support for CGIAR, committing €75 million. 
• UNESCO announced they would scale up UNESCO’s work on gender-transformative education in 80 countries, as part of its COVID-19 response. 
• UNITED STATES pledged $295 million to stave off famine and extreme hunger, confront gender-based violence, and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

PHILANTHROPIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENTS

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and a Private Foundation launched a Challenge Fund of up to $50M to encourage other corporate and philanthropic donors to step up in closing the $100M funding gap for the UNFPA Supplies Partnership programme.
• The Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) made a $50M commitment to UNICEF that will fund projects focused on child nutrition.
• Duolingo committed in-kind contributions of up to 10K Duolingo Plus one-year subscriptions as well as 1K Duolingo English Test fee waivers in addition to a grant in the amount of $40K to IRC. 
• The ELMA Vaccines & Immunization Foundation launched a match commitment up to $1M for any donations received through the Mastercard Donation portal to support the World Health Organization Foundation on or before March 31, 2022. 
• Global Solidarity Fund supporters have committed $28 million to the Global Solidarity Fund to empower and provide for meals, vaccines, and job training for over 1 million migrants, refugees, and people in vulnerable situations, particularly women and girls, through the end of 2022.
• The LEGO Foundation made a historic $150 million commitment, including $70M to UNICEF to support access to vital vaccines and health supplies benefitting parents, teachers and caregivers in vulnerable communities around the world, and more than $12M to support UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait and the International Rescue Committee, to help the COVID-19 recovery and ensure children’s access to play-based learning opportunities.
• Mastercard committed $10M to the World Food Programme (WFP) to end hunger and to Conservation International (CI) to restore forests around the world. Mastercard is also matching donations up to $200k made through the Mastercard Donation Platform in support of Conservation International.
• Namati, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation collectively committed $20 million as seed funding to launch the Legal Empowerment Fund. and jump-start its 10-year effort to raise $100 million for the people-centered justice movement.
• Paris Peace Forum announced two events on health and climate
• PepsiCo committed $1M to the World Food Programme to help combat global food insecurity.
• ROTARY International committed $98M in grant funding during 2022
• Zendesk committed $264K in in-kind contributions in the form of technology software and consulting services to the International Rescue Committee to support expansion of a project into the United States and Afghanistan. 

Global Citizen Live was part of a once-in-a-generation day of unity across seven continents that will be broadcast over 24 hours around the world on Apple Music, Apple TV App, YouTube, and Twitter. Global Citizen Live will also air on ABC, ABC News Live, iHeartRadio, Hulu, The Roku Channel, FX and TIME in the United States, BBC in the United Kingdom, Caracol and Caracol International in Colombia, Channel 9 in Australia, MagentaTV and MagentaMusik 360 in Germany, Mediacorp in Singapore, Multichoice in Africa, Multishow & Bis in Brazil, S3 on SABC in South Africa, AIM Group in Nigeria, RTVE in Spain, Sky & TV8 in Italy, TF1/TMC in France and TV Azteca in México, VRT/Eén in Belgium, and Zee TV in India. 

Events and performances  from across the world included:

• NEW YORK CITY in Central Park (presented by Citi and Cisco) with Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes, and special guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste, Lang Lang and Skip Marley.
• PARIS at Champ de Mars with Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Doja Cat, Måneskin, and special guest performances by Angélique Kidjo, Charlie Puth, and Fatma Said.
• LOS ANGELES at The Greek Theatre (presented by Verizon) with Stevie Wonder, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., Migos, ONEREPUBLIC, Ozuna, The Lumineers, and 5 Seconds of Summer
• LONDON with Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue and Nile Rodgers and Chic
• LAGOS with Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Made Kuti
• RIO DE JANEIRO with Alok, Mart’nália, Criolo, Liniker, with special guests Tropkillaz, and Mosquito, in partnership with Rock In Rio
• SYDNEY with Delta Goodrem 
• MUMBAI,  hosted by Anil Kapoor, with Sadhguru, Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Arjun Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan, Janhvi Kapoor, KiaraAdvani, Riteish Deshmukh, Sara Ali Khan, Sonakshi Sinhawith, in partnership with Wizcraft. 
• Additional broadcast performances from across the world include: Andrea Bocelli from Tuscany, BTS from Seoul, Green Day from Los Angeles, Keith Urban, Ricky Martin from various locations in Las Vegas, Lorde and My Morning Jacket from various locations in New York City, Metallica from Louisville, Sho Madjozi and Muzi from Johannesburg and, in partnership with Sony Music Latin, Camilo from Madrid and Lali from Buenos Aires. Straight from the Amazon Rainforest,  the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil represented by Mapu of the Huni Kuin, Aldeia Mutum of the Yawanawas, and Owera (Kunumi MC) of the Guaranis join Alok in premiering a unique collaboration project showcasing indigenous culture.

Global Citizen Live is supported by a corporate coalition, including Global Partners: Accenture, Cisco, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Google, Live Nation, P&G, Salesforce, Verizon, and campaign partners Hilton, WW International, and World Wide Technology who will engage support from the private sector in driving new commitments toward the campaign’s policy objectives. Access Bank is a Global Citizen Live campaign partner in Nigeria. 

Campaign co-chairs include: Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO of Cisco; Jane Fraser, CEO of Citi; James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company; Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines; Lorraine Twohill, CMO of Google; Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation; Marc Pritchard, CBO of P&G; Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce; Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon; and Mindy Grossman, CEO of WW International. 

Executive Producers of the Global Citizen Live campaign include: Michele Anthony for UMG, Francine Katsoudas, Tina Kennedy, Eric Ortner, Guy Oseary, Michael Rapino for Live Nation, Brian N. Sheth, Wassim “Sal” Slaiby and Chris Stadler.

The program will be executive produced by Jane Y. Mun, with producing partners Deviants Media, Diversified Production Services, Done and Dusted Productions, Ken Ehrlich Productions, Live Nation, Livewire Pictures, TMPL Motion Pictures, and U-Live (a UMG Nigeria company).

Global Citizen is grateful for the support from incredible organizations advocating for impact, including: 1t.org, American Forests, The Asia Society, Ban Ki Moon Center, Center for Environmental Peacebuilding, Climate Neutral, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, Conservation International, COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, Education Cannot Wait, Fundación Azteca, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, Global Solidarity Fund, Green Climate Fund, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Rescue Committee, LISC, Namati, Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), One Acre Fund, Outright Action International, Paris Peace Forum, The Pathfinders, Re:Wild, Rotary International, Seadream Family Foundation, Sheth Sangreal Foundation, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), Slum2School Africa, South African Education Project, The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, The Global Fund (to Fight TB, AIDS, Malaria), UNICEF, UNICEF Australia, UNITAID, UNFPA, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), World Food Programme, World Health Organization, World Health Organization Foundation.

Global Citizen Live has received in-kind support from leading media companies, including: Adomni, AIM Group, Bandsintown, BellaNaija, BOO! Media, Branded Cities, Brut Media, Captivate, Clear Channel Outdoor, Curb Media, Digital Mobile Media, Evergreen Trading, Forbes, GSTV, Hi! Street Digital, iHeartRadio, Interstate Outdoor, Jack Agency, JCDecaux Australia, JCDecaux Nigeria, Mass Media, Maxx Media, Monumental Concepts & Displays, Newscentral TV, Nigeria Info, Ocean Outdoor, Outfront Media, Penske Media, Seen Media, Six Flags Theme Parks, The New York Times, Vanguard Media, Wazobia FM, and Wazobia Max TV.

For more information about Global Citizen Live, visit www.globalcitizen.org, and follow @glblctzn on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and YouTube.

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