Acting on Climate Change: Locally and Globally

What: With the United Nations climate conference—COP21 less than two weeks away, representatives from the Hip Hop Caucus, the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Foundation will brief journalists on how climate change affects our communities both locally and globally, and the importance of an integrated and collective effort to ensure strong climate action.

Why: The effects of climate change are apparent in U.S. communities as well as those around the world, yet the climate conversations often occur in vacuums. In addition, because changes in climate disproportionately affect marginalized communities their engagement in the conversation is curucial. Meaningful progress to address climate change will require a global and diverse group of actors who connect global and local thinking with action.

Who: Reverend Lennox Yearwood, President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus

 Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility

 Reid Detchon, Vice President for Energy and Climate, United Nations Foundation

 Esther Agbarakwe , Digital story-teller and Nigeria +SocialGood Advisor

When: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

Where: Local dial in information available upon RSVP

RSVP: Space is limited. Please RSVP to rwane@unfoundation.org by 7:00 p.m. ET on Monday, November 23, 2015.

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About the Hip Hop Caucus
The Hip Hop Caucus is a national non-profit and non-partisan organization that connects the Hip Hop community to the civic process to build power and create positive change. The Peoples Climate Music “Act On Climate” campaign, is an initiative developed by the Hip Hop Caucus in partnership with Earth Justice, The National Resource Defense Council, The Sierra Club, The Solutions Project, 350.org and The League of Conservation voters. This campaign’s goal is to educate and empower those in underserved, low-income communities about how climate change affects their communities. Pollution and changes in climate are disproportionately impacting people of color in low-income, communities with higher risks of respiratory disease, higher prevalence of asthma and other heart-related issues. Also, pollution and resulting climate change contribute to extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, heat waves and droughts. Learn more at http://www.hiphopcaucus.org/

About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided $14.5 billion in grants and mobilized $75.4 billion in additional financing for almost 4,000 projects. The GEF has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector to address global environmental issues. www.thegef.org