EarthAction

Deadline to submit nominations for the Children’s Peace Prize extended!

We would like to thank everyone who has nominated an outstanding child for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2020! We greatly appreciate your time and effort taken to submit the nominations.

After receiving several requests, we are extending the nomination period with one week until March 15th of 2020. 

Fighting for Children's Rights
The International Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child, whose courageous or otherwise extraordinary efforts have made an impact on behalf of the Rights of the Child.

Do you know a child in with a drive, passion and a history in standing up against violations to children's rights? Nominate him or her now via our website! 

Winning the Prize
The winner of the International Children's Peace Prize is offered a global platform to promote his or her ideals and future works, reaching and helping children worldwide. The winner receives a study-grant and the Nkosi statue. 

Recent Significant Climate Change Events

Global Spotlight Report #24 we asked Climate Scorecard Country Managers to report on significant climate change events in their countries that occurred from October 2019 – January 2020.

READ THE REPORT

Around the world many countries struggled to cope with extreme weather events. Brazil and Australia battled forest fires that burned large acreage in the Amazon, killed more than a billion animals, and pushed many species to the brink of extinction in Australia. India and South Korea battled “fine dust” and intense air pollution. Japan was hit by two powerful typhoons. Delta regions in Nigeria were harmed by widespread floods.

 

2020 will go a long way to determining the ability of countries around the world to work together to meet the challenges of climate change. View the latest report for detailed Country Activity Reports and Action Alert Messages.

2020 COUNTRY CLIMATECOMMITMENTS

View monthly updates of the short and long-term climate goals of leading greenhouse emissions countries. Learn More

 

DONATE TODAY!

Every donation helps our work.

Our global, grassroots organization relies on the support of other committed individuals. Learn More

 

Read more at www.climatescorecard.org

You Moved Chase!

I'm going to cut to the chase: Today, JPMorgan Chase announced a fossil fuel policy that rules out funding for coal plants, and for oil and gas projects in the Arctic. This is a major step forward in our efforts to get the finance sector to make the changes we need to heal the climate and protect communities around the world.
 
That’s why we’re celebrating today, Lois. Because you did it!! After two years of showing up in every way, you moved the #1 banker of fossil fuels in the world.

I'm going to give you a minute to let that sink in, maybe dance around a little bit, and let out a majorly deserved “YES!” Because this is monumental.

But this campaign is far from over: it’s a major milestone for Chase to end funding of coal and Arctic oil and gas projects, but we need them to go even further. Chase must immediately stop financing tar sands mines and pipelines, and stop financing any companies that are building new fossil fuel infrastructure. 

The great news is that you’ve already proven you can move the world’s #1 banker of fossil fuels! So let’s get the promise we really want: let’s convince Chase to defund all fossil fuels!

Tell Chase to do more!

Your dedication to people and planet has been incredible. You’ve showed up at Chase branches and shut them down, emailed executives urging them to act for the climate, called Jamie Dimon to tell him how disappointed you are, and you never let up.

Everyone at RAN wants to thank you for dedicating yourself to demanding Chase defund climate change. But we can’t let up now, Lois. We have Chase right where we want them, and they need to go further to undo the damage they’ve done.
 
Chase has for decades financed fossil fuel companies that have violated Indigenous rights, destroyed rainforests, endangered species, and wreaked havoc on the climate. It now needs to respond to the climate crisis on a scale equal to the damage it has done.

Business as usual isn’t an option anymore and Chase knows it, YOU made sure of that. In the months to come, we need you out there with us, telling Chase that their work isn’t done yet.
 
Take this moment to celebrate, Lois, you got to them and your message was loud and clear. Get ready to move them even more because Chase needs to defund climate change completely, and with your help, it will happen.
 
For people and planet,

Paddy McCully, Climate and Energy Program Director, Rainforest Action Network. Read more here

Climate Scorecard Global Spotlight: National Climate Leaders of 2019

Climate Scorecard is pleased to announce our first annual National Climate Leader

Awards. These awards go to the men and women in leading greenhouse emitting countries

who are making a difference in the climate policies of their countries and the world. They

include wizened scholars, researchers, political leaders, and young climate change

activists. They are applauded for the work they are doing to prevent the catastrophe that

will occur if global warming goes unchecked.

 

Those on Climate Scorecard’s National Climate Leader Awards List were nominated by a

Climate Scorecard Country Manager in each of the 22 greenhouse gas emitting countries

that we cover. Our Country Managers tracked climate related events in their countries

over the past year and are well positioned to propose candidates for our list.

 

Read & download the full report here

 

 

Updates from Treaty Compliance Campaign

In the 01/02/2020 edition:

• Rep Ro Khanna Signs ICAN Pledge
• Business Aligns with Nuclear Ban Treaty

Rep Ro Khanna Signs ICAN Pledge

By Arbor Dahlin on Dec 30, 2019 01:45 pm

Nuclear Ban’s Timmon Wallis shows US Representative Ro Khanna his new report, “Warheads to Windmills,” during Khanna’s visit to Northampton, Massachusetts in October. Photo by Vicki Elson.

On October 24th, Representative Ro Khanna became the ninth current member of Congress to sign the ICAN Parliamentary/Legislative Pledge. Khanna was invited by Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern to speak in Northampton, and, when approached by Tim Wallis and Vicki Elson of Nuclear Ban at their meeting, he agreed on the spot to sign the pledge.

Ro Khanna represents California’s 17th congressional district and is first vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. CPC co-chairs Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Pramila Jayapal have also signed the pledge. Members of the Progressive Caucus heard ICAN’s Executive Director Beatrice Fihn speak about the nuclear ban treaty at a CPC meeting in April of this year. Since then, supporters around the country have been urging all 98 members of the caucus to sign the pledge.

Rep. Khanna is one of six members of the House of Representatives and ten members of Congress who do not accept donations from PACs or corporations. He was one of the few US Representatives to endorse Bernie Sanders for president in 2016, and early this year was named co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 campaign.

About the ICAN Pledge and the UN Treaty

Over 1300 parliamentarians and congresspeople in 32 countries, 25 of which have yet to sign and ratify the treaty, have now signed the pledge, which was created by ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, to commit elected representatives around the world to work towards the signature and ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty was adopted by 122 countries at the UN in July, 2017, and in October, 2017, ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize for the treaty, which calls for the first comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons under international law. So far, 80 countries have signed the treaty and 34 have ratified it, with another 18 ratifications underway.

The post Rep Ro Khanna Signs ICAN Pledge appeared first on Treaty Compliance Campaign.

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Business Aligns with Nuclear Ban Treaty

By Tim Wallis on Dec 27, 2019 01:41 pm

Andrew Larkin of NCFF presents certificate to River Valley Market General Manager Rochelle Prunty/ Photo by River Valley Market

 

At the annual meeting of Northampton, Massachusetts food cooperative River Valley Market on December 6th, over 100 member-owners were present to hear management’s decision to align with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Andrew Larkin, of Nuclear and Carbon Free Future (NCFF), presented a certificate of treaty alignment to the store’s General Manager.

To align with the treaty, the market implemented a new 401(k) retirement plan with more socially responsible investment options, which included screening out 26 nuclear weapons companies.

General Manager Rochelle Prunty said she hopes that River Valley will set an example of nuclear weapons divestment for other businesses in the area and for food co-ops around the country. River Valley joins several other businesses in the Northampton area who have declared themselves aligned with the treaty, including Herrell’s Ice Cream, Broadside Bookshop, Cornucopia, Glimpse of Tibet, Acadia Herbals, and Paradise Copies.

The text of the certificate is below.

River Valley Market does not hold investments in or make purchases from any nuclear weapons companies, and urges nuclear weapons companies to convert their resources to green technologies that address climate change, and is therefore in compliance with Article 1(e) of the Treaty.

The post Business Aligns with Nuclear Ban Treaty appeared first on Treaty Compliance Campaign.

Read more here

The State of the World's Children 2019: Children, Food and Nutrition

Poor diets are leading to alarming levels of child malnutrition worldwide, with millions of children who are stunted, overweight or lacking essential vitamins and nutrients. Overall, one-third of children under 5 aren’t growing well because they aren’t eating well. 

UNICEF’s latest report, The State of the World’s Children 2019: Children, food and nutrition: Growing well in a changing world, examines the issue of children, food and nutrition and provides a fresh perspective on this rapidly evolving challenge.

Read the report

Fast Facts

• 149 million children are stunted, or too short for their age
• 50 million children are wasted, or too thin for their height
• 340 million children – or 1 in 2 – suffer from deficiencies in essential vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin A and iron
• 40 million children are overweight or obese

At the centre of this profound triple burden of malnutrition – undernutrition, hidden hunger and overweight – is a broken food system that fails to provide children with the diets they need to grow healthily. 

In addition to new data and analyses of malnutrition in the 21st century, the report outlines recommendations to put children’s rights at the heart of food systems. 

Please share this report with your organizations and networks.

Exploe the special featureUNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives.
To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. And we never give up.
UNICEF, for every child.Donate now

Move the money from nuclear weapons to climate protection and SDGs

In less than 10 days, we will start counting out $1 trillion, the nuclear weapons budget for the next 10 years. We will 'reallocate this to climate protection and the sustainable development goals.'

The main counting will be in New York with satellite countings also in London, New Mexico, Philadelphia and Wellington.

This event will highlight the Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaign and actionspeople can take to cut nuclear weapons budgets, end investments in nuclear weapons corporations and re-direct these budgets and investments to better things.

The campaign is building excitement amongst legislators, religious leaders, peace and disarmament campaigners, climate activists, artists, musicians, athletes, youth and others. Below are inspring words from a few supporters of the campaign. This update we feature:

• Cora Weiss (USA), UN Representative for International Peace Bureau, Co-organiser of the 1 million person anti-nuclear rally in Central Park NY 1982;
  
• Erika Simpson (Canada), President of the Canadian Peace Research Association;
  
  
• Bruno B. Vallelunga (Canada), Song-writer including 'Who will stop the Nuclear Clock?' (IglooSongs2018, Click here for Spotify version);
  
• Nicole Ponce (Philippines), Core team member of the I am Climate Justice movement;
  
  
• Anwarul K. Chowdhury (Bangladesh/USA), Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace;
  
  
• Mridul Upadhyay (India), Co-founder of Youth for Peace International, Asia Coordinator of UNOY Peacebuilders;
  
• Natasha Shokri (Malaysia/Iran), UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassador;
  
• David C. Hall (USA), Past-President of Physicians for Social Responsibility;
  
• Ravinder Kaur Nijjar (UK), Chair Religions for Peace UK Women of Faith Network, Former Co-Chair Religions for Peace European Women of Faith Network;
  
• Earl Turcotte (Canada), Chair of Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons;
  
• Shazia Rafi (Pakistan/USA), Convener AirQualityAsia, Former Secretary-General of Parliamentarians for Global Action.
  

The Cost of Climate Change

For Global Spotlight Report #18, Climate Scorecard asked our Country Managers to provide information on how climate change is impacting the most vulnerable population groups in the leading greenhouse gas emitting countries that we cover.

Read the Report

Extreme weather events, such as soaring temperatures, droughts, floods, and forest fires are the cause of much climate-related suffering among the vulnerable. From a health perspective, those most affected include the very young, the disables, and the elderly. The Climate Scorecard Country Reports paint a sobering picture of the impact of climate change on those most vulnerable in countries around the world.

Climate change is real and what governments do matters.

2020 Emission Reduction Campaign

Our Campaign is directed at getting governments to set new urgently needed short-term and long-term emission reduction targets. Learn More

Donate Today!
Every donation helps our work.

Our global, grassroots organization relies on the support of other committed individuals. Learn More.

Read more about Climate Scorecard here

Organizations Nominated to Support the 2020 Emission Reduction Campaign

Below is the latest Climate Scorecard Spotlight Report.

 

For Climate Scorecard Report #17 we asked our Country Managers to provide a list of organizations in their countries that might help support our 2020 Campaign.

Read the Report

Over the next several months we hope to explore whether the organizations listed in this report, as well as others, are interested in supporting the 2020 Campaign.

 

We also welcome expressions of interest by other organizations in participating or organizing such a Coalition. Please send expressions of interest to Marisa@climatescorecard.org.

 

Climate change is real, and what governments do matters.

 

2020 Emission Reduction Campaign

 

Our Campaign is directed at getting governments to set new urgently needed short-term and long-term emission reduction targets. Learn More

 

Donate Today!

Every donation helps our work.

 

Our global, grassroots organization relies on the support of other committed individuals.

 

Learn More about Climate Scorecard Here

Take Part in the Global Week of Action for Peace, the Climate, SDGs and Nuclear Abolition

The week of Sep 21-27 includes the UN International Day for Peace (September 21), UN Climate Summit (September 23),  UN Summit on SDGs (September 24-25) and the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26).

Together these dates comprise a Global week of action on peace, climate, SDGs and nuclear abolition. Governments, parliaments and civil society are encouraged to take action on any of these days, and to highlight the connections between these key global issues in their action. 

Abolition 2000 has established a working group to promote the week and build cooperation beween peace, climate action, development and disarmament communities.

Sep 21: International Day for Peace

The theme for UN International Day for Peace this year is Climate Action for Peace. 

• Civil society organisations around the world are taking action on this day. List your peace event at Peace One Day.
   
• The United Nations will commemorate the day with a Student Peace Observance at UN Headquarters in New York on 20 September 2019 from 9am.Watch the event live on webtv.un.org.
   
• Peace One Day will hold a major commemoration event with civil society leaders and celebrities in London on September 21. The event will be livestreamed. Click here for information.

September 23: UN Climate Summit

July 2019: Hottest month ever: The earth is already heating up. According to the World Meteorological Organization July 2019 matched, and maybe broke, the record for the hottest month since analysis began.

There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society. To boost ambition and accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit on 23 September. 

Actions: 
a) Call on your government to commit in New York to deeper reductions in carbon emissions, a faster transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, and reductions in military budgets in order to fund climate protection.
b) Take action yourself to reduce your carbon footprint and reverse climate change. For more ideas see the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World. 

Youth Climate Summit: 
The Youth Climate Summit, which will also take place on September 23, will involve youth leaders (18-29 years) sharing visions, campaigns and innovative ideas for reversing climate change.

September 24-25: Summit on Sustainable Development

On 24 and 25 September, Heads of State and Government will gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the SDG Summit 2019 to follow up and comprehensively review progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Action: Call on your government to highlight at the SDG Summit the importance of peace and demilitarisation in achieving the SDGs, and support the proposal of Kazakhstan that all countries redirect 1% of their military budget to the SDGs.

September 26: Nuclear Abolition Day

September 26 is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. 

• UN event. The UN will hold a High-Level Meeting of government leaders to commemorate the day. NGOs can participate as observors with 2 NGO representatives invited to address the high-level meeting. To register click here (registration deadline is August 23). 
   
• Other events: Parliamentarians, religious groups and other civil society organisations are encouraged to commemorate the day with actions and events. UNFOLD ZERO is hosting a platform for listing events and promoting the day. Contact UNFOLD ZERO to list your event. 

Suggested actions:
a) Encourage your Prime Minister/President to attend the Sep 26 UN High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament and to use this occasion to call on all States to never launch a nuclear war, and to negotiate for the complete abolition and elimination of nuclear weapons;
b) Organise a screening of ‘The Man who saved the World’ or other action for Nuclear Abolition Day.

Taken from Basel Peace Office. Learn more here.