Press release: UN Summit to amplify voices from the climate front lines
Date:
Climate change is an issue of human rights, equity and justice. While it impacts everyone, climate change especially disrupts the lives and livelihoods of girls, boys, women, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, and inhabitants of environmentally vulnerable areas, including small island States. The very same people who continually struggle against poverty, discrimination and marginalization across all walks of life are also on the front lines of climate action.
“Voices from the Climate Front Lines,” one of the four thematic sessions of the UN Climate Summit, will give voice to the experiences of children, young people, women, indigenous peoples and other groups in building resilience and contributing to climate solutions on the ground. The session, organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and UN Women, will highlight existing climate inequities, the implications of climate solutions on present and future generations, and showcase those who are demonstrating leadership as agents of change.
What: Thematic Session on Voices from the Climate Front Lines, UN Climate Summit
When: Tuesday 23 September, 5.15-6.30 p.m.
Where: Conference Room 3, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Who:
Co-chairs:
HE Evo Morales, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
HE Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Panel speakers:
Mary Robinson, UN Special Envoy for Climate Change and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice
Ronan Farrow, MSNBC host, writer, human rights lawyer, former diplomat and UNICEF youth advocate
Sylvia Atugonza Kapello, climate and development expert, Uganda
Christina Ora, youth volunteer with the Honiara Youth Council, Solomon Islands
Alina Saba, young Mugal indigenous woman, Nepal
Moderator:
Femi Oke, international broadcaster and journalist
The event is open to UN accredited media, but space is limited. Information on media accreditation: https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/index.shtml
The event will be webcast live at: http://webtv.un.org/
For more information, contact:
Rita Ann Wallace, UNICEF Press Officer, Ph: + 1 212 326 7586, Email: rwallace[at]unicef.org
Sharon Grobeisen, UN Women Media and Communication Officer, Ph: +1 646 781-4753, Email: sharon.grobeisen[at]unwomen.org
Omar Gharzeddine, UNFPA media Officer, Ph: +1 212 297 5028, Email: gharzeddine[at]unfpa.org