Nairobi, 18 September
2009 - Climate change is here and threatens
us all, say Hollywood actors, film directors,
environmentalists and politicians
in a new UN public service announcement
series, launched today.
Jeffrey Nachmanoff,
co-writer of blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow,
an apocalyptic science-fiction film that
depicts catastrophic effects of global warming,
has directed the series which urges viewers
to sign the Climate Petition (www.sealthedeal2009.org).
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General
and Executive Director of the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP), said: "The series
is aimed a promoting public awareness and
catalyzing action at the highest and humblest
level to boost the prospects for a wide-ranging
and transformative agreement at a crucial
UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen,
Denmark in less than 80 days."
Speaking about the project,
Jeffrey Nachmanoff said: "Climate change
is such a pervasive and persistent challenge
that it's difficult to get people to focus
on it constructively. The Copenhagen conference
represents a specific moment in time, and
is an opportunity for action. My hope is
that this campaign will encourage people
to increase public pressure on world leaders
to seize that opportunity."
The hard-hitting, Seal
the Deal! public awareness campaign is being
launched at the start of Global Climate
Week, 21-25 September and was shot in six
locations across four continents.
The videos feature President
Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives; Don Cheadle
-Hollywood actor, film producer and author;
Professor Wangari Maathai - Nobel Peace
Prize Winner; Midori Goto - UN Messenger
of Peace; Phillipe Cousteau - Animal Planet
presenter and environmentalist; Saba Douglas-Hamilton
- wildlife film maker.
Speaking about the Seal
the Deal! campaign, the featured personalities
said:
The Honourable Mohamed
Nasheed, President of the Maldives: "For
the Maldives, climate change is no vague
or distant irritation, but a clear and present
danger. And what happens to the Maldives
today happens to the rest of the world tomorrow.
That's why the Maldives is slashing emissions
by shifting from foreign oil to renewable
energy, aiming to become carbon neutral
in a decade. It's time we all Seal the Deal!"
Midori Goto, UN Messenger
of Peace: "I am happy to add my voice
to those who are concerned about climate
change, and I am extremely excited by the
opportunities implicit in the commitment
of the newly-appointed Prime Minister of
Japan, Yukio Hatoyama. He and his government
are advocating a substantial decrease in
emissions. We can act together to bring
meaningful changes to our lives and to our
environment. Let's sign the climate petition
and let our voices be heard."
Professor Wangari Maathai,
Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel
Peace Prize winner: "Climate change
is a matter of life and death. Something
very serious is happening. Africans - and
especially African women - will suffer most
from climate change. It's time to Seal the
Deal! in Copenhagen."
Phillipe Cousteau, CEO
EarthEcho International, Animal Planet host
and environmentalist: "I've spent my
life working to educate people about our
environment and about how human actions
have had a catastrophic effect on our planet.
Now we have the chance to take action to
make a positive difference and correct some
of the damage caused in Copenhagen. It's
time to Seal the Deal!"
Saba Douglas-Hamilton,
BBC wildlife presenter and conservationist:
"For me it took a trip to the high
Arctic filming polar bears to understand
what was going on in my own back yard. In
Kenya, we live or die by the grace of the
Monsoon and when the rains fail, as they
have this year, we suffer terrible drought.
Climate change is the great leveler. No
matter who or what you are - rich or poor,
human or amphibian - it will affect us all.
I want to be able to tell my daughter with
an open heart that I tried to make a difference
when I could. Help us Seal the Deal."
Notes to editors:
1. To download the Seal
the Deal! PSAs go to www.sealthedeal2009.org/psa-downloads
which will be available from 0800 GMT on
18th September. The PSA is available for
free distribution and promotion. Online
and print versions will also be available.
2. To sign the Climate
Petition, go to www.sealthedeal2009.org
3. Photo opportunity:
New York, USA - September 20
As part of the Seal
the Deal campaign, supermodel and environmentalist
Gisele Bündchen, Achim Steiner, Executive
Director of UNEP, will be available for
an unusual photo opportunity, press conference
and comment on 20 September 11 am local
time New York, ahead of the UN Secretary
General's Summit on Climate Change.
For more information please contact:
Media:Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson and
Head of Media
Lucita Jasmin, UNEP Head of Special Events
