A Championship for Earth
Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell recently warned that “Humanity has two years left to Save life on Earth” before some dangerous Tipping Points start and it will be out of our control. Stiell, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary, was speaking at a Chatham House event in London last month (April 2024).
Bradley Trevor Greive, the award winning author and film maker kindly wrote an inspiring piece for the Earth Champions Foundation and here is what he said….(with a link to his site)
‘The frequency of catastrophic weather events, from heatwaves to blizzards, dominates the headlines, but there is a quiet climate change crisis that is just as deadly. Sea levels are rising, vital ocean currents are stalling, and we are slowly but surely losing our planet’s precious water – Not just from depleted rivers and lakes, but from our overheated atmosphere, putting it forever beyond our reach.
Throughout the world, communities and industries are already suffering, and Nature is paying a terrible price. Entire species are dying. From pint-sized hopping mice to hulking jungle pigs, lush mosses to luminous orchids, the roll call of species lost forever grows by the day, by the hour, by the breath. Every extinct plant and creature, even the smallest frog, was once a loyal ally keeping our planet healthy.
For those who ask, “But what can be done, and who will do it?”, our answer is “Everything, and everyone”.
For better or for worse, each of us has a part to play. To paraphrase the great Nelson Mandela, who presented the inaugural Earth Champions Award in 2000, “May our choices reflect our hopes, not our fears.”
Some climate change solutions, such as using less fossil fuel, are as obvious as giving up smoking to reduce respiratory disease and increase lung function. Other approaches feature cutting edge technologies, while many wonderfully innovative projects require nothing more than willing hands.
At the Earth Champions Foundation we know that every positive act, however small, saves lives and heals our planet, which is why we are passionate about amplifying the voices of those making a difference. Our goal is to help establish best practices and inspire the discovery of groundbreaking ideas to reduce climate change that can be implemented by countries, cities and individuals.
Everyone can be an Earth Champion, even the smallest action has an impact. Multiply this by billions of small positive changes and the groundswell can be transformational.
Which is why we are proud to announce our Championship for Earth. Commencing this year, in Paris, then every four years, one week prior to the Summer Olympic Games, we will gather to showcase the best sustainability solutions from every nation and to celebrate our Earth Champions by sharing their remarkable work with the world. Every four years the innovations will be built on
We share our beautiful home with all known life in the universe. At the Earth Champions Foundation we believe our purpose, as human beings, is to keep it that way.
