Aug 24, 2021
Faces of Milan’s climate action ChangeMakers were broadcasted to over a million residents through street screens and banners, as well as to many millions worldwide through its website and social media channels during August. This is because Milan is one of the first major cities to partner with the Climate Investment Funds on a brand-new campaign to bring the championing of climate action out of the negotiating halls and into the hands of everyday people, all over the world: Acting for climate, every day.
Milan’s actions could not come at a better time. This week saw the publication of the latest findings from the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is now unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, land and oceans and a 1.5oC warmer world is now expected across all IPCC scenarios by 2040. Only in the most ambitious climate action scenario will we be able to bring the climate back to 1.4 degrees by 2100. As this news sears its way into the consciousness of the worlds’ citizens, it is clear that climate actions – taken by every single one of us – have never been more important.
With the last official ministerial meeting for COP26, Pre-COP, taking place in Milan between the 30th September and the 2nd October, all eyes are on the path from Milan to Glasgow to ensure that COP26 goes down in history as the step-changing climate negotiation summit the world needs. The Climate Investment Funds’ ChangeMakers campaign is designed to celebrate the great diversity of climate action being delivered across the world, already, and encourage and stimulate others to get involved. The campaign aims to send a clear message to leaders around the world – that the citizens they represent, many of whom are already living through the impacts of climate change, care enough to step up and play role.
This latest move from Milan follows hot on the heels of the Piano Aria Climate (Air Climate Plan) which placed Milan as a frontrunner in concrete climate action earlier in the year. The plan details 49 concrete action plans in order to reach net zero by 2050 – the first of its kind for any major Italian city. To deliver on this difficult transformation requires hard work and dedication from residents, employees and business leaders from all over the city. This next two weeks will see just a small selection of these everyday changemakers up on the big screens, to celebrate the great work they do.
All around the city, pride of place among some of Milan’s most famous monuments, faces of every day ChangeMakers like Jannett, a Chilean businesswoman, whose names are up in lights for residents and visitors to see.
Elsewhere, along major commuting routes, train stations and residential areas, we see Donald, the recycled waste collector and Maya, committing to cycle to school to do her bit. Empowering images like these are celebrating the people of Milan and inspiring anyone – no matter who they are – to step up and be proud of the climate action they make.
To take a personal action or to become the next city or region to step up and showcase their ChangeMakers, find out more here.
