International advocacy organisation, Global Citizen, has announced that more than $1.1 billion, 157 million trees, and more than 60 million COVID-19 vaccines have been pledged by various governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector on the back of the organisation’s month-long countdown for the G-20 to address the pandemic, hunger and climate challenges, ahead of the G-20 and COP26 summits.
The campaign saw 1.1 million actions and over 70 commitments from efforts of many partners.
Last Saturday, Global Citizen held a 24-hour global broadcast and streaming event with performances and speeches by artists and world leaders from Lagos, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul and Sydney.
The Global Citizen campaign charged world leaders, businesses and philanthropists to urgently commit resources to meet the $15-20 billion funding shortfall of the $100 billion promised yearly to the most vulnerable countries confronting climate change; businesses to help curb emissions through joining the Race to Zero and pledging 1 billion additional trees by 2022 in support of the ambition to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees this decade; $6 billion to provide food to 41 million people facing famine; and two billion COVID-19 vaccines to be redistributed to low-income countries by the end of 2021.
In Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, announced that it would be increasing its focus on gender and climate responsiveness in its budgeting and policymaking processes.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state would commit to prioritising vaccine equity among its entire population.
According to a statement by Global Citizen, some of the countries and organisations that have announced commitments towards defending the planet and defeating poverty through the course of the campaign include: Belguim, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, United States, UNESCO, Bill & Melinda Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, among others.
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