Accountability Shortfall in Achieving Net Zero, Coronation Event Recap, & Aussie Budget Statement
This week's weekly update looks at a new study into corporate climate action, a recap on Coronation activities in support of real results, and an assessment of how Australia's budget could be better
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It has been another busy week full of updates!
My latest in Forbes on the need for companies to publish their Net Zero Transition Plans!
My latest article highlights the urgency of bridging the gap between emission reduction targets and actual progress. It emphasizes the need for businesses to proactively adopt decarbonization strategies and outlines the benefits of early action, including gaining a competitive edge and avoiding higher costs in the future. The lack of standardized transition plans and the challenge of distinguishing genuine efforts from greenwashing are identified as key obstacles. The article also recognizes companies that have successfully aligned with the 1.5-degree target and urges the sharing of best practices. President Macron's New Financial Pact Summit is an important event to acknowledge companies driving actionable change and bridging the investment gap in the clean energy transition, with the hope of inspiring others to join in shaping a just energy transition. Please check it out and like and share!
2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards
This week, Global Citizen has opened up applications for the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards! Teh team is calling on entrepreneurs, innovators and changemakers who are dedicated to ending extreme poverty to apply.
The Waislitz awards are presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen in order to recognize the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty. The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are annual cash prizes totaling $250,000: the grand prize is $100,000, and two additional prizes are $75,000 each.
In addition to receiving cash prizes, the winners of the Waislitz Global Citizen Awards will be invited to New York City to attend the Waislitz Global Citizen Award Ceremony and the Global Citizen Festival during the week of the UN General Assembly this September.
Apply today! Applications close May 31, 2023, 20:00 PM EDT
Sabrina Elba’s First Trip to the UN
On Tuesday, Global Citizen were honored to co-host a reception with the UK Mission in New York, marking the recent coronation of King Charles, hosted by Ambassador Barbara Woodward and featuring remarks by Her Excellency Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, as well as Global Citizen Europe Board Chair, Sabrina Dhowre Elba.
This was Sabrina’s first time visiting UNHQ here in New York, and she delivered powerful remarks, challenging diplomats and partners to ensure an inclusive and diverse Commonwealth that learns from the lessons of the past and delivers more for its people. Sabrina called for support to the Power Our Planet campaign with a focus on climate resiliency and food security. She reminded us that rural, smallholder farmers possess immense potential to transform our food systems, making them more resilient to global shocks and disasters. They can be the heroes in the story of our fight for a climate resilient planet, but only with the right investments. Sabrina also called for greater investment in the health and equity of women and girls of the Commonwealth, including supporting the Global Menstrual Equity Accelerator and efforts to end period poverty across the Commonwealth by 2030.
2023 RELX SDG Inspiration Day
On Tuesday, 13 June, 10am-5:30pm BST, join global leaders, including myself, at the 2023 RELX SDG Inspiration Day: Not too late for nature – Biodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Keynote speakers include Dr. Jane Goodall and Ban Ki-moon. The free, virtual event is about connections, knowledge sharing and innovation. Find out more about the event and register here.
Walk and Talk with Rotary’s Jennifer Jones
Back in March, I had the pleasure of joining Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, on a trip to Fiji and Kiribati, where we saw firsthand the impacts of Rotary’s pledge to UNICEF, made on stage at Global Citizen Live in 2021.
Through that pledge, Rotary and UNICEF Australia are fighting to change that through the Rotary Give Every Child a Future immunization program. With the $3.9 million raised by Rotary clubs in Australia and New Zealand and pledged by Rotary International President Jennifer Jones on the Global Citizen stage just two years ago, 82% of health facilities in the nine Pacific Island countries are providing immunization services with new vaccines.
Check out the video on Instagram here, Facebook here, and LinkedIn here
The EU needs to step up the ambition to boost its budget
This week the European Parliament voted on the report "Own resources: a fresh start for the EU Finances, a new start for Europe". Own resources are ways in which the EU budget is funded. The report calls on the European Commission to introduce a proposal for an EU-wide Financial Transaction Tax, which is very welcome, but failed to include calls for windfall profit taxes, which could raise up to €4.8 billion annually in the EU alone.
In addition, Global Citizen has been campaigning with partners The ONE Campaign, Oxfam and ActionAid to ensure that any new “own resources” are used in large part to increase the EU’s external action budget to deliver on the EU’s promises on global development and climate action. The Parliament failed to take this key recommendation on board. Now it’s up to the European Commission to raise its ambition when they will present their proposal in mid-June.
As Global Citizen’s very own Valentina Barbagallo, Global Citizen EU & Climate Lead, said in a joint reaction to the vote:
“We’re calling on the European Commission to rise to the occasion by proposing an ambitious package of new revenues that ensures everyone pays their share, including highly polluting companies who made huge profits on the back of the recent crises. With the EU’s external budget only accounting for 5.5% of the EU’s resources, and with the recent polycrises having depleted 80% of its available budgetary flexibility, it is paramount that any new revenues contribute to climate change and development support in the poorest countries.
At the international summit on a new global financing pact co-hosted by France and India in June, the Commission must champion these proposals and support a commitment to raise at least $50 billion a year for development and climate through internationally coordinated levies.”
Statement from Global Citizen re: the 2023 Australian Federal Budget
This week, the Australian Federal Budget was released. Read my full statement here, or below:
“While we want to applaud the increase of Australia’s Official Development Assistance budget to $4.77 billion, and its provisions toward urgent needs in the Pacific, investments in gender equity, humanitarian relief, and climate resilience and mitigation, we remain aware that this new budget sets Australia up to be one of the least generous developed nations in the world.
We want to commend the Albanese Government’s commitment to putting Australia’s development programs on a more secure and predictable fiscal footing with year-on-year growth, yet we recognise that most promised increases are forward estimates for future increases, rather than immediate funding.
We hope to continue working with the Australian government to improve future budgets, and to rise to the many challenges facing our Pacific neighbours and our planet.”
Pandemic Debt Clause Briefing
This week, the Pandemic Action Network issued a briefing calling for world leaders to advance a concrete and tested measure for improved pandemic preparedness, before the next pandemic strikes.
The brief outlines why pandemic debt suspension clauses matter and how world leaders can seize this opportunity for impact and improved global pandemic preparedness. Starting with the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact — taking place June 22-23 in Paris — and the ongoing Multilateral Development Banks reform efforts. Global Citizen was proud to sign onto this effort, make sure to check out the brief in full.
Global Citizen is Hiring!
Are you or someone you know passionate about our mission, and want to join what will most certainly be another impactful year of action? If so, come work with Global Citizen! The team is hiring for a Government Relations and Advocacy Manager (Germany).
If this sounds like you, please throw your name in the hat! Or if you know someone who might be a good fit, do share across your networks.
My Weekend Reading List
The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh – and another ordinary day in the West Bank
‘It’s a failure of the system’: before Jordan Neely was killed, he was discarded
F.D.A. Eases Ban on Blood Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men
‘Constant fear’ in Gaza as Israel continues assault for 4th day
‘Why would we employ people?’ Experts on five ways AI will change work
That’s all for this week! If you’re still pining for more GC NOW content (I too can’t believe it’s already over!), all clips are now available on Global Citizen’s YouTube channel, so you can continue to relive the excitement.
As always, if you’re enjoying the weekly newsletter format, and want even more, you can subscribe to my Substack here where I publish reviews, lists and articles on a regular basis.
All best,
Mick