Sowing the seeds of momentum for Brazil's Dual Summits / Upcoming Events
I've just returned from a whirlwind trip in Brazil ahead of GC returning to Australia next week. Plus a few upcoming events on the book tour!
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Excited to share the below updates - needless to say, it’s a busy time! Later this week I head to Australia (more on that below) plus there has been growing interest in my upcoming book. A few of you have asked how you can promote the book on your social media channels, and we’ve put together this toolkit with draft language and images. Grateful to all those who have already posted about or even pre-ordered the book already!
Sowing the seeds of momentum for COP30 and G20 Summits
What a whirlwind it’s been in Brazil! Just this past week, the Global Citizen team was in São Paulo and Rio continuing to build on the momentum of our partnership with the UN Global Compact and Re:wild. In concert with key figures in the Brazilian government, the goal is to bring forth a groundbreaking climate deal at COP30 in 2025.
The highlight of the trip was a dinner that brought together many members of the Brazilian government and business community, featuring inspiring speeches by Governor Helder Barbalho, Indigenous Minister Sonia Guajajara and Secretary João Paulo Capobianco.
While energy is a big piece of the climate change puzzle, it’s crucial to incorporate nature into the discussion - and that’s exactly the aim of this partnership. By holding key dialogues in proximity to the Amazon Rainforest, the literal “lungs of the earth”, we hope to rally global support for biodiversity and safeguarding those who protect our forests.
During our visit I also reconnected with Brazil’s First Lady, Janja Lula, during the sidelines of the G20 meetings in Rio. Amongst other issues, we discussed Brazil’s strides in forming a global alliance against hunger and poverty as a cornerstone of its G20 presidency. Janja emphasized the urgency to tackle hunger in an era of affluence, echoing a sentiment shared by an African leader last year: “How do we still have hunger in an age of wealthy nations?”
GC Now Goes to Melbourne!
Global Citizen officially announced its next iteration of Global Citizen NOW, taking place in Melbourne from March 4-6. We are proud to partner closely with the State Government of Victoria on this “homecoming” initiative. We’ll be highlighting solutions to key challenges that align with the Australian Government’s “Whole of Nation” approach.
With a focus on engaging and elevating young innovators from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne will convene world leaders, artists, advocates, journalists, influencers, policy experts and more than 300 of the brightest young leaders from across the region.
As part of the three day program, GC is also excited to highlight the incredible work of the 2024 Global Citizen Youth Leaders Award recipients. These are 32 young innovators and advocates working to address the issues perpetuating extreme poverty from across the Asia-Pacific region and helping tackle the world's biggest issues including climate, gender equity, and human rights.
In 24 hours, the event’s announcement garnered close to 600 press hits around TV, print, radio and online in 24 countries and counting. Top highlights include: Associated Press (syndicated globally), Billboard, Variety, Washington Post, ABC News, Channel 10 News (TV), Today Extra (TV), The Herald Sun, Australian Associated Press (syndicated across Australia), Hello!, Daily Mail, The Independent, New Idea, Nine Honey, The Music Network, and Beat Magazine.
If you have any partners in Melbourne, Australia who might like to attend please get in touch with kellen.edmondson@globalcitizen.org.
The campaign to end child marriage in California
Child marriage is a heart-breaking reality that continues to affect millions of girls worldwide, including in the United States. Needless to say, it’s a grave violation of human rights. It has devastating consequences, violating girls' right to health, education and opportunities, exposing girls to violence throughout their lives and trapping them in a cycle of poverty. While progress has been made to end this harmful practice across the US, California remains without comprehensive legislation and is one of five states with no minimum marriage age.
Recently, Global Citizen partnered with Unchained at Last on a campaign to end child marriage once and for all in California. Global citizens voiced their support for California Bill AB2924 to End Child Marriage. In the meantime, please take action on this issue here.
France’s development budget cuts: Not the “shock” we wanted….
In line with recent cuts to the EU and the German ODA budget, France has also decided to cut its development budget by 800M EUR this year, a 13% cut. This comes eight months after President Macron held the financing summit in Paris, calling for a “financing shock” for the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Unfortunately, the shock now comes in the form of cuts and not the surge of support needed.
These cuts are totally unnecessary given France has a financial transaction tax - revenues that go directly to the development budget, in particular for global health and climate. By improving the collection of the tax and applying it to all financial transactions France would be able to fill financing gaps and even increase development aid. Help us let President Macron know that these cuts don’t go unseen by retweeting this and taking action here.
G20 Finance Meetings: All eyes on São Paulo
G20 Finance ministers will meet at the end of this week in São Paulo, discussing many key issues: reforming the financial system, increasing climate and development finance, lifting the debt burden on poorer countries. With this in mind, GC has sent a sign on letter to all members of the G20 in coordination with partners around the globe. Please reach out if you want to discuss any of the recommendations or partner on future G20 activities.
Global Citizens have their stories read by leaders at the African Union Summit
Ahead of the African Union meetings, Global Citizens were asked to share their stories on the impacts of malnutrition and the food crisis in their immediate communities. These were then amplified at a photo exhibition for leaders to read at the African Union High Level Roundtable. This sent a powerful message to key decision makers via direct messages from those affected.
These efforts, in concert with our incredible partners at the African Development Bank, are part of our ongoing campaign to strengthen the resilience of Africa’s food systems and unlock climate finance for nutrition. The messages were also turned into a video and were not only shared across our platforms but directly with leaders asking them to step up:
Beyond Unicorns, Towards Solutions: Venturing Into the Realm of Tech
I’m grateful to my friends at 2040 Ventures for recently hosting me at their 2040 Ventures X Turkish House event, where I spoke on an engaging panel titled “Beyond Unicorns, Towards Solutions”. In attendance were innovators, investors and industry professionals from the city’s technology community, the Turkish diaspora and beyond.
In my remarks and the subsequent discussion, I noted that without a revamp of policy and philanthropy, technology will fall short of achieving the transformation so many hope it will. But done well, philanthropy and policy can make technology more inclusive, and technology can make philanthropy and policy more inclusive. I also had the opportunity to highlight my book, From Ideas to Impact.
Highlighting the work of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs)
Unfortunately in many contexts around the world, having the courage to demand change or accountability from leaders can land you in jail or even worse. By supporting the HRDs we highlight below and other partner organizations, Global Citizens can play a role in ensuring the safety that these courageous individuals deserve.
In partnership with CIVICUS, we are calling for the release of Iranian Nobel Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, as part of their Stand As My Witness campaign. Narges Mohammadi's unwavering dedication to human rights in Iran has led to her unjust imprisonment. As an Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate, she has fearlessly fought against the oppression of women and advocated for the abolition of the death penalty.
GC is also highlighting the work of London-based NGO Alqst, which from abroad continues to fight for positive change in Saudi Arabia and has emerged as a prominent voice in shedding light on violations, providing support to victims, and demanding accountability.
From Ideas to Impact: Town Hall Edition!
I’m grateful to our friends at the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) for organizing what I’m sure will be an engaging virtual town hall moderated by Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, the Founder and Chairman of FPCI. I’ll be discussing my book and concrete ideas on how individuals and organizations can enact change. I’m thrilled we’ll also be joined in conversation by Brianna Fruean, an inspiring environmental advocacy for Samoa. You can find more information here, and register here.
My Weekend Reading List
Economic development and collective security are two sides of the same coin
UK quits treaty that lets fossil fuel firms sue governments over climate policies
Kenya to host World Bank international development association forum in April
Unleashing Change: How Citizen Advocacy is Rewriting the Global Agenda
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 regularly.
Til next week,
Mick