More than 3 million actions logged
New York, 26 July 2021 – The UN campaign for individual action on climate change – ActNow – has surpassed 3 million actions logged by people all over the world. With fewer than 100 days before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the fast-growing actions signal strong public support for urgent steps amid worsening climate impacts.
“While bold, wide-ranging action to address the climate crisis needs to be taken by governments and businesses, people have the power to influence change. Individuals everywhere want to be part of the solution and are taking steps to make a difference,” said Martina Donlon, ActNow campaign manager.
The ActNow campaign uses a chat bot and the AWorld mobile app to engage people in learning about sustainable lifestyles and making choices that are less harmful to the planet, such as driving less, flying less, saving energy at home, eating more plant-based meals, cutting food waste, buying local produce, and repairing and reusing clothes and electronics.
The campaign targets individuals in the Group of 20 major economies, which account for about 78 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. ActNow empowers people to make climate action an integral part of daily life and to be part of the solution to the climate crisis.
The mobile app, with users from over 150 countries, allows people to track their everyday actions and see the impact they are making on reducing emissions and saving water and electricity. Impact metrics along with teams, events, educational journeys, challenges, tips and quizzes offer a gamified way of learning about and shifting to sustainable habits.
Harnessing the collective power of individual choices, the ActNow campaign aims to move leaders in government and business to follow suit and take bold steps to radically cut greenhouse gas emissions and reach net zero by 2050.
The massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions required to safeguard a liveable climate will affect people’s lives in many ways – from transport, heating and cooking, to urban planning and jobs. A successful shift to a net-zero economy depends in part on the support and participation of citizens, especially in advanced economies.
According to the UN Environment Programme, around two-thirds of global emissions are linked to private households, when using consumption-based accounting. The International Energy Agency estimates that around 55 per cent of needed emissions reductions in energy are related to consumer choices, such as to purchase an electric vehicle, retrofit a house with energy-efficient technologies or install a heat pump.
To learn more about ActNow, visit: www.un.org/actnow
To download the mobile app, go to: https://actnow.aworld.org
For more on the UN’s work on climate action, see: www.un.org/climateaction
Follow @UN @GlobalGoalsUN #ActNow
Media contact: Esra Sergi: sergie@un.org