Over 20,000 gather at the SDG Global Festival of Action, calling for transformative change to turn things around for
people and the planet
BONN, GERMANY, 25 MARCH – Calling for the beginning of a ‘new era’ following COVID-19 recovery, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed alongside United Nations Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner, spoke today at the fifth annual SDG Global Festival of Action, bringing to attention the urgent need for economic and social change that protects our ecosystems and humanity’s
well-being.
The Deputy Secretary-General stated her support for an inter-generational transition, putting youth at the forefront to
allow them to shape the SDG agenda, and encouraged countries to listen to its young people to ensure we don’t return to
business as usual.
Convened over two days, from 25 to 26 March, under the theme ‘A Turning Point for People and Planet’, the Festival
connected government and private sector leaders with changemakers, activists, creatives and more, hosting talks,
performances, interactive workshops and exhibits to inspire and mobilize action. Because of the pandemic, the dynamic
in-person event moved to a virtual platform, elevating its attendance to over 20,000 remote participants from 203
countries and territories, making it the largest and most geographically diverse Festival ever.
With the world still suffering from the effects of the pandemic and many countries still in lockdown, the year 2021 was
framed as a critical year to accelerate progress on the SDGs, with climate, gender equality, poverty and inequalities,
and sustainable financing firmly in focus. The Festival aimed to scale up both awareness and ambition ahead of important
events such as the G20 meetings, The Generation Equality Forum, The Food Systems Summit and the important COP climate
conferences in Italy and Scotland towards the end of the year. Over 300 speakers from 80+ countries represented the wide
range of SDG stakeholders, came together to share their knowledge and experience on how to tackle the world’s ongoing
challenges, present solutions and discuss what is at stake if we fail to meet the promises of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
“It’s become clear that everyone has a role in advancing this transformation,’ said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “On the one hand, we need new policies that steer our societies in the right direction. On the
other, each of us is an agent for change. Our individual behaviours will add up to make the difference - powerfully so.” Marina Ponti, Director of the SDG Action Campaign who organized the Festival, echoed the sense of optimism and called to seize the
opportunities that came with the unprecedented global crisis we saw last year, noting that we should use what we’ve
learned to shift the way we live, consume, earn and produce. “Together, we can dream big. We can act with shared heart
and conviction. And we can generate a global turning point that resets our world for good.”
Other speakers during the opening day included SDG Advocate and disability activist Eddie Ndopu who talked about how the pandemic has caused pre-existing inequities to bubble up to the surface, including a crisis of
inequality, the ecological breakdown of the planet, and systemic injustices - yet shared optimism in the fact that it
has also compounded humanity’s capacity for creativity, genius and resilience. David Nabarro, Special Envoy of WHO on COVID-19, echoed Eddie’s statement in his talk highlighting that only by working together and
supporting each other will humanity come through this pandemic with the strength it needs to help set the world on the
right path.
Chairman of Japan SDGs Action Promotion Council, Norichika Kanie, was proud to represent Japan as they became the first country to host a local edition of the Festival - the SDG Global
Festival of Action from Japan, an integral component of this year’s Global Festival. Sharing local solutions and setting
an example of nationwide movement for action, the spin-off was curated by 12 UN agencies based in Japan and featured
Goodwill Ambassadors Misako Konno (UNDP) and MIYAVI (UNHCR), popular comedian Yuriyan Retriever, and many other multi sectoral stakeholders. Dr. Kanie urged that we work together to combine our solutions for people
and planet, to light the spark for action following the vision set out by the Sustainable Development Agenda.
Representing youth climate advocates, Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Philippines joined with an impassioned plea to recognize and empower marginalized sectors of society,
especially those from the global south, who are on the frontlines of the unequal impacts of climate change, and who are
not always included in the conversations on how to confront the crisis.
To interact and engage the participants at the Festival, organizations and experts helped organize 27 workshops focusing
on ideation, upskilling, campaign activation and well-being, creating a unique and personalized experience for the
10,000 participants that signed up to join just the workshops alone. Workshop hosts included civil society organisations
such as Social Watch, Project Everyone, Humanity Lab Foundation and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement, with
more lined up for Day 2.
The creative arts were also represented with musical contributions from global artist Yoko Ono with her ode to the planet ‘I love you Earth’, as well as performances from climate activists including Patti Smith, Bomba Estéreo, and Tenzin Choegyal scheduled for Day 2, The 20 exhibits that were available to participants throughout the program included exclusive
pieces by La Triennale Di Milano, street art, photography and immersive media by Oculus, Lavazza, CANON, Google Arts & Culture Lab, and Terry Rileyand Sasha Waltz.
About the SDG Action Campaign
The United Nations Secretary-General established the UN SDG Action Campaign to bring people together from every part of
the world to act on the SDGs and to hold decision-makers to account for progress. Through compelling and creative SDG
outreach and communications, the Campaign serves UN Member States and the United Nations whilst bridging thinkers and
doers from civil society, local governments, think tanks, the arts and culture, the media and the business world. It
mobilizes individuals to champion the SDGs in homes, communities and beyond. Through tailored advocacy and
communications, they build powerful networks that reach millions worldwide, urge decision-makers to act and impel
momentum.