Month: June 2018

Electric buses, SDG awards and much more in this week’s celebration of progress for the Global Goals!

1) GOOD WORK AT CANNES

Last week we hit the beach in France along with thousands of creatives and marketers. And it was an exciting time for us at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, as it was the first year the Sustainable Development Goals were recognised as an award category. We saw some outstanding entrants representing the Goals from global brands like UNICEF, Ikea and LADBible.

Read a list of winners here

2) THE LIONS SHARE…

A major highlight from Cannes Lions was the announcement of the Lions Share Initiative. Animals appear in 20% of all ads, yet 90% of the most popualr animals featured are either threatened or endangered. Together, the UNDP, FINCH and Mars, Incorporated announced the life-changing initiative which will aim transform the wellbeings of animals all over the world. The Lions Share Initiative asks for advertisers to contribute 0.5% of their media spend towards conservation and animal welfare projects, which in turn will have a great effect on achieving Goal 13, 14 & 15.

More here

3) DRIVING GOAL 5 FORWARD!

The ban on female motorists has been lifted in Saudi Arabia, causing many women to celebrate this week. While Saudi Arabia remains a conservative country, this is a small step towards gender equality that has created excitement and hope.

Read more

4) TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS

China is continuing to add electric buses to its public transportation with a London sized fleet of electric buses added every 5 weeks! China’s cities struggle with air pollution and if it continues to add zero emission buses, it could see an improvement in air quality over the next few years. Let’s hope more cities follow suit to have a potentially huge impact on Goal 13.

5) ANYONE CAN BE A GOALKEEPER

Are you an activist? A dreamer? A campaigner. Visualise your approach to the Global Goals and download a stylish portrait for your social platforms, thanks to the World’s Largest Lesson…

Create your Goalkeeper portraits here!

1000 days down… and only 4211 to go until its 2030, the deadline for achieving the Global Goals. There’s already a lot of progress being made – read on for your weekly round up of Global Goals stories.

LIFE BELOW WATER AWARD PRESENTED, LITERALLY, UNDERWATER

Hold your breath….This is the incredible moment UN Director of Oceans, Dr Lisa Svensson, presented BBC’s Blue Planet II producer James Honeyborne with the first ever award for Global #Goal14 – Life Below Water, and we don’t think they could have found a better setting for it (literally). This is the first ever award for the Sustainable Development Goal, and hopefully not the last. Come back next week for our full Cannes Lions highlights.

KENYA HANDS OUT FREE SANITARY TOWELS TO KEEP GIRLS IN SCHOOL

Did you know that for many girls in Africa, menstruation means missing school? This May, Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia cleared the way for the distribution of one million sanitary towels to girls in Kenya’s Makueni and Kitui counties. The government said it targeted more than 200,000 schoolgirls for distribution as part of a pilot program. Through funds provided by the government and channeled to the county governments, this initiative is set to benefit girls in Kenya, meaning that girls no longer have to miss out on their education. Read more about it here.

START-UP LAUNCHES PRODUCT TO KEEP YOUR AVOCADOS RIPE

Millenials rejoice…a Bill Gates backed start-up has created and launched a product the delays the ageing of fruits and vegetables. Not only does this mean your avocados will last longer, but it shows potential in reducing food waste from supermarkets and households across the world.

PALAU INTRODUCES AN ECO-PLEDGE FOR TOURISTS

The Pacific island nation of Palau now requires all visitors to sign a pledge promising to respect the local environment while they are there. Palau takes conservation very seriously, as they’ve already seen the effects of climate change on their pristine island. Thinking of going on holiday? Get up to speed on the pledge here .

1000 DAYS OLD

On June 21st we marked 1000 days since the signing of the Global Goals….that’s 1000 days closer to our final target of achieving ALL the goals by 2030. What are you doing to contribute to the goals?