Annual Report
Momentum
for Change 2015
Academy-Award winning actor Morgan Freeman narrates a video about the 2015 Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activities.
Watch video
Christiana Figueres, former UNFCCC Executive Secretary
2015 in brief
Learn more about our four focus areas from these influential thought leaders:
New partnerships and influencer endorsements amplified our messages more than ever before in 2015. We were delighted to team up with talented people to help spread stories of climate action far and wide.
Concrete solutions
Momentum for Change recognized concrete solutions to address climate change in 2015. The numbers below tell the story of our success.
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Total applications
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Eligible applications
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Momentum for Change received 451 applications in 2015. Of those applications, 266 were considered eligible. From 266 applications, 16 were selected as Lighthouse Activities.
Momentum for Change Activity Areas
Urban Poor
Activities that address climate change while improving the lives of the urban poor in developing countries.
Women for Results
Activities that celebrate the critical leadership and participation of women in tackling climate change.
Financing for Climate Friendly Investment
Activities that showcase successful financial innovations that cut carbon emissions and build resilience.
ICT Solutions
Activities that use information communication technologies (ICT) to reduce energy use, cut emissions and build resilience.
Lighthouse Activities
Urban Poor
Although urban centers are often ill-prepared to meet the basic needs of rapidly expanding populations, the urban poor are incredibly resourceful people, with their own networks and the proven capacity to save and invest in the betterment of their communities. Climate change can stimulate action that improves and transforms the most vulnerable urban communities.
These Lighthouse Activities address climate change while improving the lives of the urban poor in developing countries. This focus area is implemented with the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Women for results
Women are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change, primarily because they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent for their livelihoods on natural resources that are threatened by climate change. But women are also taking a leadership role in innovating and implementing climate change solutions.
These Lighthouse Activities showcase women-led initiatives that address climate change. This focus area is implemented with the generous support of The Rockefeller Foundation.
Financing for climate-friendly investment
Given our planet’s growing environmental and resource challenges, the imperative for shifting development onto a more sustainable pathway is increasingly clear.
Innovation is playing a key role in unlocking financial resources for climate change initiatives, resulting in greater institutional capacity to fund activities that promote low-carbon growth and highly resilient communities.
These Lighthouse Activities showcase successful financial innovations for climate change adaptation and mitigation. This focus area is implemented in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
ICT Solutions
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can reduce energy use, cut greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change.
The Global e-Sustainability Initiative’s SMARTer2030 report shows that ICT-enabled solutions can cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 19%, save USD 2.3 trillion in energy and fuel costs and avoid 12.08 gigatonnes of carbon emissions.
These Lighthouse Activities showcase innovative ICT solutions that are driving the world toward a low-carbon, highly resilient future. This focus area is implemented in partnership with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Selection Criteria
In order to be considered eligible, all 2015 activities needed to go through a selection process.
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COP21 in Paris
Momentum for Change showcased the 2015 Lighthouse Activities during a series of special events at the historic Paris Climate Conference.
Read more Watch highlights
Paris Agreement
A historic agreement to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future was agreed by 195 nations in Paris on December 12, 2015.
The Paris Climate Change Agreement’s main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability to deal with the impacts of climate change.
To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by developing countries and the most vulnerable possible, in line with their own national objectives.
The Paris Agreement Covers:
- Mitigation – reducing emissions fast enough to achieve the temperature goal
- A transparency system and global stock-take – accounting for climate action
- Adaptation – strengthening ability of countries to deal with climate impacts
- Loss and damage – strengthening ability to recover from climate impacts
- Support – including finance, for nations to build clean, resilient futures
“One planet, one chance to get it right and we did it in Paris. We have made history together. It is an agreement of conviction. It is an agreement of solidarity with the most vulnerable. It is an agreement of long-term vision, for we have to turn this agreement into an engine of safe growth.”
- Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
“We have entered a new era of global cooperation on one of the most complex issues ever to confront humanity. For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and join in common cause to take common climate action. This is a resounding success for multilateralism.”
- Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General
In the news
"Microsoft Leads Movement to Offset Emissions With Internal Carbon Tax"
"Apple, Google, Microsoft Among Best Companies Protecting Climate"
"Catch a ride: Ghana's Bamboo Bikes Put Sustainable Change in the Frame"
"Solar Sisters: How This 'Avon Lady' Model Of Solar Distribution Has Taken Off"
"16 Climate Projects That are Actually Making a Difference, According to the UN"
Social media
twitter activity
total twitter impressions for 2015
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@Momentum_UNFCCC ON TWITTER
Facebook activity
total facebook reach for 2015
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facebook reach by month for 2015
TOP 10 FACEBOOK POSTS IN 2015
In Indonesia, the Ibu Inpsirasi project provides rural women with the skills to become green technology agents — selling small technologies that make a big difference.
This week’s video takes us to Da Nang in Vietnam, where climate change-related floods and storms are taking their toll. Learn how the Building Storm-Resistant Houses project is helping families adapt by providing loans that allow them to reinforce and rebuild their homes.
Read more >> http://ow.ly/QQECX.
Happy International Women’s Day! This year’s theme is “Make it Happen.” Show the world how you’re making it happen by submitting your women-led climate change project to our 2015 Momentum for Change Awards: http://momentum.unfccc.int
Think annual reports need to be dull? Think again!
Launched today, our annual report uses interactive graphs, stunning photos and animation to tell the inspiring stories of our transformative projects from 2014. Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (), these projects demonstrate the enormous groundswell of activity underway across the globe to address climate change.
Check out our fully-digital report, and share it with your friends!
Women are taking the lead in the fight against #climatechange. Watch this video about women leaders from around the globe and be inspired!
The impact of floods is significant – floods affect more people globally than any other type of natural disaster. The Zurich Flood Resilience Program works to lessen the impact of floods, by bringing together the private sector, academia and community partners to create flood-resilience projects in Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal and Peru. Watch this short video to learn more.
We’re excited to launch the new Momentum for Change winning projects later this month!
BUT in the meantime, take a look at these transformative #climateaction activities from last year >> http://bit.ly/1Ojg0YC.
We were delighted that actor and United Nations Development Programme – UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Antonio Banderas narrated our video featuring innovative #climatechange action projects by and for the urban poor.
Watch these inspiring stories of game-changing projects from Vietnam, India and Burkina Faso.
Big news! One of our 2014 award winners, Solar Power Company Group, is making history in Thailand. The company is currently in talks with a number of financial service providers willing to give loans to homeowners for rooftop solar panels. This will be a first-of-a-kind arrangement in Thailand, as currently no bank offers such financial support to households. Learn more: http://bit.ly/1Mn03Nt
We are excited to announce our 2015 Lighthouse Activities! These inspiring projects demonstrate that#climateaction is already under way across the world.
Take a look >> http://bit.ly/
About Us
Members of the 2015 Advisory Panel
"2015 has provided a great momentum for change when it comes to international climate action. The Paris Climate Change Agreement is a starting point for a new era of cooperation and solidarity. This spirit is evident in the applications received by Momentum for Change.
"The 2015 applicant pool contained more than 266 outstanding eligible activities, full of good ideas and positive impacts, all with the potential to be replicated and each deserving recognition. Among them, we selected 16 activities for their impact and innovative approach. To every single climate actor who applied, thank you on behalf of the entire Momentum for Change Advisory Panel. And, once again, congratulations to the 16 Lighthouse Activities selected in 2015."
Full List of the Advisory Panel
Supporters
