In the lead up to the Paris 2015 Climate Change Conference, major contemporary artists from around the world are mobilizing action around climate change and desertification through artworks to be displayed in the public spaces of Greater Paris, stretching from the Paris city center to the Conference site, in Le Bourget.

During the event, dubbed “Artists 4 Paris Climate 2015", a charity auction of the artworks will be conducted by the premier International Auction House, Christie's, together with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, in support of actions against climate change and desertification. Sustainability driven corporations are supporting the event.

Recognized for their commitment as well as their ability to mobilize the widest audience, visual artists from around the world, both North and South, have agreed to participate in the initiative. They will either create a completely new work inspired by the crucial issues of the Conference or one from a previous project, echoing the global event.

Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification said:

If we restored 500 million hectares of degraded agricultural land, we could capture up to 30% of total carbon emissions in the world, provide an adaptation strategy to climate change at low cost, designed for the South, and reduce forced migrations and prevent conflict situations on land and water resources.

Artists 4 Paris Climate 2015 is a real opportunity to bridge the climate change and land degradation agendas by showing the world, through the eyes and voices of leading contemporary artists, how vital it is right now to mobilize everyone to help the most vulnerable populations 

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said:

I am delighted to support this exciting and positive initiative, which will not only help those most vulnerable to climate change through the donation of funds raised, but also help to promote COP 21 as the critical opportunity for nations to adopt a durable universal climate agreement. I hope that the artwork can inspire ambitious choices which lead to combatting both climate change and desertification.

Read the full press release about the initiative

See the Artists 4 Paris Climate 2015 web site