The 2023 installment of the annual Global Citizen Festivalfeatured a powerful (if rainy) day of music, with sets by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lauryn Hill — who reunited the Fugees during her set —Anitta, Jung Kook— who was joined by Latto —Stray Kids side project 3Racha and a 50th anniversary of hip-hop performance with Busta Rhymes,Common,Big Daddy KaneandRapsodyalongsideD-Nice.
But far more important was what it accomplished in raising awareness, and commitments for some $240 million from France and Norway to the International Fund for Agricultural Development to address the global hunger crisis, announced by Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
The flagship event fromGlobal Citizen generated 3.3 millionactions taken by global citizens around the world, calling on governments toaddress themajor systemic issues our world is facing, including the global hunger crisis, the climate crisis, and equity for women and girls. Further accomplishments, per the Global Citizen announcement, are below.
Launching her tour celebrating the 25th anniversary ofher culture-shifting “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” album, Hillplayed classicsincluding “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and “Everything Is Everything,” andwas joined by the Fugeesfor “Killing Me Softly”, “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La.”
“At a time when some leaders are walking back their promises, your actions deliver impact. So don’t stop taking action. Climate change can’t hit pause while world leaders get their act together. So don’t stop. The poorest people on Earth don’t have decades to spare. So don’t stop. We can’t wait for someone else to take action. We have to take action NOW.” –Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Citizen
FOR FOOD AND FOR JOBS
The 2023 Global Citizen Festival saw major progress made to address the world’s worsening food insecurity crisis. Responding to global citizens’ calls for urgent action,Emmanuel Macron, President of Franceannounced via video message a $150 million commitment to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – currently the most committed by any government in its 13th replenishment.Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Norway’s Minister of International Developmentalso pledged $90 million to the fund.
In a moment of collective action from Central Park’s Great Lawn, global citizens signed theFace Up To Hungerpetition, which is part of the Hungry For Action campaign, by submitting selfies, demanding world leaders act with urgency to address the global food crisis and prevent famine for the 49 million people facing emergency levels of hunger.
Much more needs to be done to provide crucial support to millions of smallholder farmers around the world, who produce 70 percent of food in low and middle-income countries. Global Citizen continues to call on world leaders tofollow the example of France and Norway and increase their contributions to IFAD by at least 50 percentto ensure the agency reaches its funding target of $2 billion by the end of 2023, and will continue to urge Australia to rejoin IFAD as a member state.
FOR EQUITY
Continuing a year of dedicated action to address the inequity of women and girls, the 2023 Global Citizen Festival saw theGovernment of Belgiumcommit €2 million to support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Supplies Program, which provides lifesaving and life-changing sexual and reproductive health services. Phoebe Gates also took the stage on behalf of theBill and Melinda Gates Foundationto introduce a $100 million contribution to UNFPA, made earlier in the week.
TheGovernment of Franceannounced a €40 million commitment to Education Cannot Wait (ECW), whichstands ready to educate 20 million children living through emergencies and crises, such as displacement and conflict. TheGovernment of Maltaalso made a commitment to support children facing conflict via video message at the festival. Global Citizen continues to call on governments to meet the remaining $620 million needed for ECW to continue its urgent work.
Additionally,Accentureannounced a $4.5 million commitment in support of the Aspen Institute’s Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) in Brazil, Columbia, India, Mexico and South Africa. GOYN improves access for young people to productive and dignified employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and to skills and resources to help them thrive in the future of work.
Continuing the momentum generated during the Global Citizen NOW summit in April, major brands includingThe Body Shop,LUSH,Patagonia,Seventh GenerationandBen and Jerry’ssigned a pledge against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), committing to protect the human right to freedom of expression without fear of intimidation or retaliation. The governments ofLithuaniaandKosovo, and theUN High Commissioner for Human Rightsalso encouraged global citizens everywhere to stand up for equality, freedom and justice during the festival.
FOR THE PLANET
As part of the Global Citizen Festival campaign, the organization invited both the UK government and His Majesty’s opposition to participate and detail their climate action commitments. In total, over 161,523 climate-related actions have been taken by global citizens in the UK to remind the British government of their promises and responsibilities, including the urgent need to publish their plan for the £11.6 billion climate finance pledge made in 2019. The Sunak Government declined to participate in today’s day of action.
TheTaoiseach ofIreland, Leo Varadkar,announced his government will provide €149 million in climate financing this year, and committed to uphold its promise to contribute €225 million annually from 2025 onwards.
TheBrazilian state of Paráreturned to the Global Citizen Festival stage to pledge to further expand its protected areas of the Amazon rainforest by 1 million hectares by 2025, furthering the ambition of their commitments made in 2021. The primary focus will be on safeguarding indigenous lands and eliminating illegal deforestation as well as restoring 5 million hectares of forest by 2030.Global Citizen urgesall Amazonian governments to join with President Lula in committing to end illegal deforestation by 2030.
Earlier this year, Global Citizen and its partners issued a letter toCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeauas part of its ongoingPower Our Planetcampaign, calling for an additional reallocation of Canada’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR), which can be used to provide affordable financing to low-income countries. During the Global Citizen Festival a representative from theCanadian Governmenthighlighted its announcement earlier in the week of an additional CAD$700 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to the International Monetary Fund’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust.
Over 34,000 Global Citizens also called on Congress to oppose proposed cuts to foreign aid by nearly 30 percent in the U.S. FY2024 budget. Today, seven members of the U.S. Congress, including Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Ann Wagner, and Rep. Grace Meng declared their commitment to supporting robust funding for foreign assistance in FY24.
Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, took to theGlobal Citizen Festivalstage to make an historic announcement, becoming the first non-Pacific nation to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which outlines a global plan to phase out fossil fuels, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, and ensure an equitable transition to clean energy for all communities.José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor Leste, also affirmed his country’s commitment to the treaty during the event.
Global Citizen’sYoung Artists Collective, a program showcasing original works from art students to raise awareness, create dialogue, and drive action-taking, activated at the Global Citizen Festival withan outdoor photo gallery displaying artwork from 12 selected students inspired by the creative prompt“Equity and its effects in today’s world”.Click here to learn more.
In what was its most sustainableGlobal Citizen Festivalto date, Global Citizen partnered withEverlandto make a positive contribution to nature and cover the estimated carbon emissions of the event by supporting community-centered forest conservation.
