Video message from Achim Steiner, UNEP

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner

“Dear Clean Up the World volunteers,

My name is Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. We are a long standing partner of the Clean Up the World Campaign and in this year, 2009, perhaps our partnership takes on even more meaning.

In 80 days from now, the world’s leaders will be meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate what, we all hope, will be a path breaking new agreement on how to address climate change. We all know that climate change has become, for every citizen on this planet, an issue that is not only a threat in the future, but also a responsibility today. We are faced with many dramatic developments that will affect citizens, rich and poor, in north and south, and east and west.

We also have the challenge that we have to mobilise every single citizen across the world to speak to their leaders, to engage in their communities, in their schools, in their universities, in their workplace, in their communities, to try and mobilise individual effort. It is not only politicians who have decisions to make, it is each one of us who has to become engaged, and Clean Up the World and the day on which communities across the whole planet come together to demonstrate that commitment is a very powerful moment.

This year we would like to join with Clean Up the World and encourage you to also consider joining the Secretary General and the United Nations Campaign for Sealing the Deal in Copenhagen. We have a global petition underway and we hope that many of you will find time on the Internet, or in whichever means that you find possible, to sign this petition – www.sealthedeal2009.org is the place where you can do it most easily.  

The United Nations and the Secretary General are deeply committed to helping the world find an agreement in Copenhagen, but it will require political courage, political leadership, but above all, it will depend on citizens across the world to become engaged. Sometimes the smallest action can make a difference. Clean Up the World is a very practical way of saying, “I care, I’m committed and I will do something”. I hope that, as we look towards Copenhagen, your voices, your actions, your initiatives across the world on this day will make not only a difference in your community, they will also make you feel part of a global community that cares. I wish you all the best and very creative actions on this special day for cleaning up the world.  

Thank you.”

Achim Steiner