In this "moment of truth" for the climate, as Secretary-General António Guterres stated in his special address on climate action, the crisis is being pushed away from the headlines.
To ensure it remains firmly on the radar in Brussels and with the European Union, the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) marked World Environment Day with two inspiring and solutions-driven Ciné ONU film screenings in Maastricht and Brussels.
Our Blue World, directed by Ruán Magan, was screened at a large cultural centre in Brussels, with 800 people in attendance. The compelling Irish documentary strikes a positive note by proposing simple solutions, often inspired by traditional methods, to contemporary climate issues.
From turf farmers in Ireland to reviving the water supply in Lima, Peru, or the novel "sponge city" concept in China, it is a documentary filled with hope and innovation. The film director took part in the panel discussion along with one of the protagonists from the film, Li Ann Phoa, who appeared as a surprise guest.
There was an international cartoon exhibition showing the environmental challenges we face and a reception organized with the United Kingdom and UN entities in Brussels.
UNRIC also organized a Ciné ONU event for We Are Guardians at the Lumière Cinema in Maastricht. The documentary follows a group of indigenous people living in the Brazilian Amazon who strive to protect the rainforest from the mass environmental destruction happening around them.
The film's three co-directors, one of whom is an Indigenous person from the community shown in the film, spoke at the event. They highlighted the need for activism to spark climate action from governments and stakeholders.
The theme of this year's World Environment Day, land restoration, guided the discussion.
Ciné-ONU/UN Cinema is a UNRIC initiative founded in 2014 that uses inspiring films and engaging discussions to inform and create change.
See more event photos on Flickr.
