Connect4Climate is a multi-donor trust fund founded by the World Bank in partnership with the Italian Ministry for Environment and Energy Transition and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. ¹ Connect4Climate uses a variety of media including film, music, fashion, and sports to influence environmental policy and encourage companies to be more environmentally friendly.

The organization is a founding member of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, a United Nations initiative that works to use the fashion industry to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ² Connect4Climate partners with a variety of organizations to advance its mission, including international soccer governing body FIFA, the governing body of Formula One, the International Olympic Committee, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Campaigns

Film4Climate

Film4Climate is an initiative by Connect4Climate that seeks to use the film industry to influence environmental policy. The organization says the purpose of this campaign is to “empower visual storytellers to inspire climate action through their onscreen art” and “encourage the entertainment industry to adopt sustainable filmmaking practices during production.” ³ The campaign includes a film that “chronicles the rise of the global youth climate movement.” ⁴

Music4Climate

Connect4Climate uses the music industry to influence environmental policy. The organization says that “compelling songs can act as rallying cries for action.” ⁵ In 2011, the organization helped release an album featuring songs from African and other artists to raise awareness about environmental policy. ⁶ Connect4Climate held a music competition in 2012, and it has helped put on concerts for environmental rallies in Washington, D.C., and in Italy. ⁷

Fashion4Climate

Connect4Climate works to change practices in the fashion industry which it says hurt the environment. The Fashion4Climate campaign works to “emotionally engage consumers and encourage sustainable innovation and climate leadership in the industry.” ⁸ Connect4Climate claims that “our clothes act as ever-present reminders of our identities and values and can be harnessed to connect with and activate audiences, transforming them into conscious consumers.” ⁹ The organization is also a founding member of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, a United Nations initiative that works to use the fashion industry to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ¹⁰

Sport4Climate

Connect4Climate uses sports to promote its message to help change environmental policy. One of the group’s ambassadors, Fernando Meirelles, was the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and he brought attention to environmental issues during these festivities. ¹¹ The organization also partners with the United Nations Climate Change Commission and six sporting bodies including the International Olympic Committee and world soccer governing body FIFA to use sports to influence changes to environmental policy. ¹²

Partners

Connect4Climate has dozens of partners, including many well-known organizations. Its partners include the School of Communication at American University, the International Olympic Committee, the FIA (the governing body for Formula One racing and other international motorsports), and the World Wildlife Fund. ¹³

The organization was founded by the World Bank Group and the Italian Ministry for Environment and Energy Transition, and it was also supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. ¹⁴

1. Connect4Climate. “Building the Movement Together.” https://www.connect4climate.org/participate/our-partners. Accessed July 4, 2023.
2. Connect4Climate. “Be Fashionably Sustainable.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/fashion4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
3. Connect4Climate. “Driving Action Through Screens of All Sizes.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/film4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
4. Connect4Climate. “Driving Action Through Screens of All Sizes.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/film4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
5. Connect4Climate. “Climate Action Rocks.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/music4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
6. Connect4Climate. “Climate Action Rocks.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/music4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
7. Connect4Climate. “Climate Action Rocks.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/music4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
8.  Connect4Climate. “Be Fashionably Sustainable.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/fashion4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
9. Connect4Climate. “Be Fashionably Sustainable.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/fashion4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
10. Connect4Climate. “Be Fashionably Sustainable.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/fashion4climate. Accessed July 4, 2023.
11. Connect4Climate. “Cheer on the Planet.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/sport4climate. Accessed July 5, 2023.
12. Connect4Climate. “Cheer on the Planet.” https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/sport4climate. Accessed July 5, 2023.
13. Connect4Climate. “Building the Movement Together.” https://www.connect4climate.org/participate/our-partners. Accessed July 4, 2023.
14. Connect4Climate. “Building the Movement Together.” https://www.connect4climate.org/participate/our-partners. Accessed July 4, 2023.