EVANSTON, Ill., USA (21 Sept. 2023) — As nations unite to fight the escalating climate crisis, Rotary is stepping forward to foster dialogue, drive partnerships, and highlight community-led solutions at the 2023 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai from 30 Nov. to 12 Dec.
Set against the backdrop of a world grappling with multifaceted environmental challenges, Rotary will emphasize the importance of collaborative community-driven action and will help facilitate discussions between climate experts and key opinion leaders from across the globe.
The Rotary delegation, led by Rotary International President Gordon McInally, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Barry Rassin, and Rotary International General Secretary and CEO John Hewko, will manage a Pavilion in the UN-managed venue. Across the two weeks, Rotary will host 28 breakout sessions aligned with the COP28 thematic days.
“We aim to bring to the fore how community-driven organizations like Rotary can catalyze positive change and effectively tackle both the causes and impacts of climate change,” said McInally. “Our legacy is not just in the projects we initiate, but in the global collaborations we foster for a healthier planet.”
McInally will share his vision of Rotary’s role in addressing global mental health challenges during a Rotary-hosted panel that will explore solutions related to the intersection of climate change and mental health.
As a testament to Rotary’s global community presence and commitment to climate action, the Association of Rotary Clubs in UAE will showcase local environmental initiatives in the venue managed by the COP28 UAE Presidency.
Across the globe, Rotary members have pioneered a multitude of community-driven solutions that address environmental challenges, from Madagascar’s reforestation projects to organic farming practices in Taiwan and the preservation of mangrove forests worldwide. The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful and impactful service, has committed more than US$23.7 million toward sustainable, community-based environmental projects and scholarships for professionals interested in pursuing careers related to the environment.
About Rotary: Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Rotary and the United Nations share a strong and deep-rooted history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
Contact: Claudia Brunner, +41-44-387-7116, claudia.brunner@rotary.org
