Thousands of Glastonbury-goers have come together to call on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change as part of a campaign coordinated by the festival’s charity partners Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid.
The three international organisations coordinated the creation of a giant banner carrying a simple but important message for the world: we are facing a climate crisis and the world must act now.
People in low-income countries who have contributed least to the climate crisis are suffering its worst impacts as more extreme weather destroys people’s lives, homes and jobs, increasing hunger and displacement, and denying people access to the basics like clean water and decent sanitation.
Millions of people are facing severe hunger in East Africa because of climate-induced drought compounded by ongoing conflict – with Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia experiencing the driest conditions in 40 years, while South Sudan is suffering a fifth consecutive year of severe flooding.
During Glastonbury, festival-goers and artists, including designer and Great British Sewing Bee star Raph Dilhan added their own personal messages to the textile, sharing their hopes, fears and concerns for the future. The vibrant banner was suspended on the Park Stage on Sunday morning on the last day of the festival in front of thousands of revellers, bringing people together in one unified voice.
The G7 summit runs from 26 to 28 June ahead of COP27 in November, and Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid are calling for urgent action to protect the planet and help people prepare, adapt and respond to the crisis.
Designer and Great British Sewing Bee star Raph Dilhan stitched his message to the banner, saying: “It’s hard to imagine not having clean water on tap, but this is the reality for one in ten people on this planet, and the climate crisis is making the situation even worse. Extreme weather like floods contaminates unprotected water supplies and droughts dry up springs and wells. With clean water that keeps flowing whatever the future holds, communities can thrive. We can all play our part in building a better future for all, and it’s great to see so many people coming together at Glastonbury to join the call for action on climate now.”
Dr Mya-Rose Craig, environmental activist and author of Birdgirl, gave a speech on the Park Stage after the banner was revealed. She said: “Climate breakdown and biodiversity loss is threatening humankind and pushing people into poverty. It’s not too late to prevent this global crisis from becoming a global catastrophe if we all stand together and take urgent action now. This banner shows that we can take unified action, that we can stand in solidarity with people worldwide, and push our governments to take bold action on climate change.”
The giant banner, measuring 5 by 4 metres, was created by artist Alice Bowen with the support of students from Strode College in Somerset.
After the festival, the three charities are planning to present the artwork at an influential global event, such as COP27, to send a unified message calling for the UK Government to lead the way in tackling the climate crisis.
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