News

A fête for nature, land, oceans and mountains

28.05.2016

For the third consecutive year, Earth Day Italia brought the “Village for the Earth” to Rome. An intense four days were dedicated to celebrating Earth Day, the most significant edition since the series saw its start. In fact, on 22 April 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and world leaders in New York signed the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Despite the adverse weather forecast, more than 30 000 people were involved in various activities at the Village for the Earth in Rome, where there was a theme and attraction for everyone.

Over 130 million media contacts in Italy alone were developed by the press office and national media partnerships.

Children and young people participated in school, music and sports contests; families and adults were able to delve into the different focuses, issues and activities of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, legality, poverty and ecology. All in a festive atmosphere comprised of performances, concerts, sporting events, book presentations, scientific workshops, children's entertainment, television productions and environmental projects.

There was even a surprise visit by Pope Francis, who inspired Earth Day participants with an emotional, spontaneously delivered speech that emphasized once more His appreciation for what was taking place there in Villa Borghese, the heart of the city.

Urban Vision campaign

The Earth Day celebrations were promoted by an Urban Vision campaign - at Palazzo della Cancelleria, Viale Tiziano and the Parliament in Rome, and at Colonne San Lorenzo in Milan. Urban Vision developed a photo contest to raise awareness about protecting the planet, in appreciation of its artistic and natural heritage. In just 29 days this initiative received 823 photographs, involved 746 741 social media users, prompted 13 788 users and 132 755 visits on the website.