Please join us as we celebrate UN Day with a special program with UNA-USA and Climate Museum calling for climate action and paths to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the Paris Agreement. This event will include a visit to the public art installation Climate Signals at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park with the artist Justin Brice Guariglia, followed by a panel discussion with sustainability agents from the city, state and UN level and the director of Climate Museum on how to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 call upon all nations to work toward a better future for all people. A habitable earth underlies all the goals. The United Nations called world leaders together to address global warming starting at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. After a series of meetings held around the world, the Paris Agreement to limit the increase in global temperature by reducing greenhouse gas emissions was signed by 195 countries in December 2015.

Although the United States federal government has backed out of the Paris Agreement, state and city governments as well as individuals and corporations are developing plans to achieve its goals. All people are encouraged to join the sustainability drive. We call for climate action to save planet earth now – later will be too late!

Climate Signals, a citywide outdoor installation by artist Justin Brice Guariglia, consists of ten solar-powered highway signs flashing text that draws passers-by into the climate conversation. Presented by the Climate Museum, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office — Climate Policy and Programs, the exhibition runs from September 1 through November 6.

Program:

12-12:45pm  (Unisphere in front of the Queens Museum)

Visit Climate Signals art installation

Meet Justin Brice Guariglia, Climate Signals artist

1 – 4pm (ArtBuilt Studio in the Park, museum lawn)

Hands-on workshop with Liene Bosquê

Weaving reused Plastic bags, as part of her hammock making community art project HamacaS

1 – 3pm (Queens Museum theater, 2nd floor)

Panel Discussion: Achieving the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Action

Dan Shepard, UN Communications Officer for Sustainable Development Summit and the Paris Climate Conference

John S. O’Leary, NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

Lia Cairone, NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

Miranda Massie, Director of Climate Museum

Closing remarks: 

Costa Constantinides, NY City Council member, District 22 – Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection

The Climate Museum’s mission is to employ the sciences, art, and design to inspire dialogue and innovation that address the challenges of climate change, moving solutions to the center of our shared public life and catalyzing broad community engagement. Located in New York City, the museum launched its first exhibitions and programming over the last year. Our future permanent home will provide a dedicated space for engagement with climate issues and solutions.It is past time for a museum dedicated to climate change in New York City—and the United States. Our current citywide exhibition Climate Signals is a step toward creating an institution to ignite citywide, national, and global discussion on the critical challenge of our time.

The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire, and mobilize the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. For 70 years UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission through its national network of Chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation. UNA-USA and its sister organization the Better World Campaign represents the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world. Our mission is to educate, inspire and mobilize Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter.

Image: Climate Signals, installation on Governors Island, artist: Justin Brice Guariglia