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NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- New short film featuring global celebrities puts spotlight on climate crisis

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is bringing a ferocious,

talking dinosaur to the United Nations' headquarters to urge more climate

action from global leaders, in a short film launched today as the centerpiece

of the agency's new 'Don't Choose Extinction' campaign.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668491/Dont_Choose_Extinction.mp4  

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/998273/UNDP_Logo.jpg

Bursting into the iconic General Assembly Hall, famous for history-making

speeches by leaders from around the world, the imposing dinosaur tells an

audience of shocked and bewildered diplomats and dignitaries that "it's time

humans stopped making excuses and started making changes" to address the

climate crisis.

"At least we had an asteroid," the dinosaur warns, referring to the popular

theory explaining dinosaurs' extinction 70 million years ago. "What's your

excuse?"

This first-ever film to be made inside the UN General Assembly using

computer-generated imagery (CGI) features global celebrities voicing the

dinosaur in numerous languages, including actors Jack Black (English), Eiza

Gonzalez (Spanish), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Danish), and Aissa Maiga (French).

The dinosaur goes on to highlight how financial support for fossil fuels

through subsidies - taxpayers' money that helps keep the cost of coal, oil and

gas low for consumers - is irrational and illogical in the face of a changing

climate.

"Think of all the other things you could do with that money. Around the world

people are living in poverty. Don't you think that helping them would make more

sense than… paying for the demise of your entire species?" the dinosaur says.

"The film is fun and engaging, but the issues it speaks to could not be more

serious," said Ulrika Modéer, Head of UNDP's Bureau for External Relations and

Advocacy. "The UN Secretary-General has called the climate crisis a 'code red

for humanity.' We want the film to entertain, but we also want to raise

awareness of just how critical the situation is. The world must step up on

climate action if we are to succeed in keeping our planet safe for future

generations."

UNDP's 'Don't Choose Extinction' campaign and film aim to shine a spotlight on

fossil fuel subsidies and how they are canceling out significant progress

towards ending climate change and are driving inequality by benefitting the

rich.

UNDP research released as part of the campaign shows that the world spends an

astounding US $423 billion annually to subsidize fossil fuels for consumers –

oil, electricity that is generated by the burning of other fossil fuels, gas,

and coal.

This could cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for every person in the

world, or pay for three times the annual amount needed to eradicate global

extreme poverty.

The campaign and film hope to make the sometimes complex and technical issues

relating to Fossil Fuel Subsidies and the climate emergency more accessible.

Through a variety of actions that the public is invited to take, the aim is to

both educate and give voice to people worldwide.

Find out more about the campaign at www.dontchooseextinction.com

Downloadable assets:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zbq5r4pwdu682t2/AACr4e3mMcZ--Ftnd4nGUa0Xa?dl=0

View the film on Youtube:

English: https://youtu.be/VaTgTiUhEJg

French: https://youtu.be/bTQXiWwH6eY

Spanish: https://youtu.be/7j3kuPLwhXM

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that

can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves

the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and

territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower

lives and build resilient nations.

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

SOURCE United Nations Development Programme

CONTACT: New York, victor.garrido.delgado@undp.org, Geneva, sarah.bel@undp.org,

Tel Aviv, gabriela.goldman@undp.org