NEW YORK (AP) — Global Citizen has successfully exceeded its fundraising goals for various initiatives aimed at protecting the Amazon rainforest, improving energy access in Africa, and enhancing community education. The annual music festival took place in New York's Central Park, featuring performances by international stars, including Shakira and a surprise appearance by Cardi B.
The festival attracted an audience of over 60,000 attendees, during which well-known actors and foreign diplomats addressed the crowd between energetic musical performances. Timed to coincide with the high-level meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, the event emphasized the role of ordinary citizens in influencing global leaders who were convened that week.
In his opening remarks, host Hugh Jackman expressed confidence in the collective power of the attendees, stating, “When we unite, we make noise that leads to real change. When you take action, governments and corporations listen, policies change, financial investments are made, and progress happens.”
The global efforts aimed particularly at harnessing Africa's vast potential for renewable energy received a significant boost during the festival. Global Citizen announced commitments to provide clean energy to 4.6 million homes across the continent. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, disclosed that the European Union would allocate over $638 million for the development of climate-friendly energy production. Additionally, Energea, a renewable energy investment platform, committed $250 million towards sustainable projects over the next five years.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr highlighted the need for reliable energy access during her performance, reminiscing about her own childhood experiences of waiting for electricity. “No child should be left in the dark. They need light to work, study, practice,” she affirmed, underscoring the importance of energy for achieving dreams and enjoying basic comforts such as television.
The festival showcased a unique pairing of celebrities and pressing global issues. American soccer star Carli Lloyd announced a $9 million contribution from the MetLife Foundation for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, while actresses Kristin Bell and Danai Gurira highlighted the critical need to end sexual violence in conflict zones.
Global Citizen also announced a substantial commitment of over $280 million towards the protection of the Amazon rainforest, which included a $100 million pledge from the Inter-American Development Bank aimed at the Amazonia Forever sustainable development program. To emphasize the rainforest's significance, actress Liza Koshy and celebrity scientist Bill Nye engaged the audience in a comedic moment focused on the Amazon as the "lungs of the Earth." Colombian singer Camilo added that taking care of the rainforest is a responsibility that belongs to everyone, not just those living in Amazonian countries.
While references to the ongoing conflict in Gaza were infrequent, they elicited significant cheers from the crowd. Palestinian singer Elyanna opened the show with a heartfelt message, saying, “So many countries, and so many people around the world are suffering. They don’t have their basic needs. And that’s what we’re all here for.”
Following an exhilarating string of performances from artists like South African singer Tyla, Nigerian star Rema, and Rosé, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed took the stage to stress the importance of unity and hope in challenging times. She called for attendees to harness their energy for positive change, emphasizing the need to seek solutions where others see obstacles.
Global Citizen's CEO, Hugh Evans, articulated a vision of renewed social responsibility, asserting that despite feelings of hopelessness in the current climate, progress is achievable when people come together around shared ideals. “We need to restore that idea of service above self, of caring for our neighbor—both our neighbor locally and our neighbor globally,” he remarked.
