The September 28th release of Addressing Climate Change: An Illustrated Biography of the Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (Gilgamesh Publishing) is being supported by a series of high-profile, eco-friendly launch events later this month in New York during the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit and General Assembly, including a major photo exhibit at the UN and a dinner/discussion at the Hearst Tower, New York’s first LEED-certified corporate building.
Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas, actor Ed Norton, artist Yoko Ono, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and Chair of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Dr. R K Pachauri, are among those who have endorsed the book and its inspiring approach.
According to Michael Douglas, “By focusing his sharp lens on the negotiators, the activists, and the scientists, Henry Dallal shows us that climate change not only represents a monumental threat, but an unprecedented opportunity to resolve crises peacefully, through dialogue.”
Addressing Climate Change is drawn from tens of thousands of photos taken in Doha, Qatar and Warsaw, Poland where Dallal led a team of international photographers who were granted unprecedented and unlimited behind-the-scenes to the UN climate change negotiations during COP18 and COP19. These photos now represent the first inside look at the never-before-seen drama as international leaders from governments, civil society, academia and business make significant progress towards a universal climate change agreement.
“It was amazing to witness the balancing of interests and concerns international climate change negotiations require that may at first blush appear to be in conflict,” says Dallal. “This book reflects how all of these voices and perspectives are integrated into an inclusive process for progress on this global challenge, and is a call to action to all those who have a stake in their outcome: every man, woman, and child on earth.”
Prominent environmental activist and actor Ed Norton adds, “This book celebrates those who have dedicated their lives to addressing the seemingly impossible challenge of crafting international policy on this issue and should motivate the rest of us to take part in one of the most critical issues facing our generation.”
“Love is powerful in all things,” says musician, artist, and activist Yoko Ono. “It is powerful in this beautiful book of photos. (Love) is a word that makes things come together, grow and expand. Now we are in a position as a global community to come together and build a better future. Let’s do it right. I know we will.”
And UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who contributes a foreword to the book, notes, “This collection of photographs sheds light on the important work taking place within this collaborative arena.”
All proceeds of Addressing Climate Change’s sales are being donated to non-profit initiatives that help to address climate issues at a grassroots level, including Reach Out to Asia and others.
For more information or to purchase Addressing Climate Change, please visit
http://www.amazon.com/Addressing-Climate-Change-Future-Generations/dp/1908531533
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About Addressing Climate Change
When the State of Qatar was selected to host the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (commonly referred to as “COP18”) in 2012, a team of international photographers was for the first time given unlimited behind-the-scenes access to the event – an unprecedented opportunity to capture the inner workings of the complicated and high stakes negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help nations adapt to the impacts of global climate change such as rising sea levels, threats to food production and loss of biodiversity.
Led by renowned photographer Henry Dallal, they captured the drama as international leaders from governments, civil society, academia and business negotiated a critical package of agreements known as the “Doha Climate Gateway” and made significant progress towards the universal agreement that will be brought to Paris in 2015. Drawn from tens of thousands of images from both COP18 and COP19 in Warsaw, Poland, the book celebrates leaders from government, civil society, academia, NGOs and youth organizations who continue to drive progress under the framework of the UN to reach a global agreement on the future of our common home.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and COP18 President H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah have each provided essays as forewords. The book concludes with a serious look at the challenge ahead by IPCC Chair and Nobel Laureate Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri.
