New York - The 'Don't Choose Extinction' campaign, launched by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to raise awareness about the climate emergency, has won Gold and Silver in two different categories at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards. This was announced today by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Science (IADAS), which was launched by the Webby Awards in 2021. The Awards are intended to celebrate mission-driven work and the social impact of individuals, corporations and organizations. Its goal is to define a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities.
The Don't Choose Exinction campaign won Gold in the Category: Sustainability, Environment & Climate - Non-Profit Campaign, and Silver in the Category: Sustainability, Environment & Climate - Global Awareness Campaign. Anthem Winners were selected from 2,000 submissions from over 43 countries around the world.
The 'Don't Choose Extinction' film, the centerpiece of the campaign, was created in partnership with Activista Los Angeles, a multiple-award-winning creative agency. It features Frankie the Dino, a computer-generated Utharaptor dinosaur which is seen storming into the United Nations General Assembly, seizing its iconic podium, and urging stunned-looking dignitaries to avoid the dinosaurs' fate-extinction-by making changes to tackle 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?"
"We are very honored to receive two Anthem Awards for the Don't Choose Extinction campaign" said Boaz Paldi, Chief Creative Officer at UNDP. "We are receiving this award at a time when humankind is facing the biggest existential threat ever and the need to raise awareness is urgent as we urge world leaders to phase out of fossil fuel subsidies and ask the world to take climate action now."
"It's always great to see your work recognized. Especially when the awards show celebrates impactful work that sparks global change like the Anthem Awards" said Beto Fernandez, Founder and Creative at Activista Los Angeles.
The film has reached an audience of over 2 billion and garnered more than 4,000 media mentions across the globe. The original short film was voiced in 39 languages and features famous actors from around the world, including Jack Black (English), Eiza González (Spanish), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Danish), and Aïssa Maïga (French). It has been translated into more than 60 languages.
UNDP's 'Don't Choose Extinction' campaign and film shines a spotlight on fossil fuel subsidies and their negative impact on the planet. Last year, US$423 billion was used in direct subsidies with 80 percent of those going to the manufactures. In 2022, because of the Ukraine war and the energy crisis, the subsidies have reached over US$600 billion by year's end. The campaign and UNDP's Energy Hub offer encourages countries to utilize those funds for socially impactful and positive solutions so they can benefit from a green transition but at the same time leave no one behind.
