Hello Kitty and Frankie the Dino issue a joint call for climate action on World Environment Day

June 5, 2024

New York - On the occasion of World Environment Day, two popular advocates for climate change issue a joint call for climate action in a one-of-a-kind global character summit. Hello Kitty, the worldwide best-known character from Japanese entertainment company SANRIO, and Frankie the Dino, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) climate ambassador, met for the first time and launched a special video titled - "Will Humans Go Extinct!? Frankie the Dino Came to See Hello Kitty!"

The video was filmed during Frankie the Dino’s recent visit to Japan in April as UNDP’s special envoy to advocate the importance of climate action. During his visit to Japan, Frankie met Hello Kitty and discussed the severity of the climate crisis facing humanity, using simple language and examples. In the end, Frankie encouraged Hello Kitty to take a first step towards climate action by talking about it with her family and friends, emphasizing his message: “Don’t choose extinction.”

The video of their dialogue will be posted on the "HELLO KITTY CHANNEL," and on the UNDP YouTube channels in English and Japanese, in an attempt to engage young people in climate actions. The video highlights the interconnected nature of climate change, such as food security and biodiversity. It also shows some implications of not meeting the Paris Agreement to contain the temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius this century compared to the pre-industrial age. As we approach the 10^th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the video calls for urgent climate action before it is too late.

Frankie, the Dinosaur from UNDP’s "Don't Choose Extinction" campaign, has become a powerful symbol for climate action since its launch in 2021 to raise awareness about the climate emergency. The campaign film features a computer-generated Utahraptor dinosaur bursting into the iconic General Assembly Hall, telling an audience of shocked and slightly terrified delegates and dignitaries that it is time humans stopped making excuses and started making changes to address the climate emergency. The campaign film has been viewed by more than 2.2 billion people across the world. Since the launch of the campaign, “real life Frankie”, life-like Utahraptor dinosaur has been travelling the world, urging people to take climate action.

Since 2019, Hello Kitty has partnered with the United Nations to support the SDGs by releasing videos on the Goals through her own YouTube channel "HELLO KITTY CHANNEL.” In 2023, Hello Kitty collaborated with UNDP to release two videos on SDG Goal 13: "Take concrete action to combat climate change: Let’s learn with Kitty!" as part of her #HelloGlobalGoals initiative.

NOTES TO EDITOR

The "Will Humans Go Extinct!? Frankie the Dino Came to See Hello Kitty!" can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L69T0pRGcnw

Please include a copyright statement when posting images.

In partnership with UNDP

Frankie the Dino
Copyright UNDP © 2024

Manufactured in the USA

About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at: www.undp.org

Through the "Climate Promise" initiative, UNDP works with over 120 countries and territories to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenges of climate change.

https://climatepromise.undp.org/

UNDP does not endorse any entity, brand, product or service.