World Environment Day: UNDP-DLF bring a rare visitor – Frankie the Dino – to CyberHub urging people not to choose extinction
Gurugram: People visiting CyberHub were in for a surprise this weekend. An unusual and rare visitor made an appearance at the city’s famous food and retail destination.
‘Frankie’ the Dino took over the amphitheater with a message we have only One Earth – Don’t Choose Extinction. The messaging is a stark reminder that while the dinosaurs went extinct due to an asteroid, we humans are driving ourselves extinct through climate change.
A Hindi version of a short film featuring Frankie the Dino was also launched by Ms. Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India, Mr. Shombi Sharp, Resident Coordinator, United Nations, and Atul Atri, Assistant Vice President and Center Head, DLF CyberHub and DLF Horizon Center. The Hindi voiceover has been provided by Prajakta Koli, Actor, YouTube Artist and Content Creator who is also the UNDP Youth Climate Champion.
Frankie the Dino is the mascot of the United Nations Development Programme’s ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ – a global campaign to urge humanity to accelerate Climate Action. This World Environment Day, UNDP India has brought the campaign to India to accelerate individual action for environmental conservation.
“Climate change disrupts economies and affects people, communities, and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. By bringing Frankie to India, we want to remind people that the time for climate action is now! We all have a role to play in protecting planet Earth,” – Ms. Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, India
The latest IPCC report highlights that managing climate change will require swift action. It acknowledges that human activity is driving climate change, affecting the oceans, atmosphere, ice, and biosphere in ways that are “widespread and rapid.” It notes that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1°C of warming from 1850 to 1900.
“At DLF CyberHub, our efforts have always been skewed towards raising awareness for environmental concerns. We are honored to associate with the United Nations Development Programme to draw attention to this important cause. The 2022 World Environment Day campaign #OnlyOneEarth calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore our planet. We intend to inspire change and mobilize action to improve and maintain a sustainable environment and pledge towards building a better tomorrow.” said Mr. Atul Atri, Assistant Vice President and Center Head, DLF CyberHub and DLF Horizon Center
In the film, ‘Frankie’ the Dino bursts into the iconic UN General Assembly Hall, famous for historical speeches by iconic global leaders. Addressing a shocked and bewildered audience of diplomats and dignitaries, Frankie says 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 the species’ extinction 70 million years ago. “What’s your excuse?”
