Billie Eilish calls for "urgent action" ahead of COP26

Culture
27 Oct 21

The global climate summit, hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, kicks off in Glasgow on Sunday.

Superstar Billie Eilish has joined forces with scientists from the group Arctic Basecamp, calling on called for “urgent, urgent action” on climate change ahead of COP26, the United Nations’ upcoming climate summit in Glasgow.

"This year our leaders are deciding the global actions required on the environment climate emergency in a critical decade for our planet," Eilish said.

"We must stand together and speak up to save our planet, not just for us, but for our future generations, and we need urgent, urgent action now and to work together as one."

COP26 will kick off in Glasgow on Sunday, October 31 and will run until Nov. 12. Many climate experts have stated that COP26 is the last, best chance for world leaders to commit to the vital steps needed to slow down rising global temperatures.

Eilish has been vocal about the need for action on the climate emergency for some time. Last month, she was one of many artists who called on the United States Congress to push for strong climate change policy.

The singer recorded a video message, with "The Office" actor Rainn Wilson, explorer Levison Wood and Robert Irwin, son of the late Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, also lending their voices to the project in conjunction with Britain's University of Exeter.

"Courage. That's what our world's leaders need more than anything. The decisions that they make about the climate crisis in the next decade are the most important decisions in our planet's history," Wilson said.

Arctic Basecamp was founded by Gail Whiteman, a social scientist who studies how decision makers make sense of environmental threats such as climate change. The group has set up a tent camp for scientists at the World Economic Forum in Davos and will be attending the COP26 summit.

"This is a crisis and the Arctic is sounding the alarm. It is time that world leaders come together to create real change that ensures a safe future for humanity," Whiteman said in a statement.

Eilish isn't the only artist making change for COP26. In the spirit of COP26's goal of global climate action, The UMA Entertainment Group will be hosting a not-for-profit event during the conference which will include performances from Aurora and Groove Armada, among others.

Earlier this month, the iconic artwork for Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures album by Peter Saville was reworked into a climate mural to raise funds for Music Declares Emergency's No Music On A Dead Planet.

MDE also collaborated with The 1975 to launch a new t-shirt as part of the No Music on a Dead Planet campaign.

“This November, the fate of the planet will be decided at COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference,” the band said in a statement at the time. “We are proud to be supporting Music Declares Emergency and their #NOMUSICONADEADPLANET campaign as they fight to ensure a greener future for all.”

See Billie Eilish's video below.

“We must stand together and speak up to save our planet, not just for us, but for our future generations and we need urgent, urgent action now and to work together as one”- the amazing @billieeilish gives an important message to world leaders ahead of #COP26 @ArcticBasecamp pic.twitter.com/sK1T1l8NUM

— University of Exeter (@UniofExeter) October 26, 2021