luke upchurch

Managing Director of Comms @C40Cities

[C40 Cities @c40cities]

Behind every climate solution is a community and a city that dared to lead.

Watch what happens when local action meets global ambition.

#C40at20

[C40 Cities @c40cities]

The Pact for the Future, released today at the @UN Summit of the Future in New York City, confirms what we all know: a future free of fossil fuels is the only way to turn the corner on the climate crisis.

Cities are spearheading the transition to a future without fossil fuels – one that leaves no one behind.

C40 reacts to the Pact ⬇️https://t.co/6n8bTxSufw

[Mark Watts @MarkWatts_]

New York City has a world-class public transport system, but is it truly walkable and cyclable?

I put this to the test... 🧵

[C40 Cities @c40cities]

#ItsInTheAir! Hope. Change. Progress. 

Clean air zones in cities worldwide are transforming communities, creating space for residents to connect, move freely, access public transport and enjoy urban life. 

All while cutting toxic pollution and slashing emissions. Watch ⬇️

[luke upchurch @LukeUpchurch]

As threads go, this one is quite a yarn. 👏

[Mark Cockerton @CockertonMark]

Friday competition.
What is the most iconic photo of the last 5 years of Tory government?
I’ll start with this one.

[The Elders @TheElders]

The Elders today welcome @DenisMukwege, Noble Peace Prize Laureate, to the group.

A tireless campaigner on conflict-related sexual violence and human rights, his experience will bolster our push for courageous leadership on global challenges.

Read more: https://t.co/8d2pRLUc1g

[Peter Gabriel @itspetergabriel]

I’m convinced we’re unlikely to get through all the crises facing us unless we have people in power who think long term and can see the impact of decisions made today on the future. I’m very happy to stand with @TheElders in their campaign for #LongviewLeadership - pg

https://t.co/LE5lvvVZAy

[Carl Bildt @carlbildt]

This intervention by @radeksikorski 🇵🇱 in the 🇺🇳 Security Council today will be a classic. Not much left of 🇷🇺 after that.

[luke upchurch @LukeUpchurch]

J. Robert Oppenheimer's grandson, Charles, on @TheElders / @FLI_org open letter calling for #LongviewLeadership on existential threats.

https://t.co/z8hQIWlmvM

[Future of Life Institute @FLI_org]

🤝 Thank you for all of the support you've shown so far for our open letter with @TheElders!

🌐 World leaders have come together before to address urgent existential threats. We can do it again.

⬇️ Add your name to the letter below:
https://t.co/lrpaBpsGeH

[The Elders @TheElders]

With a rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future, leaders must urgently look beyond short-term political cycles and take bold action on the #ClimateCrisis.

A safe future is possible. Support the call for #LongviewLeadership: https://t.co/XPLoT0PEoJ

[The Elders @TheElders]

Over 150 global leaders, experts, activists and artists have joined us to call for #LongviewLeadership on existential threats. Click 'show more' and add your name.

Signatories include ⬇️
Yuval Noah Harari, @harari_yuval
Annie Lennox, @AnnieLennox
Vanessa Nakate, @vanessa_vash
Peter Gabriel, @itspetergabriel
Muhammad Yunus, @Yunus_Centre
Geoffrey Hinton, @geoffreyhinton
Aya Chebbi, @aya_chebbi
Julia Gillard, @JuliaGillard
Gordon Brown, @GordonBrown
Charles Oppenheimer, @choppen5
Mo Ibrahim, @Mo_IbrahimFdn
Christiana Figueres, @CFigueres
Raj Panjabi, @rajpanjabi
Ashley Judd, @AshleyJudd
Elizabeth Wathuti, @lizwathuti
Ayoade Alakija, @yodifiji
Luisa Neubauer, @Luisamneubauer
Richard Branson, @richardbranson
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, @mitzijonelle
Toby Ord, @tobyordoxford
Alan Rusbridger, @arusbridger
Katharine Wilkinson, @DrKWilkinson

Sign our open letter here: https://t.co/gPQKA80elM

[luke upchurch @LukeUpchurch]

Will you sign the @TheElders & @FLI_org’s open letter calling for a new approach to #ExistentialThreats?

We need #LongviewLeadership from decision-makers who understand the urgency of these threats and believe in our ability to overcome them.

https://t.co/B5RNwD7zz0

[The Elders @TheElders]

The Elders call for immediate compliance by #Israel with #ICJ provisional measures.

Click 'Show more' to read the statement in full:

The Elders call for Israel to comply immediately with the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to protect Palestinians in Gaza from acts of genocide.

The Elders also call for Israel’s allies to publicly affirm their respect for the Court’s ruling, and to use the political, military and financial leverage at their disposal to ensure Israel’s compliance with the provisional measures.

The ICJ’s legally binding decision is a moment of the utmost gravity.

Israeli forces have killed over 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza, destroyed homes and infrastructure across the territory and displaced up to 1.9 million people. The Elders share the Court’s judgement that this scale of devastation risks causing irreparable harm to the people of Gaza.

Israel, as the occupying military power, must comply with the Court’s ruling and implement the provisional measures in full. This includes ensuring its military does not commit any acts of genocide against the Palestinian people as a protected group, including killing members of the group. It also includes preventing incitement to genocide, and enabling provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. An immediate step must be to lift the siege of Gaza and end the collective punishment of Palestinians.

The Elders support the Court’s emphasis that all parties to the conflict are bound by international humanitarian law, and its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups.

All states have a responsibility to respect the Court’s ruling. South Africa has shown moral leadership in bringing this case, and it is now incumbent on others – particularly Israel’s allies and the UN Security Council – to live up to their own moral and legal obligations to prevent acts of genocide, and support the ICJ’s ruling.

As a minimum, Israel’s allies must ensure they are not complicit in any atrocity crimes. The Elders thus reiterate their call for all countries providing military assistance to Israel to place this under review and set new conditions for future provision. Governments which provide military assistance in the knowledge that atrocities are being committed, or may be imminent, risk being complicit. Self-defence can never be a justification for atrocity crimes.

For too long, Israel’s allies – particularly the United States and many European states – have provided political cover for its violations of international law. This impunity must end now.

Political leaders who choose to disregard or undermine the Court’s ruling risk further weakening the international rule of law at a time when it is already acutely under threat. The UN Security Council has a vital role in ensuring compliance with the ICJ ruling and upholding the consistent application of international law. The world is watching.

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders

Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and Deputy Chair of The Elders

Graça Machel, Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, Co-founder and Deputy Chair of The Elders

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the WHO

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the UN Development Programme

Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former President and Prime Minister of Mongolia

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and co-chair of the Taskforce on Justice

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate

Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile

Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate

Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico

ENDS

https://t.co/5NyTQQQWIH

[The Elders @TheElders]

The hands of the #DoomsdayClock remain at 90 seconds to midnight. Yet, as @JuanManSantos explains, a better future is within our reach if leaders prioritise long-view leadership.

Read more: https://t.co/m5whTMKnev

#LongViewLeadership #ExistentialThreats

[luke upchurch @LukeUpchurch]

Want a world-changing comms job?

Come work with me and the fantastic team at @TheElders!

[The Elders @TheElders]

#JobAlert: The Elders are looking for an exceptional individual to plan and deliver some of The Elders’ biggest communications moments, particularly in relation to our work on the #ClimateCrisis.

Learn more and apply: https://t.co/kHRFaVPE5M

#Hiring

[The Elders @TheElders]

“Sometimes, you have to speak truth to power" – The Elders’ Chair Mary Robinson on why US support for the Government of Israel must change.

More from Mary Robinson on the need for President Biden to back UNSC ceasefire vote on Gaza: https://t.co/FvZv22tlsl #CeasefireNOW @IsaCNN

[The Elders @TheElders]

#JobAlert: The Elders are looking for an exceptional Programme Advisor based in New York to lead The Elders’ work on #multilateralism.

Learn more and apply by 2 January: https://t.co/fV7PneecLV

#Hiring

[luke upchurch @LukeUpchurch]

@wtfrench76 come and be a part of it! NY, NY

[The Elders @TheElders]

Mary Robinson warns US increasingly isolated over support for #Israel's assault on #Gaza, ahead of today's @UN Security Council vote on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Click 'Show more' to read her comment in full.

"President Biden’s support for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is losing him respect all over the world. The US is increasingly isolated, with allies like Australia, Canada, India, Japan and Poland switching their votes in the UN General Assembly to support an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

"The UN Security Council will vote again today on a resolution to increase and monitor the humanitarian aid urgently needed in Gaza to save lives. The US cannot afford to be further isolated by vetoing this resolution. But even if passed, such resolutions are not enough. UNSCR 2712, agreed last month, is not being fully implemented. It calls for the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages, and immediate humanitarian access. Only a ceasefire will allow for these calls to be met.

"It is negotiation that has led to Israeli hostages being released. Israeli military action has caused the deaths of Israeli hostages, as well as thousands of Palestinian civilians. The destruction of Gaza is making Israel less safe. President Biden’s continuing support for Israel’s actions is also making the world less safe, the Security Council less effective, and US leadership less respected. It is time to stop the killing."

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland

https://t.co/ZSsuEJ0ZzS