Today, celebrities and youth activists met with UN officials, governments and civil society to launch Mission 1.5, a campaign that aims to bridge the gap between people and governments on ambitious climate action. 

Mission 1.5 aims to give 20 million people around the world the opportunity to have their say on ways to limit climate change that they want to see adopted by government leaders. The campaign, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hopes to address the disconnect between citizens and governments that has seen a groundswell of public opinion by citizens around the world, including school strikes and mass protests. 

The campaign is built around an internet and mobile-based video game, developed by UNDP alongside experts in game development, climate science and public polling, in which players take on the role of climate policymakers and make decisions to try to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

After the game, players are asked to vote on key climate actions they want to see adopted. This data will be analyzed and delivered to governments, who often lack access to reliable information on public opinion on climate action. 

The previous biggest international survey of public opinion on climate change canvassed 10,000 people across 76 countries, and was conducted ahead of the 2015 Paris climate talks.

The Mission 1.5 game is available at www.mission1point5.org and can be played by people in every country in the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is significantly exposed to the threats of climate change, but has very limited capacity to address and adapt to its negative impacts, in particular the frequency and magnitude of floods from its major rivers which have tripled in frequency in the last decade. UNDP in BiH in partnership with all levels of government and with support from donors implements initiatives which are contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. UNDP interventions consists of building integrative approach to flood risk reduction, setting up energy management system, implementing energy efficiency retrofit in the public sector, stimulating usage of renewable energy sources, developing climate change adaptation plans and other activities.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, said: "Together with partners from across the private and public sectors, we have the ability with this campaign to connect millions of people with their governments in an innovative two-way discussion on solutions to the climate crisis, and increase ambition ahead of the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow later this year.”

“I hope that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take the opportunity to express their views through this interactive video game. Also, this is a great opportunity for all levels of government in BiH to take action based on public opinion polls in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change.” points out Steliana Nedera, UNDP Resident Representative in BiH.

About Mission 1.5 

Mission 1.5 was developed by UNDP and partners as an online platform that educates people on climate action and connects them with their governments and policymakers. The campaign is called Mission 1.5 because we must act now to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

For more information: 

• www.Mission1Point5.org
• Follow UNDP on social media for regular campaign updates: 

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  • Instagram 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

About UNDP: 

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations

Media contacts:

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Ajla Mostarac, Communications Officer, UNDP Energy and Environment Sector ajla.mostarac@undp.org, (+387) 33 293 495