Global Citizen 2024
A festival in New York City dedicated to creating a positive impact on the climate and defeating extreme poverty? It truly sounds like a dream, and just as dreamy was the headline of this year’s edition, held on September 28th. Let’s recap the best moments of the event.
Landscape photo of the stage taken at the Global Citizen Festival 2023, New York – picture by Angela Weiss/Getty Images. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
The data on the official Global Citizen website speak for themselves: 34.1 million total actions taken, 1.29 billion lives impacted, and $43.6 billion in funds distributed. The festival’s incredible positive impact has resulted in these astonishing statistics, earning it the reputation as one of the most humanitarian-focused music festivals in the world.
Top-tier artists like Post Malone, Doja Cat, LISA, Jelly Roll, Rauw Alejandro, and Raye all came together to amplify the mission of Global Citizen, with movie star Hugh Jackman hosting the event. For the first time, the Central Park stage was entirely powered by a SmartGrid battery system, the same cutting-edge technology used on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour. This switch from diesel generators to clean battery power significantly reduced the festival’s carbon footprint, making it one of the first major U.S. festivals to fully embrace the green revolution.
In a unique twist, some attendees earned their free festival tickets by participating in a marine cleanup, removing and documenting a “Dirty Dozen” of the most common trash items found along the New York coastline, furthering the event's environmental impact.
This year's Global Citizen Festival placed a special spotlight on the Amazon rainforest, one of Earth’s most critical allies in the fight against climate change. The festival highlighted how the destruction of this vital ecosystem contributes not only to environmental damage but also to increasing levels of poverty. The Amazon has the capacity to offset 12 years' worth of global emissions—equivalent to the annual emissions of 40,000 coal power plants—showcasing its immense importance in curbing climate change and supporting global sustainability.
Benson Boone, the famous singer of "Beautiful Things," shared his thoughts on stage: “I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen's mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world,” echoing the important words shared by mesmerizing voices like Doja Cat, who was fighting for the injustices and human damages.
Alongside the festival's remarkable impact on the future of our ecosystem, the stage was lit up with unforgettable moments, such as the surprise duet of Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran. Despite the pouring rain, the duo captivated the crowd with hits like "Yellow," "Viva la Vida," "Shape of You," and "Thinking Out Loud," creating an atmosphere of magic and unity.
The passion for making an impact, fueled by the reunited activists, artists, philanthropists, and political leaders, created electrifying political moments on stage, where emotions were a rollercoaster amidst joy, compassion, and enthusiasm. Some of the most hopeful and encouraging announcements were made by Ursula von der Leyen, who announced the commitment of the European Commission to global health and humanitarian aid, EDW, who revealed $90 million funding aimed at providing education in some of the most challenging environments, and Adobe, who announced $600,000 to address human rights violations in the LGBTQI+ community.
Benson Boone, famous for his song "Beautiful Things," reflected on the experience, stating: “I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen's mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world.” His sentiments echoed the voices of other artists like Doja Cat, who passionately advocated for social justice and human rights.
Global Citizen is the proof that, in a world dominated by “it’s too late,” if you want, you can—conquering not only the hearts of thousands of people reunited in New York but of entire generations worldwide, filling their hopes during the event's live streaming.
Politics is undoubtedly the most straightforward force we rely on to take concrete actions for our causes, but its impact is surely amplified tenfold when it resonates through the power of music. A good song, echoing through the streets of the most alive city in the world, can inspire, unite, and drive change in ways that policies alone often can’t.
