“Angry Birds, Happy Planet” climate action campaign honored with The UN Foundation’s Global Leadership Award
Rovio Entertainment and Sony Pictures humbled to join esteemed honorees including U.S. President Barack Obama for championing solutions to the planet’s most urgent challenges
The UN Foundation has recognized Rovio Entertainment and Sony Pictures with a Global Leadership Award for the “Angry Birds, Happy Planet” global marketing and outreach campaign to raise awareness of the need for both urgent climate action and eco-friendly lifestyles.
As part of the campaign, Red – leader of the Angry Birds and Rovio’s mascot – became the U.N.’s Honorary Ambassador for the International Day of Happiness on March 18, 2016. As Red “went green,” he traveled to more than 20 countries to encourage fans and the public at large to make eco-smart lifestyle choices and take action against climate change. From walking and biking to conserving water and recycling, Red and the rest of the Angry Birds talked about the everyday lifestyle changes people can make that have a real difference on the environment.
Rovio and Sony Pictures – the distributor of The Angry Birds Movie released in May – join other honorees from multiple sectors who are working alongside the United Nations to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Other 2016 Global Leadership Award recipients include U.S. President Barack Obama, World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, and human rights activist and lawyer Maina Kiai, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association.
“These honorees have helped people all over the world lead healthier and more rewarding lives by taking actions that support the UN’s ambitious goals,” said Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation. “Their leadership has inspired others – from world leaders and businesses to local communities and villages – to think boldly about how to solve the planet’s most urgent challenges.”
“We are deeply humbled to be included in such honored company,” said Rovio CEO Kati Levoranta. “We could not be more proud to work with the United Nations, to see Red ‘go green,’ and help get more citizens angry about climate change. By working together with the UN and encouraging the global Angry Birds fanbase to also become climate activists, I believe we can make a small but meaningful difference in one of the greatest challenges facing this generation.”
Media Contact:
For Rovio: Kaisu Karvala, kaisu.karvala@rovio.com, +358 40 5715990
For The UN Foundation: Andrea Risotto, arisotto@unfoundation.org, +1 202 862 6319
About Rovio
Rovio Entertainment Ltd., based in Espoo, Finland, is the creator of Angry Birds, the casual mobile game that changed an industry and became an international phenomenon. Today Angry Birds is not only the most downloaded series of games of all time, it is a renowned entertainment brand that has branched out into animation, licensing and more. The Angry Birds Movie was released in May 2016. www.rovio.com
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation links the UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.
The United Nations Foundation is honored to work with the United Nations to foster a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world. To learn more about the awards and the UN Foundation, please visit: http://www.unfoundation.org