Danes raise millions in first climate telethon
September 15, 2019
The people of Denmark donated about €2.4 million ($2.67 million) for the planting of trees on Saturday, in a telethon described as the world's first to focus on the climate.
For every 20 Danish kroner (€2.70 or $3) donated, one tree is to be planted, and 20% of the total donations will be earmarked for forest conservation efforts in the Scandinavian country.
The televised event took place at Gisselfeld Klosters Skove forest, east of Naestved, on the island of Zealand. Both individuals and firms contributed donations to the fundraiser, local media reported.
Read more: Planting 1 trillion trees could stop climate change, argues study
The fundraising event, which included musical guests and was broadcast on Denmark's public TV channel TV2, aimed at raising 20 million Danish kroner to plant 1 million trees. Falling just short of the organizers' goal, enough money was raised to plant 914,233 trees.
"It's a positive way to inspire people, showing how to make a difference, with a small act to tackle the climate crisis," said Kim Nielsen, founder of the Growing Trees Network Foundation, which is part of the project.
"It's the first time a charity show has focused on climate issues on TV, it's very exciting," he continued.
Read more: Climate change: Millions of hectares of tropical forest destroyed in 2018
Recently cities, the Danish Nature Agency and the churches around the country have submitted bids for large and small areas in which they hope to be allowed to plant trees with the help of the donations from the climate telethon.
In a similar effort to raise awareness and funds for climate-related issues, in 2015, Al Gore organized a live benefit akin to a telethon, a 24-hour streaming show in which musicians were slated to perform at the foot of the Eiffel tower.
Five hours into the live benefit, Gore announced that out of solidarity with the French people in the face of the Bataclan and associated attacks, which had taken place during the climate concert, he was suspending the event.