Schools, organisations, and individuals from across the MENA region took part in the fifth anniversary of CNN’s Call to Earth Day, taking collective action to protect and restore the natural world, with more participants taking part in this instalment than ever before.
As part of a day of global action to raise awareness of environmental issues and engage with conservation education, CNN celebrated Call to Earth Day with special multiplatform programming on November 6th. Over 650,000 people in more than 100 countries signed up to take part. This year’s theme focused on Guard Your Green Space with CNN using its international scope to celebrate efforts – large or small – that are making a difference.
CNN Creators: The Intro also aired a special show dedicated to Call to Earth Day with the Creators exploring climate conservation in Qatar. Ivana Scatola visited the Al Thakira mangroves to see how they are being used for coastal protection and Antoinette Radford reported from a trash collection at the Singing Sand Dunes.
To reflect local engagement, representatives from regional organizations shared how initiatives like Call to Earth deepen environmental awareness among young people and communities.
Neeshad Shafi, Co-Founder of Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, said: “Participating in initiatives like this is vital to empower young people and amplify their role in climate action. At Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, we focus on creating awareness, building capacity, and fostering collaboration across communities. Through collective action and youth-driven solutions, we can accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Every initiative like this helps bridge the gap between awareness and impactful climate action.”
The schools and organizations in the MENA region were part of a global initiative that saw a record number of participants registering. These organisations made a difference to their local communities by holding events including clean-ups, tree plantings, designing art projects, and making environmental awareness videos.
Adding to the regional perspective, Emirates Nature-WWF highlighted how community-driven action in the UAE aligns with the global spirit of Call to Earth. Arabella Willing, Head of Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science at Emirates Nature-WWF, commented: “Each of us has the power to make a difference – and there are so many ways to create positive impact for our planet. Here in the UAE, through Emirates Nature-WWF’s Leaders of Change programme, a community of 5,500+ changemakers of all ages is restoring mangroves, reforesting native trees to support pollinators, joining biodiversity surveys – and much more. CNN’s Call to Earth wonderfully spotlights efforts like these from around the world and inspires people everywhere to step up for nature and build a sustainable future.”
Other programming on CNN during the day included a special documentary featuring a conversation between CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir and leading oceanographer and Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle. CNN’s daily ten-minute student-focused news show, CNN10, aired a theme week in the lead up to Call to Earth Day and bespoke digital content ran across CNN.com, including an interactive feature examining the impact of invasive fire ant species.
CNN correspondents visited schools around the world in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and both North and South America, showcasing environmental reporting on CNN International and CNN en Español’s TV networks, digital, and social media platforms as well as on CNN Arabic.
Call to Earth Day is part of Call to Earth, a major network initiative launched by CNN in 2019, in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, shining a light on those committed to safeguarding our planet for future generations. Over the last six years, this award-winning programming has told stories of changemakers, visionaries, and ground-breaking projects making a difference to the world around them.
