Today 27th April 2021 — British actor, environmentalist, and filmmaker Maisie Williams is appointed as the first WWF Global Ambassador for Climate and Nature.

In a powerful announcement video, Maisie highlights how vital 2021 is in the fight against climate change, as the UK prepares to host a critical climate summit, COP26, in Glasgow, and global leaders set ambitious targets to cut emissions which will limit warming and its impacts on people and nature. Maisie encourages people all around the world to unite and join her in using their voices and platforms, no matter how big or small, to talk about the need for climate action and apply pressure on corporations and policy and decision-makers.

Maisie is championing WWF’s global mission to turn around the crisis in climate and nature by 2030, ensuring a future where people and wildlife thrive. This includes pressing world leaders and decision-makers for concrete plans to limit warming to 1.5°C, safeguarding 70% of the world’s coral, securing 4 million km2 of critical coastal ecosystems, and ending deforestation while working to restore the world’s forests.

Announced today, ahead of WWF’s 60th anniversary (29th April), Maisie is encouraging people to support WWF’s work on tackling the climate and nature crisis by adopting a threatened or endangered animal. To support Maisie’s anniversary wishes for WWF, please click here.

‘I am honoured and excited to be working with WWF where together we will give the opportunity for people to learn about critical parts of the natural world that are most at risk, and how we can all personally make a difference and preserve them for future generations. I want to showcase the fight back against climate change, including how we can turn around the crisis in our oceans, which are home to such extraordinary diversity of life and sustain us all.’

‘Through my history of learning about our sustainable future, I have recognised that climate change is often interpreted as an overwhelming force, but my personal goal is to show people everywhere that each and every one of us plays a vital role in making a difference. From small daily life changes, through to supporting larger campaigns directed
at a government level for policy change, we can all join the many incredible activists who are working every day to impact change. — Maisie Williams

Tanya Steele, CEO at WWF-UK said:

“This year is critical for action on climate and nature, with leaders making decisions that will shape our future. Nature is a vital ally in the fight against climate change and we need powerful voices speaking up for its protection and renewal. We’re thrilled to name Maisie as WWF’s first Global Ambassador for Climate and Nature, knowing she shares our passion for restoring the planet we all call home.”
Maisie’s new starring role as a WWF Global Ambassador is of vital importance as we take action to put nature on the path to recovery within the next ten years. [1]

To find out more about WWF’s work in restoring nature and tackling the causes of its decline, including climate change and what you can do, visit www.wwf.org.uk/what-can-i-do

For further information on Maisie Williams please contact:
jemma@huxley.world and rohani@huxley.world

For further information on WWF please contact:
Sarah Brown | Senior PR Manager at WWF
T: +44 (0) 1483 412327 | M: +44 7894 747623 | E: sjbrown@wwf.org.uk
Erin Rodgers | Media Manager (PR) at WWF
T: +44 (0) 1483 412659 | M: +44 7397 526420 | E: erodgers@wwf.org.uk
Out of hours contact T: +44 (0) 7500 577620

NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] WWF’s Living Planet Report 2020 included significant new research, the Bending the curve of terrestrial biodiversity needs an integrated strategy paper, from experts at WWF and more than 40 universities, conservation and intergovernmental organisations. This used sophisticated modelling to prove the decline in nature could be turned around if urgent steps are taken to boost conservation efforts and to transform how we produce and consume food.

Amazing nature and climate facts
● The Amazon rainforest stores up to 140 billion tonnes of carbon
●Seagrass, growing right here in the UK, absorbs carbon 35x faster than tropical rainforests
●Oceans absorb more than 90% of the heat from human-induced changes to the atmosphere
●The Arctic contains twice as much carbon locked up in the soils and plants as in the [earth’s] atmosphere.