Live Aid, one of the most iconic benefit concerts of all time, rocked the world with acts like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and U2 back in 1985. Now, 35 years later, a new event has emerged to unite people with music for a good cause.
The non-profit Global Citizen has revealed “Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream.” The event, set for September 26, 2020, aims to be the largest broadcast in “cause event history,” organizers state in a press release. The 10-hour performance, which will span across five continents, will raise funds to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Later this month, Global Goal Live will present the names of the artists participating in the event. Then, organizers will have a year to team up with other partners and get “the world back on track to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.” Since Live Aid made such a big impact, raising more than $200 to combat famine in Ethiopia and attracting more than 170,000 concertgoers, Global Citizen hopes to follow suite.
Global Citizen hopes end poverty by 2030. So, they’re launching the campaign for Global Goal Live now because “the next 18 months will shape the future of humanity.”
“It’s the last chance to course correct to end extreme poverty, tackle climate chance and reduce inequality in time to reach the 2030 Global Goals deadline agreed to by all world leaders in 2015,” organizers said in the release.
However, in order to reach their goal, Global Citizen estimates that another $350 billion will be needed annually in order to help the world’s 59 poorest countries. Organizers are calling on companies, philanthropists, and governments to donate and contribute to the cause. While it is a huge task, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans believes that today’s digital age can help spread the word.
“Live Aid took place in 1985, well before the advent of social and digital media,” Evans said in a statement. “That platforms that exist today can enable us to reach every corner of our planet. Our goal is to use this digital technology to inspire and motivate citizens across the globe to take action to achieve the UN Global Goals.”
Global Citizen has worked to raise money by hosting the annual Global Citizens Festival in New York City. The festival, which was first organized back in 2012 by the Global Poverty Project, was founded by Evans and Ryan Gall, with Coldplay’s lead vocalist Chris Martin serving as the festival’s curator for the next 11 years. In 2017, the fest generated 1.6 million actions in two months, equaling $3.2 billion for sustainable development to help 221 million people, according to Time. Queen, who played at Live Aid, will headline this year’s festival on September 28.