Pharrell Williams: A happy planet = happy people

In a year when the world is coming together to support a new set of global goals – the most comprehensive attempt in history to fight poverty and create prosperity while protecting people and the planet – Pharrell Williams is partnering with the United Nations Foundation, with support from Google, to move people to take action on the United Nations' International Day of Happiness on Friday, March 20, with an emphasis on reaching out to young people and engaging them on the issue of climate change.

Taking the Day to a new and global level, they will mobilize people around the world to stand in solidarity with those already feeling the effects of climate change, and urge world leaders to take climate action now to build a better world and a happy planet.

"2015 is a critical year of opportunity for global action to achieve the future we want. For health and economic development – for the happiness of every person – we must address climate change," said Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation. "The UN Foundation is proud to join forces with Pharrell to support United Nations' efforts for a better world."

"In a year where there is so much turmoil in the world, from social conflict to climate change, we need moments to stop and celebrate happiness," said Pharrell Williams. "Protecting our planet is fundamental to the pursuit of human happiness and that is why we have chosen to support Live Earth's movement to raise a billion voices for climate action. We believe that happiness can change the world."

Happy planet = happy people

To protect people, we need to protect our planet. Climate change is a threat to many of life's basic needs: water, food, shelter, and safety. When those needs are not met, economic, social and environmental crises get worse.

This year, the world has an opportunity to reach a new global agreement to take action on climate change. For the UN's International Day of Happiness, Pharrell and the UN Foundation are driving supporters to sign the Live Earth petition, bringing together 1 billion voices with one message: Take climate action now! Sign the petition urging world leaders to commit to tackling climate change by adopting a new global agreement on climate at the summit in Paris this December.

The world's largest online Happy Party

Pharrell is inviting people around the globe to come together in an innovative way by joining the world's largest "Happy Party," raising awareness together and demanding climate action. Starting March 17, people around the world can join the Global Happy Party at www.globalhappyparty.com by uploading photos of themselves that will be transformed into an animated dancing image to the tune of Grammy award-winning song "Happy." Using Google Maps technology, people will be able to see participation and encourage others to join across the globe and to sign the Live Earth climate petition. Follow the hashtags #happyday and #happyplanet