What: People from all walks of life are fasting to stand in solidarity with vulnerable people who are most affected by dangerous climate impacts. By choosing not to eat on the first day of every month, or to show support through a carbon fast, or through other actions, a growing movement of fasters including many youth groups, environmentalists and faith communities, is calling for world leaders to act to confront the climate crisis.
Background: The Fasting for the Climate movement started at the UN climate negotiations in Warsaw in November 2013. Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda had just devastated the Philippines and that country's climate commissioner, Yeb Saño, whose own family was caught up in the disaster, said he would not eat until the Warsaw conference ended or delivered actions by countries to “stop the madness” of the climate crisis. Hundreds of others from around the world chose to fast with him in solidarity. Despite this, the Warsaw meeting saw countries, like Japan, actually winding back their climate commitments, seemingly in denial that all countries will need to commit and contribute to the comprehensive, global climate action plan which is due in Paris in 2015.
Why: This ongoing fast seeks to send a message to governments that people from all walks of life, from all corners of the globe, expect climate action. Already, millions of people have lost their homes and their livelihoods as a result of climate change. Yet government action remains profoundly inadequate and fails to secure the benefits a clean energy revolution would deliver for people and the planet.
The time to solve the crisis is now! We expect countries to cut carbon pollution and to secure a renewable energy supply. We expect richer countries to help poorer nations reduce their own pollution and adapt their communities to climate impacts, while we urge all world leaders to work together in order to ensure the planet is a safe and better place for future generations.
When: We will fast on the first day of the month, until there is international agreement on a comprehensive, fair climate action plan that puts the world on a pathway to phase out carbon pollution.
What you can do: Join the Fast!
You can choose to show others you've done so by using the messages below, and adding the red dot – which has, in many countries, been the symbol of fasting movements throughout the ages – to your online profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Google etc. (details here).
Fill out this form to add your name to our growing international list of fasters. We'll use this secure list to communicate with you on relevant issues, but we will protect your data. Please also pledge your support for this campaign on our website link (insert hyperlink)– so we can keep in touch with monthly fasters in Canada.
You can also consider donating the money you would have spent on food during your fast to existing climate disaster relief efforts.
Here are some points you can include in your letters
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On the first day of every month, I am fasting to stand in solidarity with vulnerable people who are going hungry as climate impacts worsen. I will keep fasting until world leaders including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and your own MP (please see sample letter and cc e-addresses) to do what's necessary to stop this madness and sign a fair and comprehensive plan in 2015 which will secure a safe climate future.
- Hundreds of people from all walks of life are fasting on the first day of the month in solidarity with vulnerable people who are now suffering from the impacts of climate change due to inadequate action. I fast to send a message to my government – I want them to be leaders on climate solutions, not laggards on climate pollution.
Vulnerable people are disproportionately affected by climate change, despite the fact that they have done the least to cause the crisis.
The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows with extreme certainty that climate change is real, caused by human activity and requires urgent action. According to the IPCC, sea levels are rising, precipitation patterns are changing, sea ice is declining and oceans are acidifying - all with grave consequences for our communities, environments and economies. Some regions of the world will experience more frequent or more intense droughts, floods or storms.
The IPCC also said that it's not too late to secure a safe climate, but to do so we must drastically reduce carbon pollution as soon as possible.
According to DARA, (Climate Vulnerable form) 5 million people are dying as a result of climate change impacts and the carbon economy.
Who's involved
A growing range of individuals, organizations and networks including members of youth groups Climate Action Network, individuals from the World Council of Churches and The Lutheran World Federation, the Global Call for Climate Action, Tearfund, Avaaz, 350.org, Fast for the Earth, and Climate Fast.
Social Media
Please share your fasting efforts on social media networks by using the hashtag: #fastfortheclimate