ClimateFast evolved from the Hungry for Climate Leadership fast and vigil, held for twelve days on Parliament Hill, from September 21 - October 2, 2012. The purpose was to demand that the Canadian government address climate change, the greatest threat to our children. More than 100 MPs pledged support, and it was endorsed by organizations such as Sierra Club, Lead Now, Ottawa Raging Grannies, Physicians for Global Survival, Council of Canadians and Canadian Voice of Women for Peace.
In 2015, the name was reinterpreted to refer to the climate emergency: we need action FAST!
Candles for COP
In 2023, ClimateFast, alongside other environmental groups, participated in several events to raise awareness and advocate for action on climate change. They joined a candlelight vigil organized by For the Love of Creation in Toronto's Matt Cohen Park, reflecting on the importance of addressing climate change and expressing hopes for transformative action at COP28.
ClimateFast also collaborated with For the Love of Creation and Trinity-St. Paul's United Church for a candlelight vigil, urging meaningful progress at COP27. They emphasized the need for a just transition to renewable energy through events like the March 12 Day of Action, where they advocated for bold legislation to create green jobs and accelerate the move away from fossil fuels.
Power Up For Climate Solutions
ClimateFast took part in a rally protesting the expansion of the Portlands gas power plant, aligning with the Power Up campaign by 350.org to advocate for a shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources. These efforts were part of ongoing activism to urge Ontario to prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency over natural gas.
Media Advocacy
ClimateFast's Mainstream Media Team was formed in October 2021 to learn how to work with mainstream media to improve the amount and effectiveness of climate change reporting to the Canadian public. They conducted interviews with climate reporters. In 2022, a total of 545 action letters were sent to the CBC executive team demanding that they better inform the Canadian public about the climate crisis. ClimateFast is now participating in the CBC Climate Emergency Campaign led by Seth Klein and the Climate Emergency Unit.
Budget training and deputations
Every year from 2020-2024 ClimateFast has organized municipal budget training sessions. At each session guest presenters provide advice on how to write a letter to Council, how to give a deputation to Council and how to meet with your City Councillor.
Protect the Greenbelt
ClimateFast has a long history of advocacy for environmental protection. In 2022 we actively opposed Bill 23, organizing rallies and submitting petitions to protest the legislation, which threatened to expand suburban sprawl into protected Greenbelt lands. We participated in a November 2022 rally against the bill at Premier Doug Ford's office and encouraged others to join similar protests. We also engaged in advocacy efforts, including making submissions to committee hearings and collecting petitions.
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
In 2021, ClimateFast celebrated significant progress in the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT) during COP28, with more cities and countries joining the initiative. We played a role in urging Toronto to sign the treaty, which was accomplished with the support of councillors Mike Layton and Shelley Carroll. This move made Toronto one of 100 cities worldwide advocating for a complete phaseout of fossil fuels. Notably, Colombia became the second oil-producing country to join the treaty, following Timor Leste. Currently, ten countries globally support the FFNPT. ClimateFast encouraged individuals, organizations, and municipalities to sign on supporting the treaty, highlighting the 12 Canadian municipalities already backing the initiative and aiming for more support in 2024.
Kitchen Table Climate Conversations
Climate Fast started Kitchen Table Climate Conversations (KTCC) in 2019, training over 100 volunteer facilitators to convene discussions about the climate emergency, and to handle eco-anxiety. These skills, coupled with key science visuals and information on health risks associated with the climate crisis, readied us to hold conversations and face the climate challenge head on. We offer a KTCC toolkit to enable others to organize and facilitate climate conversations, that includes a suggested, timed agenda. ClimateFast Action Youtube channel contains links to past training webinars and workshops. We can offer assistance with the technical aspects of virtual KTCC’s and support for facilitators is also available. Reach out to ktcc@climatefast.ca or through our contact form.
Global Climate Strike
The 2019 Global Climate Strike, held between September 20th and September 27th, was a series of international strikes and protests demanding climate action. We helped with the September 27th climate strike coalition rally/march and with three events during the Week of the Future. The protests took place across 4,500 locations in 150 countries and were part of the school strike for climate movement inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. 350.org, a group that organized many of the protests, claims that 7.6 million people participated. ClimateFast also participated in the 2021 Global March for Climate, participated in the ‘Canada On Fire’ rally and joined the N6 coalition to help organize and participate in the November 6th rally for Climate Justice. Again in 2023, we participated in a September Global March to End Fossil Fuels.
Climate Film Festivals
ClimateFast was one of several groups who organized the Toronto Climate Film Festival. In April and May 2017 we had a fantastic turnout at each of the three screenings of the film Revolution that were held in North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough. In October 2017 three screenings of Beyond Crisis were shown and in 2019 two other film were shown: Plastics and Taking Root.
Toronto's Climate Challenge
In April 2017, 200 people attended a presentation Climatefast organized at City Hall with Dianne Saxe, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, and Jim Baxter, Direction of Environment and Energy Division City of Toronto, speaking on the TransformTO 2050 climate action plan that was going to be released at the end of April. Also in attendance was Councillor Mary-Margaret, chair of the Parks and Environment Committee and councillor Sarah Doucette. At the end of the presentation, a Q & A session was held, followed by workshops on deputation and letter writing.
Valentine's Tea for the Mayor
On the eve of the council vote in 2017 to fund TransformTO, students of Thorncliffe Park Public School brought Valentines expressing their love for nature, the city, and their concerns about climate change to City Hall for the Mayor and their City Councillor, Jon Burnside. The students were brought by one of their teachers, James Snetsinger, and accompanied by several parents. The students have returned on other occasions to deputize, and their words were warmly received, with councillors offering them high 5s all around. Climatefast organized a grassroots campaign asking for full funding and delivered a petition with over 1500 signatures. A letter to all the councillors referenced Mayor Tory’s own Paris statement committing him to climate action. Sadly, Mayor Tory voted against the motion to extend full funding for TransformTO. The council adopted a budget funding only three of the programs for a total of $330,000, or 20% of the funds. The vote fell short by two votes in a 23-21 decision. However, there is no question many more councillors voted to support the full budget as a result of the lobbying by citizens, and the issue was highlighted at city hall.
Acting on Climate Change: A Path for Canada
Climatefast joined with other environmental and social justice groups in sending a joint letter to the Prime Minister and provincial Premiers to embrace the policy changes needed for Canada to meet its Paris commitments. This was part of sustained advocacy through letter writing and MP visits that resulted in climate action being included in the platform that the Liberals put forward in 2015. They included our three asks: end fossil fuel subsidies, put a price on carbon, and develop a renewable energy plan for Canada. While little progress has been made on fossil fuel subsidies, the government has brought in a minimum carbon price of $10 per tonne in 2018, rising to $50 per tonne in 2022. Clean Tech is an area receiving funding support from the current federal government.
Rallies on Parliament Hill
ClimateFast held rallies on Parliament Hill in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2012 a fast and vigil was held for 12 days, and resulted in over 100 MPs pledging support for addressing the climate crisis. In 2013,frustrated by the lack of government action, the Fasters once again raised the “Hungry for Climate Leadership” “Hungry for Climate Justice” banner on Parliament Hill, and returned in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to press their concerns for four days vigils on Parliament Hill, and meetings with MPs. Each year they called for all MPs to stand together for climate action: for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, a meaningful price on carbon, and a renewable energy plan for Canada.