Background to Fast for the Climate
When Typhoon Haiyan had just devastated the Philippines in November 2013, climate commissioner Yeb Saño was at the UN climate talks in Warsaw. His own family was caught up in the disaster that killed thousands and destroyed homes and livelihoods across the country.
In a moving speech he said he would not eat until countries at the Warsaw conference delivered actions that would ‘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.
The Fast For The Climate has grown into global movement with participation of youth groups, environmental groups and faith-based groups, who all want urgent action on climate change by governments this year.
365 days of fasting
From December 1, 2014 until January 31, 2015, Fast for the Climate danced its way across Latin America, with one inspirational faith, community or activist leader fasting every day in an unbroken chain across the continent. We started in Lima on the first day of the UN Climate Talks, then finished up the Latin American leg of the 365 Days two months later. Now, the 365 Days of Fasting heads north. It continues on towards Paris, making its way across North America in February and March 2015.
You can join all these fasters by signing up to Fast for the Climate on the website, fastfortheclimate.org. By doing so, you’ll join a global movement of people who fast each first day of the month as a sign of solidarity with those affected by climate change, and to demand climate action by our leaders. By joining us you’ll add your voice to the call to world leaders to act bravely and in the interest of those must vulnerable to climate change.