For Immediate Release
September 8th MEDIA RELEASE
CANDIDATES URGED TO SIGN PLEDGE IN CODE RED FOR THE PLANET
Toronto — On September 8th 2021, members of TEAM Climate 2021 and ClimateFast are launching a campaign for pledge signatures from candidates across the country.
What: Launch of Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty pledge campaign
When: September 8th
Where: Queen’s Park rally 11 – 1 (part of Canada is still on Fire)
Livestream: : https://www.facebook.com/events/272784237767854
Who: ClimateFast, and TEAMClimate2021.
The goal of the campaign is to invite all the candidates in as many ridings as possible to sign a candidate’s pledge promising to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty campaign. This treaty initiative calls for an end to expansion of coal, oil and gas, a phase out of existing fossil fuels, and a just transition to a low-carbon future.
Additionally the pledge calls on candidates to take leadership towards negotiating an international treaty to end new expansion of fossil fuel use once elected. A Fossil Fuel Exit Strategy outlines how to transition to net zero.
“It’s Code Red for the planet. We have to say NO to the fossil fuel industry. No more expansion, no more subsidies; our atmosphere is saturated already.” said Lyn Adamson of ClimateFast, a member of the TEAM Climate 2021 coalition. “We need 100% renewables, and we need a massive deep retrofit program across the country to bring down emissions. We need these programs NOW.”
Toronto and Vancouver have already passed motions endorsing the treaty at the municipal level and calling on the federal government to follow suit. The Toronto campaign is profiled here and the motion passed by Toronto council can be found here.
This campaign reflects growing momentum globally to end the fossil fuel era. The International Energy Agency called for an end to fossil fuel development in its report in May of 2021. The most recent IPCC report was also heralded as a ”death knell” for the fossil fuel industry by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
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ABOUT THE FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY INITIATIVE
https://fossilfueltreaty.org
About the pledge campaign in Canada:
https://climatefast.ca/blogs/please-help-us-deliver-letters-and-pledge-forms-candidates
For more information or to schedule interviews about the Fossil Fuel Treaty pledge initiative, contact Lyn Adamson, Co-Chair, ClimateFast lyn@climatefast.ca or call 416-731-6605. For French interviews call Rosemary Boissonneau, 416-436-0482.
ClimateFast is a dedicated volunteer group working to build and support a strong, informed civic movement that makes climate justice a top priority and motivates our elected officials to take decisive and urgent action. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLIMATEFAST/ Twitter: @ClimateFast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatefastaction/
TeamClimate2021 is a coalition of 11 climate groups working together to make this a climate election. We are registered as a third party with Elections Canada.