In late September, world leaders will convene in New York City for the UN Climate Summit. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited these leaders – who come from government, finance, business, and civil society – to bring big ideas for addressing climate change, and the summit is expected to be a step toward a global agreement on the subject. The summit has the potential to shape future climate policies.
The People’s Climate March in New York City on September 21 will be the world’s response to the summit, organized by over 1,000 organizations demanding climate justice. The event claims that it will be “the largest climate march in history,” and with over 15,000 attendees on the Facebook event page, it is poised to meet its claim. The People’s Climate March assembles at Columbus Circle and will begin at 11:30am.
Join WhyHunger and partners at the march to let the delegates know we want a climate treaty that represents justice for those who are the most vulnerable to environmental damage. The food justice contingent will march for one of the many solutions to the climate crisis: a healthy, sustainable food system. We will express ways that a healthy global food system, accessible to all people, can provide good jobs and reduce the greenhouse gasses emanated by industrial agriculture. Farmers, community and school gardeners, celebrity chefs, restaurant workers, culinary students, food processing workers and anti-hunger advocates will be marching alongside climate activists, faith groups, green business owners, and more.
To connect with the group, look for their “giant onion/globe with a root system that connects all our contingents” and listen for the “pots and pans percussion” that accompany signs with the core message: “cook food, not the planet.” Vandana Shiva is among the food justice leaders expected to speak at the event.
Logistics: We will be meeting on one of the side streets west of Central Park West at 11:00am. Send an email to the organizers at [email protected] and they will inform you of the exact location as soon as it is assigned. Don’t forget to bring hats, sun block, lots of water, whatever signs you wish to express your ideas, pots and pans and your great dedication to protecting our planet for generations to come.
For more details about the People’s Climate March, see their event website.
For more on how climate change affects the food system, visit the Food Security Learning Center topic Climate Change and the Food System.
For more events related to the UN Climate Summit, check out the NYC Climate Convergence events September 19-21.
