FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2015
Historic Catholic Climate Lenten Fast to Be Held in 45
Countries Calling for Decisive Climate Action
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) announced today that more than 45 countries
will take part in a 40-day Lenten fast for climate justice, from Ash Wednesday, February 18, to
March 28th. Participants in the Lenten fast are praying for unity on climate change within the
Catholic church and asking world leaders to take all steps possible to meet the goal of a global
temperature increase of less than 1.5 degrees Celsius (relative to pre-industrial levels), by means
that include a fair, ambitious, and legally binding global agreement in the COP 21 summit in
Paris.
On a personal level, the GCCM 40-day fast encourages participants to fast from both food as
well as the use of oil, electricity, plastic, paper, water, and toxins during Lent.
The movement chose fasting for its first worldwide action because, “Pope Francis made it clear
from the start that all people need to act as ‘protectors of creation.’ We encourage Catholics
around the world to unite, pray and fast in solidarity with those who are most affected by the
changing global climate,” stated Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of the U.S. based Franciscan
Action Network.
Martin O’Malley the former Governor of Maryland said: "Uniting people of all faiths is the
principle that we are called upon to be good and responsible stewards of God's creation. That’s
why I’m glad to join the Global Catholic Climate Movement and fast with people of faith from all
across the United States on March 16th to raise awareness about the dangers of climate
change."
Yeb Saño, who is the Climate Commissioner from the Philippines who captured the world’s
attention with his own fast during U.N. meetings following Typhoon Haiyan, said: “The power
behind fasting lies in its purity of purpose and the sense of selflessness necessary to embark on
fasting. This is the power of the fast—because it is meant for our aspirations of a better world.”
Jacqui Rémond, Executive Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia added: “It is important that
we call for a strong climate agreement that keeps global temperatures to 1.5 °C - this threshold
was in the first three Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments and also in
the IPCC Fifth Assessment report (AR5). A world even at 1.5°C will mean more severe droughts,
flooding and sea level rise, increasing the risk of damage from storm surges and crop loss, as
well as food and water security issues. Vulnerable coastal communities across the world
especially need to be protected.”
"Climate change is the greatest environmental and ecological challenge we face over the next
century. For centuries fasts have served as important acts of personal and community conscious
raising. This fast reminds us that we have a duty to be stewards to preserve and restore our
world, by doing so we will ensure a healthy environment for our future generations and
particularly for our most vulnerable - children, seniors, and people living in poverty," said
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3)
Ciara Shannon, coordinator of Our Voices in Asia stated: “Amidst our busy, consumption led
lives - fasting during Lent is a great opportunity to reflect and abstain. The GCCM Lenten Fast
also includes the option to do a carbon fast. This gives us a great opportunity to think about the
food itself, how it is grown, how much water is used, how it is transported and then packaged. It
always shocks me the amount of emissions that are involved.”
The GCCM 40 day Climate Justice Fast is part of the 365 day #FASTFORTHECLIMATE which has
been happening since the 1st of December 2014 the start of COP20 in Lima and will continue
until the 30th of November 2015, at the beginning of COP21 in Paris. The GCCM Climate Justice
Fast is also in collaboration with the Green Anglicans Carbon Fast and Our Voices Climate Fast.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------Notes for Editor
Founded in 2014, the GCCM is an organization of lay Catholics, clergy, and religious, scientists
and activists, networking through new media to promote worldwide reflection, prayer and
action on Catholic teaching on the care of God’s Creation. Further information on the GCCM
Climate Justice Fast can be found at www.CatholicClimateMovement.global/Fast
GCCM Fasters Contact Details:
● Australia: Jacqui Rémond, Catholic Earthcare Australia. +61 (02) 8907 9500 (office) +61
0413 715 375 (cell) | jacqui.remond@catholicearthcare.org.au
● Africa: Allen Ottaro, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa
(CYNESA)+254721605830 (cell) | cynes.africa@gmail.com
● Asia:
-Lou Arsenio, Archdiocese of Manila Ecology Ministry, Philippines
+63 908 869 0211 | 61louva@gmail.com
-Ciara Shannon, Our Voices (Asia)+852 62096775 (cell) | ciarashannon.hk@gmail.com
● Latin America: Dr. Pablo Canziani, Red Argentina de Laicos, referente Acción Católica
Argentina, Investigador Principal Conicet+54-9-11-3582-2279 | pocanziani@gmail.com
● USA: Patrick Carolan, Franciscan Action Network+1-202-527-7565 (office) +1-203-522-2324
(cell) | pcarolan@franciscanaction.org
Further information on #FASTFORTHECLIMATE can be found at: www.fastfortheclimate.org
Further information on the Carbon Fast at: www.greenanglicans.org/carbon-fast-lent-2015/
Further information on Our Voices can be found at: www.ourvoices.net