People’s Assemblies for Climate Justice: Taking action locally

Climate change is unfolding even faster than anticipated. Recent events ranging from devastating floods in Pakistan, droughts in the Sahel and Niger, and ice breaking off of Greenland are all consistent with patterns that climate scientists have been warning us of.

With international climate talks faltering, and a Canadian government driven more by interests in the tar sands than the urgent need for climate action, local organizing has as central role to play in addressing the climate crisis.

People’s Assemblies on Climate Justice is a model of organizing that can help transform awareness into local action by invigorating ongoing and new climate justice actions in your community. It is a space to discuss demands, commitments and visions for how things could be different.

In the lead up to the Cancun climate talks, the Council of Canadians – joined by the Indigenous Environmental Network, KAIROS and the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition – all helped sponsor People’s Assemblies on Climate Justice. Fourteen assemblies were held across the country. To read a report-back about these events go here.

We encourage people to continue to use this model to mobilize for climate justice across Canada. You will find helpful resources for hosting a People’s Assembly on Climate Justice in your community on this webpage.

Outreach video for People's Assemblies: (YouTube »)

Headline news from PACJ held during the Cancun climate negotiations:

Code Blue: Planet Earth - Peoples Assembly on Climate Justice, The Peterborough Examiner, December 7, 2010
Calgary advocates for 'climate justice' frustrated by lack of progress, Calgary Herald, December 6, 2010
Talking climate person-to-person, Leader Post, December 6, 2010
Broderick chides Canada on climate change efforts, The Guardian, December 3, 2010
TransLink to Push Freeways on Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, thecanadian.org, December 3, 2010
SLC Climate Conference, Brockville Recorder, December 2, 2010
People's Assembly on Climate Justice, Toronto Media Co-op, December 2, 2010
Climate justice meeting on Sunday, The Peterborough Examiner, December 1, 2010
Halifax People’s Assembly on Climate Justice, blogs.dal.ca, December 1, 2010
Local Council of Canadians Hosting The People's Assembly on Climate Justice Sunday, BrockNews, November 29, 2010
Cancun, and more Consequential C Words, The Tyee, November 29, 2010
People's Assembly for Climate Justice, London Fuse, November 28, 2010
People's Assembly & Direct Action, Pacific Free News, November 20, 2010
Metro Vancouver People’s Assembly on Climate Justice, Vancouver Media Co-op, November 18, 2010
Toronto Teach-In Responds to the Cochabamba Challenge, Socialist Voice, November 17, 2010
Activist Comminuque: Saturday - Lessons from Bolivia: Building a Global Movement for Climate Justice, Rabble.ca, November 14, 2010
Action for Climate Justice: Building the Climate Justice Movement, Vancouver Media Co-op, November 13, 2010

People's Assemblies on Climate Justice with Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians; Clayton Thomas-Muller, Tar Sands Campaigner, Indigenous Environmental Network; Tasha Peters, Organizer, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition;
Ian Thomson, Program Coordinator Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS; Andrea Harden-Donahue, Climate Justice Campaigner, Council of Canadians (YouTube »)