PATHWAY TO PARIS LAUNCHES THE 1000 CITIES INITIATIVE Urging the world’s cities to become 100% Renewable to turn the Paris Agreement into action www.care2.com/1000cities The world is transitioning into a new era; a world no longer dependent on fossil fuels. Today Pathway to Paris and Care2 launch the 1000 Cities initiative, a bold mission to meet and go beyond the targets of the Paris Agreement. The initiative invites all cities of the world to transition off of fossil fuels and move to 100% renewable energy by 2040, in order to turn the Paris Agreement into reality. Visit www.care2.com/1000cities to take action. Every signature will automatically send an email letter to the governing body of the the signer’s city, urging them to join this crucial cause. “Pathway to Paris is more than a name - it’s an ideal,” said Rebecca Foon. “Cities have a remarkable and necessary part to play in moving us towards achieving, and possibly even surpassing, the goals of the Paris Agreement.” Jesse Paris Smith added: “The climate movement is in urgent need of massive global collaboration - it requires the involvement of all cities of the world, all citizens. We all need to join together to make this movement the most ambitious collaboration of our century.” "Care2 is thrilled to join Pathway to Paris in launching this important global initiative," said Randy Paynter Founder & CEO of Care2. "If we are able to get 1000 cities to join the cause we will be able to fulfill the vision of the Paris agreement and bypass our current administration and other climate deniers who stand in the way." To accompany the petition, Pathway to Paris has shared a video including figures like Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston, Tony Hawk, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, Flea, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Olafur Eliasson, urging citizens of the world to sign on to the campaign and push to shift our cities to 100% renewable energy. The launch of 1000 Cities will be one of the focuses of Pathway to Paris’ upcoming concert for climate action, being held at Carnegie Hall on November 5 in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org. The evening is set to advance the important work turning the Paris Agreement into action by bringing together internationally-recognized musicians and speakers – such as Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Bill McKibben, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Achim Steiner, Olafur Eliasson, Tanya Tagaq, Flea, Talib Kweli, Cat Power, Michael Stipe, Tenzin Choegyal, and Pathway to Paris founders Rebecca Foon and Jesse Paris Smith - for a night of incredible performances and speeches. Joan Baez says, “Mother Nature has grown weary of our selfish disregard for all she tries to offer and she is angry. I fear for the earth my grandchild will inherit, as I can’t imagine her life will be anything approaching the hopes we have for her and the shining dreams she may have for herself. We won’t know if it’s too late for radical action to keep this globe inhabitable unless we try it. I’m pleased to be a part of this evening’s wake-up call to all people who cherish the sound of a meadowlark and who are willing to fight for its right to sing.” Olafur Eliasson adds, “today we have to respond to our present situation, where natural resources are no longer abundant. We need to raise awareness and initiate an urgent discussion about our future. Art, I believe, has great potential for changing the way we discuss an issue as important as climate change. It makes something not only comprehensible for the mind but also physically tangible - turning thinking into doing.” Tickets for the November 5 concert are on sale now and can be purchased by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website: https://www.carnegiehall.org/ Pathway to Paris, an initiative in partnership with 350.org and United Nations Development Programme, will bring together musicians, artists, activists, academics, mayors, and innovators to raise consciousness surrounding the urgency of climate action and offer solutions to turn the Paris agreement into real action. Pathway to Paris was founded in September 2014 by Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon, with an intimate evening of music and speakers at Le Poisson Rouge immediately following the People’s Climate March in New York City. A series of similar events unfolded in North America over the ensuing years. The events were initially intended to build awareness to help establish a global climate agreement, leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference (Cop21) that took place in December 2015, and culminated with two major concerts in Paris at Le Trianon, the first weekend of the conference. www.pathwaytoparis.com