CARNEGIE HALL

Carnegie Hall

New York, New York, USA

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On November 5th, 2017, in the lead up to COP 23 taking place in Bonn, Germany, Pathway to Paris in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org organized a concert event at Carnegie Hall with incredible musicians and leading thinkers to highlight the importance of making Paris real. Pathway to Paris announced the 1000 Cities for Carbon Freedom at the event, inviting all cities of the world to transition to 100% renewables by 2040. All proceeds from the event were donated to 350.org, Pathway to Paris, and the UNDP.

The event featured performances and talks from Patti Smith, Bill McKibben, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Michael Stipe, Flea, Talib Kweli, Cat Power, Tanya Tagaq, Tenzin Choegyal, Rebecca Foon and Jesse Paris Smith.

“PATHWAY TO PARIS” CONCERT EVENT AT CARNEGIE HALL NOVEMBER 5th WITH PATTI SMITH, JOAN BAEZ, MICHAEL STIPE, FLEA, BILL MCKIBBEN, TALIB KWELI, VANDANA SHIVA, CAT POWER AND MANY MORE On November 5, 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. The event comes a one week after thousands of New York communities gathered for the Sandy5 mobilization, a march to remember the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, resist false and half measured solutions, and rise united to demand bold and swift action. At the event, Pathway to Paris will announce a global solution to climate change, a new initiative called 1000 Cities. 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. 1000 Cities will work in partnership with 350.org’s new Fossil Free campaign, dedicated to stopping new fossil fuel projects and transitioning to 100% renewable energy for all as fast as possible. The event will also highlight America's Pledge, a new initiative to bring together U.S. states, cities, businesses and citizens to ensure the United States remains a global leader in reducing emissions and delivering the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. In collaboration with Little Sun, aiming to call citizens of the world to action, all 2800 audience members at the concert will be asked to share a solar-powered sunrise raising their Little Suns and creating a feeling of connectivity and empowerment. After the event, lamps will be collected and donated to the people of Puerto Rico, offering relief to the citizens who have been left without electricity after the devastating hurricanes. All proceeds from this evening will be donated to 350.org, Pathway to Paris, and the United Nations Development Programme. This evening is supported by Ben & Jerry's, Seventh Generation, Modo Yoga NYC, Sustainability Solutions Group, and Trillium Foundation. Media partners include Nylon, ATTN:, and the Daily Fuel. “From a very young age I attached our enlightened and active progress as humans to an ability to fix our own problems,” says Michael Stipe. “Our most noble goal is to encourage and secure sustainable energy sources; and to support--rather than lessen-- Gaia, our home that we share with so many different species, life energies, and life forces. My attraction to Pathway is in seeing a younger generation approach these concerns with renewed vigor and interest, in turn inspiring each of us to deepen our commitment and resolve towards a better future for all.“ Flea says, “It is an honor for me to be a part of the Pathway to Paris project. I humble myself before the divine majesty of our planet. An opportunity to serve it is not one I would ever pass up. Our air, our water, our psychedelic beauty, this is all we have. “ 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.” 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. PATHWAY TO PARIS November 5th 2017 Carnegie Hall, New York City PATTI SMITH • BILL MCKIBBEN • DR. VANDANA SHIVA • MICHAEL STIPE JOAN BAEZ • FLEA • TALIB KWELI • CAT POWER • OLAFUR ELIASSON • TANYA TAGAQ • TENZIN CHOEGYAL • REBECCA FOON • JESSE PARIS SMITH Doors: 18:00 Show: 19:00 For ticket info: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2017/11/5/0700/PM/Pathway-to-Paris/ www.pathwaytoparis.com

Among the speakers and performers was Bill McKibben, climate change leader and writer, and one of the founders of 350.org. During his time onstage, he asked the audience to remove the DivestNY insert from their playbills, and use it to write a letter to NY Comptroller Scott Stringer, urging him to divest New York's pension fund from fossil fuels. Together, New York’s pension funds are among the largest in the world, representing a combined $390 billion.

Bill silently waited as the full hall read the information on the insert and wrote their letters. After the event, they were to drop them off in the lobby at the 350NYC table, or mail them from home. A few days later, 350 and Pathway to Paris mailed them to Scott Stringer's office, while also sending out calls to actions for anyone else in the city to send their own letters or visit DivestNY to send an email. A climate hearing with Public Advocate Tish James was scheduled, and it was urgent that anyone available attend the hearing and make a testimony. The turnout was a success, and the diversity of voices who shared their views, stories, facts, findings, solutions was absolutely incredible.

On, December 19th 2017, after over five years of community campaigning for New York to divest from fossil fuels, City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Governor Andrew Cuomo each released separate proposals to freeze all current fossil fuel investments, divest New York’s public pension funds fossil fuel companies, and reinvest in renewable energy. Bill McKibben issued the following statement: “The dam has broken: after years of great activism, New York has taken a massive step towards divesting from fossil fuels. Coming from the capital of world finance, this will resonate loud and clear all over the planet. It’s a crucial sign of how fast the financial pendulum is swinging away from fossil fuels.”

This is such a major victory and proof that grassroots activism -- using your voice, writing letters, speaking out, pushing for and attending hearings, working together, building the numbers, it all WORKS.

Patti Smith with Rebecca Foon and Jesse Paris Smith On November 5th, 2017, Pathway to Paris held an event at Carnegie Hall in partnership with 350.org and United Nations Development Programme, bringing together musicians, activists, writers, politicians to share in a night of music, talks, and unifying experiences all with a shared vision of turning the Paris Agreement into reality and moving into the era of renewable energy.

On November 5th, 2017, Pathway to Paris held an event at Carnegie Hall in partnership with 350.org and United Nations Development Programme, bringing together musicians, activists, writers, politicians to share in a night of music, talks, and unifying experiences all with a shared vision of turning the Paris Agreement into reality and moving into the era of renewable energy. Among the speakers and performers was Bill McKibben, climate change leader and writer, and one of the founders of 350.org. During his time onstage, he asked the audience to remove the DivestNY insert from their playbills, and use it to write a letter to NY Comptroller Scott Stringer, urging him to divest New York's pension fund from fossil fuels. Together, New York’s pension funds are among the largest in the world, representing a combined $390 billion. For what felt like an historic minute, (starts around 03:00 in the video) Bill silently waited as the full hall read the information on the insert and wrote their letters. After the event, they were to drop them off in the lobby at the 350NYC table, or mail them from home. A few days later, 350 and Pathway to Paris mailed them to Scott Stringer's office, while also sending out calls to actions for anyone else in the city to send their own letters or visit DivestNY to send an email. A climate hearing with Public Advocate Tish James was scheduled, and it was urgent that anyone available attend the hearing and make a testimony. The turn out was great, and the diversity of voices who shared their views, stories, facts, findings, solutions was absolutely incredible. Today, December 19th, after over five years of community campaigning for New York to divest from fossil fuels, City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Governor Andrew Cuomo each released separate proposals to freeze all current fossil fuel investments, divest New York’s public pension funds fossil fuel companies, and reinvest in renewable energy. Bill McKibben issued the following statement: “The dam has broken: after years of great activism, New York has taken a massive step towards divesting from fossil fuels. Coming from the capital of world finance, this will resonate loud and clear all over the planet. It’s a crucial sign of how fast the financial pendulum is swinging away from fossil fuels.” This is such a major victory and proof that grassroots activism -- using your voice, writing letters, speaking out, pushing for and attending hearings, working together, building the numbers, it all WORKS.