In the largest climate march in history, over 400,000 people made their voices heard at the People’s Climate March on the streets of New York City on Sunday, with thousands taking part in solidarity events in 166 countries. Meat Free Monday joined Meatless Monday and global MFM groups to promote the ‘one day a week’ message.
Leonardo Di Caprio, in his new role as UN Messenger of Peace, told world leaders: “You can make history or you will be vilified for it”.
The Meat Free Monday Climate Pledge campaign (#MFMclimatepledge) has had a tremendous response since its launch in London two weeks ago. Headed by the Rt Hon Greg Barker MP and Mary and Stella McCartney, the campaign encouraged people to pledge their support for a weekly meat free day, so that Greg Barker could present the results at the UN Climate Summit to show the magnitude of support – in just two weeks, tens of thousands of pledges.
Meat Free Monday has been running for five years and there are similar campaigns in 35 countries, including in the USA where Meatless Monday is widely supported. It is estimated that approximately two million people have a dedicated weekly Meat Free Monday around the world, including school children.
Paul McCartney recorded a video message last week and a final event on Monday in New York – attended by Mark Ruffalo, Lily Cole, Greg Barker and Amber Rudd, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate – gave a final boost to the campaign.
During its short run, #MFMclimatepledge has reached over 45 million people through social media such as LINE, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It has attracted almost 120,000 likes, 5,000 comments and 25,000 shares and retweets, and general awareness of Meat Free Monday has greatly increased.
In addition to Mark Ruffalo and Lily Cole, the campaign has been backed by Mayim Bialik, Pamela Anderson, Sophie Dahl, Sharleen Spiteri, Victoria Pendleton and environmental NGOs including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and WWF.
Greg Barker updated David Cameron at the UN Summit yesterday, and it is hoped that the results of this campaign will help David Cameron and other world leaders take the Meat Free Monday idea forward, including in the momentous climate treaty negotiations at the COP 21 in Paris next year.
Thanks to everyone who pledged their support and please keep spreading the word about Meat Free Monday!