WHO WE ARE
The Beginning
Climate Justice Toronto is a grassroots group of young people across the Greater Toronto Area who seek to build an irresistible* and powerful movement to stop the climate crisis by confronting its root causes: capitalism, colonialism and white supremacy.
Founded in March 2019, CJTO was formed by youth who attended the Powershift: Young and Rising summit held in Ottawa, as well as members of the Fight for $15 and Fairness. We are a radical, evolving and introspective group with the aim of building an army of young organizers who want to build a collectively oriented, just society through a diverse set of tactics.
* “The role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible.” by Toni Cade Bambara
Our Vision
We draw our power from each other and our communities to do the collective work of envisioning a society that works for the many, not the few. We are fighting for a just transition to a 100% renewable carbon-free economy, which will require: good jobs for all so no worker is left behind, migrant and racial justice so no community is left behind, and Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
To make this a reality we work from the bottom-up, take the lead from those most impacted by the climate crisis, unite in solidarity with social struggles and seek to mobilize an unprecedented army of young organizers. Our movement will achieve transformative change by treating the future as a public good, not a private luxury.
Our Structure
CJTO is grouped into four central Branches: Campaigns & Mass Mobilization; Public Education & Storytelling; Community Care, Mutual Aid, & Access; Systems & Admin.
Each of these branches are decentralized and their own centres of power and decision-making. Branches carry the work of CJTO and are accountable to our political principles.
OUR PRINCIPLES
We build our power through nurturing relationships with one another and our communities
We show up for others’ struggles as if they were our own — because they are
We tell our stories and honour each other’s stories, and in doing so centre those at the frontlines of the climate crisis
We embody nonviolent direct action in principle and practice
We take care of ourselves and each other to make way for the type of radical community care that we wish to see in the world
We honour and heed the needs of communities who bear the brunt of the climate crisis
We take the lead from Black and Indigenous peoples and their movements for liberation from colonialism and white supremacy
We are everyday people from all walks of life
