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Churches working for peace and justice

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Season of Creation

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Creationtide, Creation Time or the Season of Creation is the name given to the period from 1 September to 4 October each year. During this time, churches are encouraged to have a focus on creation, with all the joys and responsibilities that being part of God’s creation brings to us.

2023: Let Peace and Justice Flow

Eco-Congregation Scotland’s resources for 2023
Season of Creation 2023 guide

2022: Just Desserts? A focus on Food

We have produced a new food-focused resource for use in services or in small groups.

Many of our churches plan a ‘Harvest’ service each year in September or October: this year, we encourage you to celebrate the Season of Creation and Harvest by thinking about some of the big questions that we face today as Christians who care for creation.

We have some video interviews with a farmer who works tirelessly to make nutritious food, and we consider how ethical and just we can be in the choices we make about the foods we buy.

Visit the Just Desserts resources page

Season of Creation: Pick and Mix Resources

In a co-production between JPIT and Eco-Congregation Scotland, in 2021 we gathered together writers, theologians, ministers and worship leaders to prepare resources you can easily integrate into a Season of Creation in-person, online or hybrid meeting. They allow for worship and challenge, discussion and exploration, and meditation and action.

If your worship services follow the Revised Common Lectionary, you will find that some of the items are based around the readings for each Sunday of the Season of Creation during 2021. Other items are undated and appropriate for use at any time.

As always, we would love to hear from you if you have suggestions, or to tell us how your activity went.

Eco-Congregation Scotland resources

All-age activities

Building an outdoor worship space

James 2 activities [PDF, Lectionary-based]

Nature sensing

Weekly challenges [based on the gospel readings from the Lectionary]

[See also ‘Lego Bricks Isaiah 35’ and ‘Environment Sunday’ videos, below]

Discussion questions

Climate discussion questions

Poems

‘Do I love you when I burn my carbon?’ [YouTube video]

‘Hope overflows’ (The butterfly poem)

Prayers

Contemplative prayer based on Mark 8:36 [Lectionary: Sunday 12 September]

Creation: a prayer for humility

Liturgical prayers by Revd Andy Braunston [PDF, Lectionary-based]

[See also the video prayers below]

Reflections & sermons

Sermons and reflections written by Revd David Coleman [Eco-Congregation Scotland website, Lectionary-based]

Services

A Climate Sunday service script (includes an Ignatian-style meditation)
Resource sheet to accompany the service [PDF]

Climate Sunday worship resources [Climate Sunday website]

[See also ‘Environment Sunday’ video, below]

Video

Environment Sunday – an all-age service [YouTube, 51’30”]

‘Bad Judge!‘ sketch from James 2 by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 5’33”; Lectionary: Sunday 5 September]

Gospel, Earthed – dramatic readings by Jo Clifford [Eco-Congregation website, Lectionary-based]

Lego Bricks Isaiah 35 by Harry, Eric & Jennifer Dobson [YouTube, 1’18”; Lectionary: Sunday 5 September]

Prayer about energy use by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 1’59”]

Prayer for COP by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 3’33”]

Psalms under Heaven [Eco-Congregation website, Lectionary-based]

Stories from Ethiopia (a video series by All We Can)

The voice we need to hear [YouTube, sermon by Revd David Coleman, 12’36”]

‘Tree Prayer‘ by Barry Watson [YouTube, 2’59”]

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Our Season of Creation resources are co-produced by

Eco-Congregation Scotland

Latest ‘Environment’ posts

  • Church leaders respond to net zero announcement

    In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on net zero policies, the following joint statement has been issued by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. We are dismayed that the Prime Minister is delaying the implementation of policies to achieve net zero. As Christian leaders we are deeply committed to encouraging all within our sphere of influence to be ambitious in reaching net zero as we seek to care for God’s creation. This transition must be rapid, equitable and just. At a time when so many people are struggling financially, the government has a crucial role to play in ensuring the cost of transition to net zero does not fall most heavily on those least able to afford it. Delaying measures to insulate homes will have the opposite effect, and slowing efforts to reduce fossil fuel use will increase climate impacts on vulnerable communities around the globe. Extreme weather events this year have demonstrated the urgency of the situation. The independent Climate Change Committee have assessed that even current policy measures are insufficient to meet the UK’s climate targets. The government needs to urgently demonstrate how it will get the UK back on track to reach net zero before 2050. The commitments made at COP26 were instrumental in providing confidence to industry, investors and civil society that the UK was serious about rising to the climate challenge. It is a source of extreme disappointment that the Prime Minister’s announcement will damage that confidence and undermine our collective efforts. As a country, we have moral and legal responsibilities to show leadership in tackling the climate emergency together. Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference Deacon Kerry Scarlett, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

  • Loss and Damage in the run up to COP-28
    Factories with emissions coming out.

    Our headlines are once again inundated with extreme weather reports and dire climate warnings. From raging wildfires to scorching heat and catastrophic storms, one thing is clear: the impacts of climate change are here, with universal consequences.  Over the past 50 years, extreme weather has caused economic losses of over $4.3 trillion and deaths of 2 million.[1] These are figures continuing to rise and disproportionately impacting poorer and more vulnerable countries. Loss and Damage refers to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, which the poorest and most vulnerable countries are ill-equipped to face. The impacts of climate change are universal, but they are by no means equal. While emergency services struggle to cope across Europe, flood damage is generally repaired, fires put out and those in need evacuated. The story is completely different further afield – where extreme weather is devastating livelihoods and wiping out entire villages.[2] It is these catastrophic impacts, on those who have done the least to cause climate change, that make the urgency of establishing a loss and damage fund painstakingly clear. COP27 ended with a commitment to establish a Loss and Damage fund to support those disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, paid for by wealthier nations. This was a huge win for campaigners, and we are thankful for the recognition of the urgent need for Loss and Damage finance. However, we are still a long way away from seeing money in the hands of those who need it. COP27 may have agreed on the creation of a fund, but the nitty gritty of who pays and how remains to be seen. COP27 created a Transitional Committee under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), responsible for developing a Loss and Damage Fund. The Committee is made up of 24 members – 14 from developing countries and 10 from developed (including the UK). The Committee is expected to bring a proposal for how the Loss and Damage fund should work to COP28. The Committee had their first meeting in Luxor, Egypt, in March 2023. Discussions appear to be progressing well. However, preparing the proposals is no small feat and there remain several concerns about the ability of the Committee and COP28 to finally deliver Loss and Damage financing. Firstly, there is a lot we still don’t know about what the Loss and Damage fund will look like. The COP27 agreement talked about “new and additional funding arrangements”. It is important that these are really ‘new’ and not depleting existing funds allocated to mitigation and adaptation. Nor can we permit countries to simply re-label their humanitarian aid as Loss and Damage funding.[3] Secondly, there remain significant tensions about who should pay into the fund – particularly in the case of China, where an absence of historical responsibility is contrasted with present wealth and high emissions. There is also ongoing disagreement about how broad the scheme should be. Climate campaigners are pushing for a broad fund which builds climate resilience, whilst the United States and others want the fund more tightly focused on ‘non-economic losses’ and ‘slow onset’ disasters like islands sinking.[4] Small Island Developing States have countless claims regarding the erasure of their entire countries and heritage.[5] Prioritising these against dire outlooks elsewhere is an extraordinary task. Finally, the most controversial things (clear guidelines on the financing, scope and mechanism of the fund) are all left to be agreed at COP28. Given the credentials of COP28 President Sultan Al Jabar as chief executive of a large oil company, many are already questioning the ability of COP28 to deliver. Mohamed Nasr, Egypt’s lead negotiator, said “Should we fix this discussion on who’s going to pay, or should we respond to them as soon as possible, and continue our process? I think this is the way we see it; we should respond as soon as possible”.[6] There is much merit to this point. Discussions around the technicalities of Loss and Damage can go on indefinitely. Indeed, Loss and Damage was first introduced to UN climate negotiations around 1991.[7] There cannot be 30 more years of negotiations because it will simply be too late. Some small island countries may be uninhabitable by 2050. 143 million people are estimated to be displaced by weather-related events by 2050.[8] COP28 must deliver Loss and Damage financing. To this end, it is important to keep pressure on our politicians around Loss and Damage. As the fiscal situation in the UK continues to deteriorate, both the Labour and Conservative parties are hugely reluctant to commit to spending promises. In this context, it is difficult to imagine the UK serving as an advocate for the big amounts of money needed for Loss and Damage without strong public awareness. Click here for more information on Loss and Damage Click here for a template letter to send to your MP on Loss and Damage [1] https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/atlas-of-mortality [2] https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/climate-change/loss-and-damage-testimonials-videos [3] https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/podcast/loss-and-damage-finance-becomes-reality/ [4] https://www.voanews.com/a/explainer-will-cop28-deliver-a-new-fund-for-climate-loss-and-damage-/7127095.html [5] Developing countries need a loss and damage fund for climate change. How can COP28 make it happen? – Atlantic Council [6] https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/03/27/cop27-finally-put-a-loss-and-damage-fund-on-the-map-what-can-we-expect-on-the-way-to-cop28 [7] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/a/wg2crp08.pdf [8] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190813-how-to-save-a-sinking-island-nation

  • Environment Sunday – Hope in the face of Climate Crisis

    A few weeks ago, an estimated more than 60,000 people attended ‘The Big One’, a climate protest organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR). Using different tactics from previous XR protests, the weekend brought together 200 organisations. Representatives from all three of JPIT’s denominations formed part of a faiths service held on the Friday, and the subsequent march to Westminster, demonstrating our continued concern for creation. And yet again, it feels like when the protestors went home there was little change within the walls of the Palace of Westminster. Protests can cause hassle to politicians and members of the general public but, still, the climate crisis does not seem to be the top of our government’s agenda. Despite the critical need for structural change in order to protect vulnerable people and nations from the harshest effects of the climate crisis, we have seen little change. The outlook feels bleak. But, as Christians, we know that there is hope: ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.’ (Revelation 21.1) Whilst I don’t pretend to have all the answers for what John is describing in Revelation, this passage does speak of the centrality of the renewal of creation to God’s plan for the world. Just as Jesus came to ‘bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners’ (Isaiah 61: 1), so too does God’s plan involve the healing and restoration of the planet. The need to care for and restore creation is central to our role as stewards of God’s creation. God invites us to join in with this journey. We can pray for international cooperation, for scientists finding solutions to the climate crisis. We can attend protests and marches, write to our MPs and speak truth to power. Our churches can join the Eco Church scheme, or get involved with the Net Zero in My Neighbourhood project, engaging with our local politicians to bring our local communities closer to flourishing. And we can host a Environment Sunday service. As we approach Environment Sunday this year, how could you or your community exhibit the hope of the gospel in the face of the climate crisis? You can find some resources from our denominations and other organisations below to support your planning for Environment Sunday. Resources Climate Sunday: https://www.climatesunday.org/service-resources Tearfund: https://www.tearfund.org/stories/2020/08/how-your-church-can-get-involved-with-climate-sunday A Rocha: https://arocha.org/en/ Methodist Environment Resources: https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/seasons-and-themes/themes/climate-and-creation/worship-resources/ United Reformed Church: https://urc.org.uk/could-you-hold-a-climate-sunday/ https://urc.org.uk/environmental-policy/ Baptist Union Environment Network (BUEN): https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/349554/Baptist_Union_Environment.aspx

  • Local elections: what have they got to do with climate change?

    Voter IDYou now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote for May 2023 local elections is 17 April.Learn More Don’t councils just fix potholes and collect the bins? Why does it matter who is elected? What do they have to do with climate change? On 4th May, 4862 council wards representing over 8000 seats and a handful of mayoralties across England are up for election (Click here to find out if there’s an election in your area). This is around 70% of all wards in England, meaning there is potential for lots of change in local government across the country. Local elections are often viewed as a temperature check on how the electorate are feeling about the main parties in Westminster. It can be tempting to transplant issues of national policy onto a local election, voting in accordance with historic loyalty or your current judgement on the national government or opposition. This is also reflected in the different approaches of political parties: Labour are using it as a trial run for the next general election, the Conservatives are seeking to manage expectations given their 20 point gap in opinion polls, and the Liberal Democrats are targeting Conservative voters frustrated by the rhetoric of MPs in their party.   Given all of this, it may seem odd to focus on local elections and climate change. Climate change is not likely to feature heavily in election campaigning, when councils are focussing on funding and crucial public services in the cost of living crisis. It might also be suggested that focussing on the effects of local government’s response to the climate crisis is insufficient when the latest IPCC report warns of ‘a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all’. Click here to read the report. Yet, the local is a key arena for policy in the fight against climate change. The All Party Parliamentary Group on the Green New Deal has argued that practical action that is within reach for councils and communities can be transformative. The Local Government Association has also shown that councils can have influence over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in their area. They have real power in important areas like transport, buildings, energy, waste, planning, and public awareness. The cumulative effect of every council taking strong climate action would go a long way to building a greener, fairer country. It’s also important to note that local climate action can have a number of co-benefits: better access to green spaces, education about nature, improved walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and better connections with your neighbours to name a few. We can all benefit from an improved living environment and greater harmony with the world around us. One of our hopes at JPIT is for a planet where our environment is renewed. We’re also interested in a more relational approach to politics, rooted in our communities and places. Through our Net Zero In My Neighbourhood campaign, we’re encouraging Christians and churches to engage with their local councils’ climate action plans. This brings together an opportunity to build relationships for change in our neighbourhoods, with tangible actions for climate justice. As the elections approach, here are a few ways you can advocate for climate justice. I’d like to help but I don’t have much time Vote. While turnout for the 2019 General Election was 67.3%, for the 2021 local elections it was just 35.9%. If people passionate about climate justice turn out to vote, councils in England could be filled with candidates who stand for climate action. Take the time to consider your priorities, read the Net Zero in My Neighbourhood resources, find out what the candidates are saying about climate change, pray, and make a plan to vote on May 4th. *** You now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote is April 17th. Find out more at jpit.uk/voterid.*** I can do more to connect with my councillors Connect. Councillors provide a bridge between a community and their council, and they usually love the opportunity to connect with people and groups in their wards. Most people only ever contact their councillors when there’s an issue, so positive engagement can leave a memorable impression. Councillors also want to hear what local residents care about, and it often doesn’t take many people raising an issue to establish it on their radar. Consider the controversy over 15-minute cities, where a vocal minority have raised objections and made councils hesitant. If those in favour of walkable neighbourhoods also spoke up, this could make a difference. These elections provide a great opportunity to connect with your councillors. Before the elections, could you write to your candidates? Ask them to make a specific commitment to a change you want to see, and hold them to account for any commitments they make. After your councillors are elected, contact your new representatives and invite them to your church. This could be as low-commitment as asking them to attend a service, or getting them to meet and have a conversation with your environmental reps. This is an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship with people in your neighbourhood. I want to lead the way in seeking net zero in my neighbourhood Organise. The best way to get stuck in is to sign up to our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood  network, a chance to meet with others and get trained up for change. Why not begin by reading through our resources and building a local coalition to engage with your councillors over the long-run. Working together with a broad range of other groups can demonstrate to your council …

  • How can we respond to COP27?

    COP27, the UN’s climate conference in Egypt, came to a close at the weekend. It finished with some encouragements as well as disappointments. Hannah and Steve spent 10 minutes chatting through a roundup of what happened in a new episode of our podcast – click here to listen. Whilst COP27 might be over, we know that the work to achieve climate justice carries on in so many ways. But in the face of climate disaster and disappointing inaction from governments across the world, we might feel that we are unable to make enough change on our own. However, we can always choose to respond in hope and love, knowing that God cares about us and our world. So, here are a few suggestions of how we could respond practically to the news from COP27: Loss and Damage Action: Hear the stories The main success story from COP27 was the pledge for a creation of a Loss and Damage fund to financially support lower-income nations who have been disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. This fund would be paid for by wealthier nations, who have historically been the biggest polluters. This is something JPIT and activists we work with were really hoping and praying for, so we’re delighted to see this as one of the main pledges from the summit. However, as Christian Aid’s Joab Okanda describes in his statement, ‘the devil will be in the detail and we still need to see it filled with money’. We still need to see the fulfilment of this pledge, and the practicalities should be driven by the stories of communities most affected by the climate crisis. Why not read some of Christian Aid’s Loss and Damage stories, and pray about a specific person, community or area on your heart? Or perhaps you could download their resources and engage your wider church community with praying and campaigning for the Loss and Damage fund to become an effective reality. Emission and reduction targets Action: Write to your MP Perhaps the most disappointing outcome from COP27 is the lack of clear movement on reducing the use of fossil fuels. Due to the structures and systems of the world economy, this requires a huge amount of cooperative change which seems unlikely in the world we live in. As Steve Hucklesby described in his blog last week, many nations earn large amounts of revenue from oil and gas and want to tie us to extraction of fossil fuels for many years to come. However, it still remains that ending our dependency on fossil fuels is one of the most fundamental steps towards climate justice. According to the UN, we need to see global emissions drop by 45% in the next 8 years if we are to keep global warming to 1.5°C. The Chancellor said in his recent statement that the government is committed to the Glasgow Pact. Why not write to your MP, and call on them to ask the government to show tangible action towards this? Perhaps this could include investing in renewables and other forms of clean energy, rather than nuclear energy or fossil fuels. A local response Action: Partner with your council In the face of national and international inactivity, we believe that activism has the potential to be effective on a local level. 80% of local councils have set a net zero target sooner than the national one in 2050. Local churches are uniquely placed to hold their councillors to account to their climate commitments – they are connected to their neighbourhoods, through physical buildings and outreach work. If your church isn’t already signed up to the Eco Church scheme, this is a fantastic way of making sure that your local community is responding well to the climate crisis. We also can’t underestimate the importance of local action to achieve national goals. David Renard, leader of Swindon Council, commented that ‘Net Zero can only be achieved if councils are empowered’. Could you or your church get involved in our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood campaign? Our resources give clear methods and advice for approaching your council on issues of climate justice and how you can encourage your church to get involved. In the New Year, we’ll start running workshops where you can invite a speaker from JPIT to encourage your church to think about the ways in which you can respond to the climate crisis on a local level. Why not sign up to the mailing list to hear more about this when workshops are available? Find our mailing list here. In the face of inactivity and frustration, it is so easy to get downhearted. But the God who made us and this extraordinary world doesn’t want to turn a blind eye to our frustrations and pain about systemic inactivity. So why not ask God today what you can do, and how you can bring others along with you? Creator God, we thank you for your incredible creation. It is so easy to feel frustrated and disappointed by the lack of action from those in power in response to the climate crisis. We lament the loss of so many aspects of your world. God, would you help us to respond with hope and love for our neighbours whether they are near or far away. Help us to take the action we need to so that we can have a hand in building your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

  • Statement on the conclusion of the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

    Monday 21 NovemberThe Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. While we are extremely conscious of the cost-of-living crisis and the economic bearing it is having here in the UK, we cannot ignore the tremendous impact of climate change in other parts of the world and overlook our responsibility towards it.  We continue to look to leaders in the UK and across the world to address the climate emergency with a sense of urgency, fairness and justice. We are grateful for the vital commitment in Sharm el-Sheikh to establish a Loss and Damage facility. All are impacted by climate change.  We have recently seen unprecedented floods in Pakistan and Bangladesh and continued drought in East Africa. Industrialised countries such as Germany and high emitting states such as China have seen rivers drying up. But it is low income countries that are frequently the worst affected by climate related disasters. They simply do not have adequate resources to rebuild shattered infrastructure and livelihoods. COP27 has seen recognition of the need for compensation for loss and damage rise much higher on the global agenda. We commend States and regions, including Scotland, that have committed early funding to support those who have seen their livelihoods or houses destroyed. As the recent UN Environment Programme report has pointed out, limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees requires global emissions to be cut by 45% by 2030. Policies implemented so far suggest that we could be heading for a catastrophic 2.7 degrees of warming. God’s creation is precious and is vital for the flourishing of all life. We lament the lack of urgency and will to co-operate to address this crisis. COP27 shows that governments have yet to loosen the chains of past practice and vested interests. World leaders cannot leave this conference believing that they have done enough and must appreciate that there is still much more to do. We pray for a renewed collaboration between people and governments, and that a deeper recognition of our shared humanity might soon lead to the compassionate and just climate action that our world so urgently needs. Signed by: Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church Anthony Boateng, Vice-President of the Conference of the Methodist Church Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Dave Gregory, Convenor, Baptist Union Environment Network and Former President, Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Graham Thompson, President of the Conference of the Methodist Church

  • COP27 – what should we be looking for?

    At COP27[1], the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, made headlines on the opening day when he stated that “we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator”. Some commentators saw this as exaggerated rhetoric to capture the headlines. Yet even the sober judgements of scientific reports suggest that this is an accurate description of where we stand. Just before COP27, the UN Environmental Programme published an annual ‘emissions gap’ report titled ‘The Closing Window: Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies’. It demonstrates that only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid climate disaster. The report shows that we are far from the Paris Summit Goal of keeping well within 2°C of global warming and preferably 1.5°C degrees. Current government policies suggest a catastrophic 2.8°C of warming. To get on track for 1.5°C we must achieve a 45% cut in global emissions by 2030. The report says that the share of electricity generation from unabated natural gas must to fall to 17% by 2030 and be phased out by 2040–2050. The current upward trend in use of gas will need to be reversed in favour of renewables. A window of opportunity remains open, but only a narrow shaft of light remains.[2] It is bizarre therefore that Egypt, while holding the Presidency of COP27, also hosted the 24th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Cairo just one week before the start of COP summit. The meeting discussed the long-term strategy for gas production and argued for policies to ensure an expansion of gas production in the world energy mix from 23% today to 26% in 2050. They lobby for unhindered gas markets in order to ensure security of demand long into the future. The delegates in Cairo did not have so far to travel to join the 636 registered fossil fuel lobbyists at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. Across the globe, scientists, young people, faith groups and development agencies insist on system change to avert climate disaster. But too many governments remain in the thrall of the economically powerful and vested interests of the past. With this in mind, what can we expect from COP27 when it concludes this Friday? I will highlight three areas that are worthy of note at this stage. We cannot expect to see a lot of new carbon reduction pledges this year. Many pledges were updated last year and, although they must be continually updated to get us on track, this COP is more focused on implementation of pledges and on finance. We will keep a close eye on the relationship between the United States and China following President Xi and Biden’s meeting at the G20 this week. These two major players must be able to co-operate at COP27 if we are to sustain progress. Secondly, on international climate finance, developed nations must achieve the pledge made in 2009 to make available $100 billion annually for mitigation and adaptation. After 13 years this pledge still falls woefully short.[3] The unfulfilled pledge contributes powerfully to an unhelpful dynamic between developed and developing nations in the halls of COP summit meetings. Developing nations argue, quite reasonably, that in order to transform their energy systems and physical infrastructure to create green economies they need financial support. Although it is a tall order it would be encouraging to see pledges at COP27 achieve or at least approach the promised $100 billion. Finally, we want to see implementation of a Loss and Damage Fund. This year, in Pakistan, the highest amount of rain recorded in 60 years flooded an area larger than that of the UK. It killed nearly 1,500 people and affected 33 million, causing damage estimated at $40 billion. The country will now have to rely on billions of dollars in loans to repair the damage. As a matter of justice, our churches have been arguing for a Loss and Damage facility funded by taxes on fossil fuel companies and other forms of innovative financing. In 2019, Loss and Damage was removed the draft COP agenda: in 2022 it rose to the top, and was also prominent in the media on the opening day. In a short space of time we have transformed awareness around Loss and Damage. Might this give us hope for vital transformational change in other areas? Our churches will respond to the outcome on the final day of COP27 this Friday and JPIT will provide further comment next week. Want to hear more from friends who are at the COP? Click here to see updates from Christian Aid on Twitter. Former Climate Justice For All campaigner Jessica Bwali is representing Tearfund at COP – click here to watch her update video. Our friends at the United Methodist Church are hosting a zoom briefing on Thursday 17th November about their experiences at COP27. Click here to see the details.   [1] Egypt has the Presidency of COP27.  The international summit meets from 2 Nov to 18 Nov 2022 at Sharm el-Sheikh and has been attended by the leaders of almost 200 nations. [2] Quote of António Guterres comment on ‘The Closing Window’ [3] Receipts into the fund were at $83 billion in 2020. The UK has pledged £11.6 over five years. To provide some perspective this is roughly the same amount as the UK will spend on nuclear weapons in the same period.

  • Net Zero From the Ground Up: the case for councils

    We’re launching a new campaign, ‘Net Zero In My Neighbourhood’. This blog explores why we’re focusing on local councils for climate action, and how you can get involved. I’d like to use my car less but public transport is unreliable. I’d like to recycle more but recycling bins are only collected fortnightly. I’d like to be more energy efficient but the costs of insulating and heating my home properly are too high. If you’ve ever had thoughts like these, you’ll know that it can be difficult to live a more planet-friendly lifestyle when your local infrastructure doesn’t offer the support you need. National leaders can sign treaties and individuals can commit to make changes, but without the crucial middle layer of public services, we can struggle to connect our personal willingness to act with change on a global scale. The attention given to COP26 rightly showed the importance of international cooperation, and agreements made at that level are essential for coordinating global action. Many felt disappointed by the outcomes of talks in Glasgow, but it has helped to place climate at the top of the political agenda. If you felt disempowered and unrepresented by world leaders at COP26, you can have a real impact by engaging with your local councils. Local politics may not seem as glitzy or important as global conferences, but they have a series of responsibilities that can take the area you live in a long way towards a net zero future. The recent election of new councillors presents an opportunity for you and your church to reach out and build a relationship to work together on climate and other issues – and councils are increasingly looking to churches for community support. The case for councils So why do local councils matter for net zero? Research from the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that local authorities have influence over roughly a third of emissions in their local areas. This is mainly due to their responsibilities in four key areas: Transport. Councils oversee local transport plans and can prioritise decarbonisation efforts. They also play a key role in supporting the transition to electric vehicle use, and developing walking and cycling infrastructure. Nottingham city council, for example, has installed more than 130 public electric vehicle charging points, and has one of the UK’s largest fleets of electric buses. Buildings. Councils play a key role in ensuring new buildings are energy efficient and old buildings can be retrofitted with better insulation and heating systems. This applies both to council-owned buildings (including council buildings, social housing, commercial units, schools, leisure centres etc.) and privately-owned buildings. They oversee planning and regulation (although they are constrained by standards set by national government) and can map the housing stock of the area. Somerset West and Taunton district council has pledged to manage its buildings and land in a biodiversity-friendly manner and is building zero-carbon council houses, as well as retrofitting existing homes across the district. Energy. Every council can encourage the development of clean energy infrastructure. They can bring relevant local partners together to develop the future of local energy, influence clean energy infrastructure implementation with planning policy, and offer support for local people and community energy organisations to undertake energy projects. Telford and Wrekin council has built a publicly-owned solar farm, which has saved more than 13,000 tonnes of CO2 and generated £1.3m for the council. Waste. Councils are responsible for the collection and disposal of household and commercial waste. They can take steps to increase recycling, implement food and garden waste collections, and improve communications about appropriate waste disposal. Stroud district council has created a local waste-management company in partnership with neighbouring authorities, and now sends the least waste per capita to landfill. Councils are well-placed to deliver on net zero as they are the master planners of places, convenors of civil society and business, and have detailed knowledge of place and people. With their understanding of the specific needs of their locality, they can ensure the transition to net zero is just and appropriate to place. Yet they are also limited in what they can achieve by the responsibilities and resources devolved to them by central government. The LGA has asked to work in closer partnership with government, calling for longer-term funding and unambiguous policy positions that allow councils to plan strategically over a number of years. As David Renard, leader of Swindon council put it, ‘net zero can only be achieved if councils are empowered’. 85% of local authorities in the UK have set a target year for reaching net zero emissions. The vast majority of these come well in advance of the national government’s own target of 2050. 88% have published climate action plans, outlining how they plan to reach net zero. For residents, the task is now to scrutinise the quality of these plans, ask for improvements, and hold councils accountable to implementing them. You can see how your council compares to others and identify what they can improve here, and see an example of a good template plan here. The role of churches Having made their plans, councils need to listen deeply to the needs of their communities in order to succeed. Churches can play a key role in facilitating this. They too have a deep understanding of their area, and often have relationships with those who are marginalised through support services like foodbanks and homeless shelters. Justice for people and planet is central to our theology. Christians can play a key role in bringing their own knowledge of the community together with this concern for justice to ensure that councils’ plans for transition are just, fair and sufficient. As the cost-of-living crisis bites, Christians should campaign for a renewable energy future that is affordable and sustainable, rather than abandon the net zero agenda and re-embrace fossil fuels. All of creation, human and otherwise, deserves a more thoughtful response than closing our eyes and ignoring the challenge that we know we must face. Take Action: Net Zero In My …

  • COP26 – what was achieved?

    COP26 was the most significant climate summit since Paris in 2015. The measures outlined in the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact are critical if we are to set a course to keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees. Members of churches, in the UK and further afield, have been campaigning in advance of COP26 to ensure that topics such as paying for the loss and damage cause by climate disasters were on the agenda for the Glasgow summit. So what ultimately was achieved?  You can find a 3-page overview here but meanwhile, here are my headlines on the summit’s achievements and disappointments: New language was agreed by all on coal, oil and gas to signal that fossil fuels have had their day. There was a luke-warm commitment from nations to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. The total pledges made so far, if met, sets the world on course to a disastrous warming of 2.4 degrees.[1] The long-promised $100bn/year of climate finance is in sight (expected by 2023), but the cold reality is that much more than this will be required. There was agreement that governments will work together on the implementation of a loss and damage mechanism. But there was pushback from some major donors (for example, the US) on providing additional funding for this area. The completion of the ‘Paris Rulebook’ gives greater confidence that governments might be prevented from using creative accounting when reporting their actual carbon emissions against their pledges. When you look at the cumulative picture, actual tangible progress is far too slow. Worryingly, it is difficult to see where the landing zone might be for negotiations over quantities of finance for mitigation and the stronger targets necessary on the part of large emitters in Asia, Africa or Central/Southern America (as well as the US). However, a sense of urgency was evident at COP26 and this was reflected in some of the outcomes. Consequently, it will be more difficult to park issues for years into the future, or to claim (as some governments are tempted to do) that there is no need for a further review of a nation’s targets for five years. Instead, all governments have been urged to review their contributions by 2022 in the light of the overall deficit.  There are now a number of new initiatives on the agenda for COP27 in Egypt next year, including the funding of compensation for loss and damage. In summary, COP26 has put in place a whole new architecture for taking forward the Paris agreement and pledges. But, like investments, the value of negotiated agreements can go down as well as up. Willingness to collaborate is key. COP27 next year is now even more critical and there is more on the agenda than was the case just a few weeks ago. Read the full briefing here. If you want to hear more of Steve’s reflections on COP26, listen to this edition of our ’10 Minutes On’ podcast: [1] According to Climate Action Tracker https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/

  • Response to COP26

    Statement from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church on the conclusion of the Glasgow COP26 summit – 14 November 2021 Significant new statements have been made at the summit in Glasgow. Most government delegations accept that the sense of urgency is greater than it was six years ago at Paris. But ultimately the summit has not delivered.  All governments must agree on the necessary actions to avoid 1.5 degrees of warming. The failure of all parties at COP26 to unequivocally support this higher ambition with funding and emission reductions is an injustice towards those whose livelihoods have already been devastated by climate change. We are deeply disappointed that the language on phasing out coal was weakened at the last moment however the summit has called for the phasing out of ‘inefficient’ subsidies for fossil fuels. COP26 has also initiated a process to create a fund to help communities recover from loss and damage resulting from severe climatic events. These developments are crucial and welcome, but we cannot wait for pledges to be reviewed and turned into action every five years.  Action must be taken now. The pace and intensity of action must keep up with the science and with the realities experienced by an increasing number of people whose flourishing – now and in the future – depends on the actions that we all take today. Many of our church partners in developing countries are already experiencing the dire impact of changing weather patterns on livelihoods and food security. Revd James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Council of Churches said as he arrived as a delegate at COP26 that for many in the Pacific Islands, Psalm 137 with its reference to being “By the rivers of Babylon…” has particular resonance.  As these communities face exile they experience a sense of loss of identity, loss of sovereignty, and loss of future. At COP26 our churches have listened to and sought to amplify the voices of those in the global South who are critically affected by loss through changing climates. Our Churches acknowledge that while we live in an age of individuality and immediacy, this is a journey not of individuals but of a community: the people of God and the people of the earth.  Whilst individual actions are important, this is a journey that requires us to work together to build a safe and healthy future for all. The involvement of so many sectors of society in COP26 was an inspiration. Sadly, the response of governments is not yet adequate and we call for further actions that respond meaningfully to the magnitude of the emergency that we face. Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church Barbara Easton, Vice-President of the Methodist Church in Britain Revd Sonia Hicks, President of the Methodist Church in Britain Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain Rev Dr Dave Gregory, Convenor of the Baptist Union Environmental Network (BUEN)

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