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Hope overflows (The butterfly poem)

Home » Season of Creation » Hope overflows (The butterfly poem)
  • This resource was originally published by All We Can, and reproduced here with permission for the Season of Creation 2021
  • This work may be shared freely, with attribution, without modification

This poem could be read during an online or in‑person service, during a time of personal reflection or prayer.

Hope overflows
In a dry land
Where butterflies dance
In the cascading water
That runs and fills up
The buckets of a community.

A stream of hope
Captured to quench
Sustain
And grow.
In this dry land
Water is drawn up
To bring sprouts of ambition.

The dance of butterflies
Beckons hope in.
For in this dry land they grow hope.
Hope will not disappoint us.

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Latest ‘Environment’ posts

  • 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. 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  • COP26 – what was achieved?

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  • 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)

  • Updates from COP26: What happened over the weekend in Glasgow?

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In particular, we’re looking out for reviews of how often climate targets should be reviewed (potentially being increased to every year), commitments of further financing to support developing countries in mitigation and adaptation, and more attention to be given to pledges of finance for loss and damage support for frontline communities. Global day of action As COP26 delegates paused for rest over the weekend, tens of thousands of people gathered in Glasgow to play their part in encouraging more energy and more commitment over the next week. Faith groups formed part of this, and gathered in various ways to share in collective action, prayer and commitment during COP26. On Saturday, a faith bloc formed part of the 100,000 strong Day of Action for Climate Justice, including a march through Glasgow City Centre. Glasgow weather was out in full force – with buckets of rain one moment, before blue sky and rainbows the next (symbolic for those of Christian faith in the group!). But this didn’t stop the passion, energy and commitment of the interfaith movement gathering in Kelvingrove Park to add their voice to the collective call for climate justice. Leading the bloc, multi-faith leaders carried a banner reading ‘Faiths and Beliefs for Climate Justice’, and were accompanied by calls of ‘united we stand, divided we fall, climate justice for one and for all’. Climate Justice For All On Saturday afternoon, the Climate Justice For All team – a youth-led movement to call the global Methodist family to action ahead of COP26 – began their 12-hour livestream event from Woodlands Methodist Church. The team aimed to live stream to communities around the world, engaging with communities in various different time-zones when it was best for groups to tune in. They told stories from Zambia, Italy, India, Fiji, Bangladesh, Uruguay and Britain, sharing resources developed throughout their campaign as well as live interviews and reflections offered in the space. This significant endeavour showed the commitment of these young activists to bring their communities together, to show collective solidarity with their neighbours around the world on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and to call their governments to account on setting ambitious targets for carbon reduction. It was a celebration as well as a call to action, showing the power of a collective voice at this crucial moment. Ecumenical service at Glasgow Cathedral On Sunday afternoon, Christian members of various delegations at the COP as well as local faith leaders gathered in Glasgow Cathedral for an ecumenical service to mark COP26. In a packed Cathedral, the hosts brought the traditional music of the Cathedral (including bagpipes and a fanfare) as a powerful call to worship. Church leaders from around the world were in attendance, and Revd Dr Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary of the Global Board of Church and Society at the United Methodist Church preached to the congregation. Her message was a call to return, to God and to creation, inspired by a neon-sign installation in the Cathedral from artist Robert Foss reading ‘Returning and into your arms’. Perhaps the urgency of this calling was most significantly embodied by a call to prayer from Pacific communities, offered by Iemaima Vaai from Samoa, and also a member of the Climate Justice For All team. She brought the fear and urgency Pacific communities face into a call for lament and action by all gathered for COP26. This was deepened by the powerful moment of a young girl leaving the cathedral, carrying a homemade placard through the crowds reading ‘Save our planet’ – a reminder of the burden weighing heavily on future generations. The week ahead As we enter this next week of negotiations, we pray that these gathering moments across the weekend might bring energy to the talks still to come. We know that we need much more from COP26 to truly achieve climate justice. Current commitments are yet to be ambitious enough to ensure that the 1.5°C limit on global warming is achieved (current commitments are likely to achieve a cap of 1.8°c). Significantly, the signs will be in the detail as to whether the rhetoric seen from world leaders, including here in the UK, is to be matched with genuine intent to change our current trajectory and commit to a new way of doing things. Where we are still really lagging behind are any kind of significant commitments to low-emitting but frontline communities in terms of finance for loss and damage. The UK government have pledged £290m to help poorer countries cope, and the Scottish government have offered £1m. But in the context of the UK slashing the international development budget to 0.5% of GDP until at least 2024, this is barely pennies in the grand scheme of over £73 billion needed a year for loss and damage support. We would value your continued prayers throughout this week, that we might reach a hopeful commitment to a new way of living which ensures climate justice. COP26 is one of many steps on this journey, but we pray it is one on the right path. You can sign up here for daily updates from COP26 straight into your inbox: Sign up below to receive daily highlights from COP26, from our accredited delegates in the blue zone.  Email Full Name By signing …

  • COP26: Why Loss and Damage matters

    It is often said that we should act on climate change for the sake of our children and grandchildren’s futures. While this focus on intergenerational justice is certainly welcome, it obscures an important and urgent fact: climate change is destroying lives and livelihoods around the world now. To ignore this fact and not take appropriate, immediate action is an act of global injustice, standing by while our brothers and sisters around the world deal with the consequences of climate-related loss and damage. It is not only developing countries that face these challenges. Floods and wildfires in recent years have brought the issue front and centre to Europe, North America and Australasia. But smaller, poorer countries disproportionately lack the resources to cope with the effects of climate disaster, despite being least responsible for the emissions that cause them. The above video demonstrates why it is so important that loss and damage should be on the agenda at COP26. There is no agreed-upon definition of loss and damage, but it helps to be seen on a scale of climate actions rising from mitigation, to adaptation, to loss and damage. In the best-case scenario, we are able to mitigate the effects of climate change and prevent them from happening, through action such as limiting carbon emissions. If an effect cannot be prevented, adaptation efforts focus on making sure we can deal with them better when they do happen, by building better infrastructure. Loss and damage, however, is concerned with impacts that are unavoidable or ‘unavoided’. This includes both immediate extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, and slow onset processes such as sea level rise. These are already a lived reality for many, displacing more than 30 million people in 2020 alone – a number that is projected to grow. Extreme weather events cause loss of life, livelihoods, and homes, but also loss of culture, sacred lands, identity and biodiversity. As there are both economic and non-economic costs, it is difficult to quantify just how large the impact of loss and damage could be. One estimate puts the projected costs of loss and damage by 2030 between 290 and 580 billion USD in developing countries alone. In April 2020, Cyclone Harold hit Vanuatu causing widespread damage, leaving up to 90 percent of the population homeless. In Bangladesh, Cyclone Amphan resulted in 13 billion USD in loss and damage to infrastructure alone. Meanwhile, in East Africa above average rainfall throughout 2020 has resulted in widespread flooding forcing more than 1.5 million people to leave their homes. Such events are tragic on their own, but when combined with pre-existing fragility and inequality in the global economy, they can be catastrophic. For instance. if a severe weather event strikes a small island state that is struggling with debt (of which there are many currently in the world) the collapse in its GDP from catastrophic damage to its economy will lead to debt default, making an extremely difficult position even worse. Comoros, for example, estimated in 2015 that costs associated with climate change will already have surpassed the value of its GDP by 2020. To ignore the urgent need of developing countries in situations such as this would be akin to seeing the man in the parable of the Good Samaritan, bloodied and bruised, robbed of his belongings and left for dead, and to pass by on the other side. In fact, developed countries also play the role of the muggers in this story, as it is their emissions that have contributed most to loss and damage! In that story, the Samaritan not only recognised the victim as his neighbour relationally, but he also provided for his needs financially. Similarly, we must start providing finance to the victims of loss and damage. It was mentioned in Article 8 of the Paris Agreement, and has received some recognition from Alok Sharma MP, President for COP26, but nothing concrete has yet been committed. The $100bn climate finance pledge will rightly be central to negotiations, but this mostly covers mitigation and adaptation. Loss and damage requires extra funding on top of this as a matter of justice, based on the polluter pays principle. This could be raised in a number of ways, including the so-called ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on the extraction of fossil fuels, the ending of fossil fuel subsidies, or an air passenger levy to name three examples. We call on those present at COP26 to see climate-vulnerable developing nations as their neighbours, and not to walk by on the other side of the road as they suffer the most immediate and severe consequences of climate change. They must go beyond platitudes and commit to action on loss and damage as well as adaptation and mitigation. It is time for developed nations to take on the fair burden of climate costs, not only as a matter of justice and fairness, but because it is imperative to respond now.

  • What can we expect from COP26 in Glasgow?

    Make no mistake – COP26 matters a lot.  As the UN Secretary General has said “The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable:  greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible.” Almost all governments and their leaders know this to be true, so COP26 is an ultimate test.  Will governments look beyond narrow national interest and act together for the planet and for us all? What personal legacy do world leaders want to leave for the next generation? Achieving net-zero emissions globally wasn’t on the agenda of Paris in 2015, but it has become central to the Glasgow COP.  Success or failure will largely be judged on how national commitments measure up to a carbon neutral world by 2050 or before.  So with just a few days to go before world leaders fly into Glasgow, where do we stand? There are some developed nations and high carbon emitters that have yet to pull their weight. Australia, Canada, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Mexico are in this category. China and the United States are the world’s two largest carbon emitters and are a special case. China has announced a 2060 net-zero target. This is not soon enough, particularly in the light of the country’s recent economic growth fuelled by new coal-fired power stations. China’s per capita emissions are already greater that the average across the European Union. Their recent announcements on the reduction of fossil fuels in its power sector are welcome but the nation must go further. The United States have an increased target to reduce emissions by 50%-52% by 2030.  Given its high per capita emissions we would like to see more, but that may not be on the cards. Instead, when Joe Biden flies into Glasgow he needs to work with the leaders of other wealthy nations to secure the $100 Bn/year for mitigation and adaptation finance.  In addition, they need to create a financing mechanism for Loss and Damage to enable poorer nations devastated by climate disaster to recover.  Climate finance could be where the deal is done with states such as China, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt and others who are so far keeping their powder dry on national commitments. We should not get too hung up on whether President’s Xi and Putin will be present in person.  What matters is what their delegations bring to the table. There is a deal to be done, but it will be tough to get there. And there is always the risk that negotiation on a good deal may break down in bitter recriminations. The contributions from faith communities For our faith communities, addressing the climate crisis is a matter of justice. Unsustainable consumption is having devastating climate impacts on nations that have contributed comparatively little to global warming. We bring a message of hope that is supported by the actions that our churches and members are taking.  We implore our governments to enable us all to go further. What contribution might faith communities make at COP26? Firstly, the faith community is a worldwide community. In Glasgow, there will be representatives from Baptist, Methodist, URC and Church of Scotland partners in the global south. The Climate Justice 4 All group has young faith representatives from five continents working alongside government delegations in the ‘blue zone’ as well as blogging and web-casting from the fringe.  We must not allow COP26 to descend into an argument between emerging and established industrialised countries.  Faith representatives will have a crucial role in amplifying the voice of those in developing countries. These countries demand greater action now from all governments. Secondly, we will be working together in the ‘blue zone’ to bring messages to government officials when they emerge from private consultations. We will pray for them and encourage them to go further. We won’t accept half measures or excuses. They will know that our demands are supported by the tens of thousands of people marching in Glasgow and in other cities around the world. Finally over the two weeks we will update our members on the progress of negotiations and call on people to pray. I was encouraged by a reflection offered to our team by Beth last week. It was from Psalm 121: – 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Government delegates will have to grab some sleep over the two weeks of COP26. Even then our God, our helper, will be watching over us. Sign up below to receive daily highlights from COP26, from our accredited delegates in the blue zone.  Email Full Name By signing up I agree to receiving emails about COP26 & Environmental work from JPIT.

  • Responding to the Budget

    On Wednesday 27th October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the Autumn Budget in the House of Commons. It’s hard to ground Budget statements in everyday reality – not least because different people and different political parties see reality very differently. At other times, numbers can offer some grounding. But the pandemic had such huge economic effects that it is possible to say “we have record growth” while simultaneously saying “we have had a record economic slump”, and back each claim up with convincing and entirely accurate statistics. It is this mixture of uncertainly, hopeful thinking and reality that allowed the Chancellor to reel off a long list great economic statistics and eye-catching spending pledges while announcing a very austere “Charter for Budget Responsibility”, designed to set a low limit to total spending over the next 5-years. However, what is of more immediate importance is how the individual measures in the budget impact on people’s everyday lives. Here I have highlighted three issues covered in the budget that our churches have particular interest in. Universal Credit At the beginning of this month, Universal Credit was cut by around £5Bn, through the £20 per week cut. At the end of the month, the budget increased by around £2Bn by decreasing the taper rate (the rate at which Universal Credit is withdrawn when a claimants other income increases) in Universal Credit. UC claimants end the month £3Bn worse off than they started. Better than £5Bn worse off – but still a move in the wrong direction. Just as importantly, by reducing the rate at which Universal Credit is withdrawn when people earn the £2Bn increase the Chancellor announced is targeted on working families. At first glance this looks great. However, Universal Credit also supports people unable to work through disability, illness or caring responsibilities. It’s important to recognise that those who aren’t working but are able and expected to get work make up a small and transient proportion of UC claimants. Instead, those who are sick or disabled, and those caring for relatives experienced a £20 per week cut to their Universal Credit this month, but will get none of the additional money. Ironically, in a reflection of what has happened in the rest of society, these changes have helped the “best-off[1]” UC claimants, while disadvantaging the worst-off UC claimants. The “best-off” UC claimants undoubtedly need the extra money. But the “worst off” UC claimants can ill afford the cut.  Foodbanks have seen increasing demand this month, these changes are not likely to reverse that trend. Investment, growth and climate There is a very live debate about if economic growth – producing more and more each year – can be made compatible with averting catastrophic climate change. There is, however, no debate that our current model of delivering growth is not compatible with a healthy planet. The Chancellor has stated a clear aim to increase growth and do so though incentivising businesses to invest. For example, he has extended the corporation tax on Super-deduction (essentially a 30% state subsidy to firms who make large capital investments), with more business tax cuts intended to promote investment. What is most notable is that these financial benefits are not contingent on meeting climate standards, nor was there a clear direction on how future investment would be made compatible with climate health. Whilst mentioned in the chancellors speech, with the exception of business rates that relief costed at tiny sums[2] aimed at solar panels and heat pumps accrue, the climate emergency gets barely a mention in the costings documents – where the real action happens. Alongside this, the taxes on air travel are focussed on longer flights – but overall are expected to raise the same amount, and the “planned” fuel duty rise is frozen (as it has been for the last 12 years). This budget does not make polluting more expensive – in the short term at least it makes it cheaper. Alcohol strategy Alcohol duties are a strange and irrational labyrinth. The Chancellor has announced that the system will be shaken up using the principle of more alcohol = more tax. We know that cheap alcohol can cause a great deal of harm, therefore although we don’t have the details, yet this appears very welcome. An improvement which churches are likely to press for is the introduction of “Minimum Unit Pricing” (MUP), which says a unit of alcohol cannot be sold for below a threshold price. The introduction of MUP in Scotland and Wales has reduced alcohol consumption and although it this is early in the process, there are indications of improved public health as a result. However, the immediate effect of today’s announcement is to reduce alcohol taxes by almost £3Bn over the 5-year review period – and over billion a year thereafter. Cheaper alcohol gets a cheer in the House of Commons chamber, but I wonder if in the cold light of morning we might wonder if the money could have been spent more fruitfully. What next? Perhaps the most useful way to ground how we think about this budget is the very welcome announcement of £4.7Bn for schools to “restore per pupil funding to 2010 levels.” Looking at the Office of Budgetary responsibility tables, we can see that central government spending is returning to about 2010 levels. Money was taken away and has been put back, but according to different priorities. To put it simply, the pie is now the same size as 2010 but is now sliced differently. Prior to this budget, most changes have been made to increase the proportion going towards spending on state pensions, the NHS and to a lesser extent the military, and to decrease spending on local government (who provide social care amongst many other things) and working age benefits. This budget doesn’t really change that calculus. As Churches, we have been clear that we wish to see an economy that works for all:  that offers sufficient for everyone now while offering …

  • What will it take to insulate Britain?

    News over the last week has drawn attention to environmental protestors blocking roads in the south-east of England. The strategic blockages have been a huge headache to motorists going about their business, transporting parcels and food, or getting to work or the airport, and have led to at least 40 arrests of protestors. The UK government urged protests to cease, saying, “We are investing £1.3bn this year alone to support people to install energy efficiency measures, and our upcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy will set out how we decarbonise the nation’s homes in a way that is fair, practical and affordable.” Insulation across the nation ‘Insulate Britain’ is the title that the campaigners have gone with, focusing on a slogan that puts practical action at the centre. They demand that firstly social housing by 2025 and then all housing by 2030 be insulated/retrofitted for ‘a just transition to fully decarbonise all parts of the society and economy’. We talked about insulation as part of a ‘Recovery to Flourishing’ proposal in 2020, and certainly hold as much desire as the protestors and anyone else that all homes should be comfortable without costing the Earth. The cost of not insulating It’s no surprise that draughty homes that require lots of heating in colder months are expensive to run. It is also no surprise that people with the lowest incomes tend to live in the draughtiest houses There is some help towards heating bills; annual winter fuel payments of between £100 and £300 are available to those who receive the State pension and some other benefits. Cold weather payments of £25 for seven-day periods of very cold weather may be offered to others who receive social security benefits such as Universal Credit. What an enormous difference it would make for those who currently depend on payments like these if their homes were easy and inexpensive to keep warm. Green homes The UK government tried to make some commitments towards this goal with its Green Homes Grant last year, but when the scheme attracted only 10% of its intended applicants, the cash was allocated to local authorities to administer instead. Government changed the borrowing requirements for social housing providers to fund renovations and new builds. So has the can been kicked down the road from national government to local government instead? Should the ‘Insulate Britain’ crew be outside town halls instead of clogging strategic highways? There might well be a case for that thinking, but there is still much that can be done at national level. In Scotland, the Homes Acts 2001 and 2006, in Wales the Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and in England, the Homes Act 2018 apply to private or council/housing association rental properties regarding fitness for human habitation. But the housing sector is still poorly regulated when it comes to a minimum standard of energy efficiency. Property owners must produce an EPC for prospective tenants (and buyers), but are still permitted to rent out energy-inefficient houses. Introducing effective regulation here would make an enormous difference to energy usage and reduce the impact of fuel poverty too. For the climate and the future Better insulation in our homes is good news for individuals and families but also for the planet. As the UK and other nations try to wean themselves off of fossil fuels for energy and heating, insulation in our homes will help us reach net zero carbon commitments. As our electricity supply comes increasingly from renewable sources, insulated homes will reduce the burden that this fossil-free energy used to heat our living spaces places on the national grid, reducing the necessity for costly infrastructure development or the risk of power cuts and brownouts. The affluent are already able to decide if they would like to add technology to their homes for local energy production and storage, ensuring tremendous energy resilience, but this might not ever be an attainable option for those experiencing poverty or renting their home. Insulation is better for everyone. What can churches do? The Church of England’s ‘Coming Home’ report, published last year, recommended the development of ‘a long-term, cross-party housing strategy to improve the quality and sustainability of the existing stock and increase the supply of truly affordable new housing’. Our churches must continue to amplify the voices of those who live in homes which are inadequate and unsafe. We must also continue to speak up for the Earth, those most at risk due to climate catastrophe and future generations who will have to adapt to a more challenging environment. Locally, can you and your church meet with councillors and housing departments to urge them to act? And will you engage your MP, MSP or MS in the process to ensure that all homes will reach a minimum standard of energy efficiency? Further reading More than Bricks and Mortar (JPIT, 2019) Coming Home (Church of England, 2020) A note on non-violent direct action The Joint Public Issues Team treads carefully when it comes to non-violent direct action. We held a workshop about it at our 2020 Conference and our histories as non-conformist denominations testify to the freedoms to protest we have been afforded in the UK. You can read more about why it is important to us in our briefing on the Police, Crimes, Sentencing and Courts Bill. We encourage our supporters to make up their own mind about how they take action, mindful of the complexities of protest (and how delicate the balance is between seeking public awareness and attracting public ire and resistance). As a team, we also invest in strengthening other strategies for engagement within the halls of power at Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales.

  • Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for COP26

    This joint statement was released on 20th September 2021, ahead of the United Nations COP26 meeting taking place in Glasgow, in November 2021.  You can find a poster version of this declaration to show in your church here. Our faith communities are united in caring for human life and the natural world. We share a belief in a hopeful future, as well as an obligation to be responsible in caring for our common home, the Earth.  We recognise the opportunities that COP26 brings in addressing the urgent need for action in limiting the effects of climate change and the critical importance of decisions made in this conference to take forward the agreement made in Paris in 2015. People have exploited the planet, causing climate change. We recognise that the burden of loss and damage falls most heavily on people living in poverty, especially women and children.  We acknowledge the commitments made through the Lambeth Declaration in 2015. Now, because of the gravity of our situation, the impact of climate change around the world, and the inequality of its effects we seek to strengthen those commitments. We commit to respond to this challenge by: Reflecting deeply in prayer, meditation and worship to discern how to care for the earth and each other, and to encourage our respective communities to do the same. Making transformational change in our own lives and in the lives of our communities through individual and collective action. Being advocates for justice by calling on governments, businesses and others who exercise power and influence to put into effect the Paris agreement; to make the transition to a just and green economy a priority; and to commit to science-based targets that are aligned with a healthy, resilient, zero-emissions future. We remind governments of their commitments made in Paris in 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, and of Article 17 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights to protect the environment, the biosphere and biodiversity. We call upon them to take the urgent action needed to avert the loss, damage, and forced migration threatened by climate change. We look to governments to work together and with others to create a positive vision for 2050 where addressing climate change is not just an opportunity to stop burning fossil fuels, but also: to achieve cleaner air and water; to reduce food wastage; to ensure a just and equitable sharing of the earth’s resources; and to protect the habitats we share with all other life on whose health we also depend. Across our doctrinal and political differences, we know that we must change our ways to ensure a quality of life which all can share, and we need to provide hope for people of all ages, everywhere, including future generations.  To offer hope in the world we need to have confidence that those in power understand the vital role they have to play at the Glasgow COP26. Our collective energy and prayers will be with those working for a successful outcome. Signed by: UK Senior Faith Leaders Archbishop Angaelos, Archbishop of London, The Coptic Orthodox Church The Rt Revd John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, and lead Bishop for the Environment, Catholic Church in England and Wales Imam Qari Muhammad Asim, Chair, Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board Malcolm M Deboo, President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (Inc) Revd Clare Downing and Mr Peter Pay, Moderators of General Assembly, United Reformed Church Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi, S&P Sephardi Community, UK Revd. Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain Rev Sonia Hicks, President of the Methodist Church and Barbara Easton, Vice-President of the Methodist Church Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Former Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism Rt Rev Andy John, Bishop of Bangor and Senior Bishop in the Church in Wales Rabbi David Mason, representing Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra (Imam), Christian – Muslim Forum Mr. Patrick O’Mara, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom Mrs Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain Juliet Prager, Deputy Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain Imam Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam, Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society Rabbi Danny Rich, former Senior Rabbi and Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism in the United Kingdom The Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala, Head Priest of the London Buddhist Vihara Dr Natubhai Shah, Senior leader, Jain Community UK The Rt. Hon Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon, Director Network of Sikh Organisations (UK) Jasvir Singh OBE, Chair of City Sikhs Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG, Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and lead Bishop on the Environment, Church of England Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK Scottish Religious Leaders & Representatives The Rt Hon Lord Jim Wallace of Tankerness, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Elizabeth Allen, Clerk, General Meeting for Scotland, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Imam Sohail Ashfaque, Blackhall Mosque Lt-Col Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army Revd David Coleman, Minister of the United Reformed Church and Chaplain to Eco-Congregation Scotland Allan Forsyth and Isadora Quay, on behalf of the Baha’i Community of Scotland Rev Bonnie Evans Hills, convener Scottish Episcopal Church Interfaith Relations Committee Madhu Jain, Hindu Mandir Scotland Revd Dr Martin Johnstone, Glasgow Churches Together COP26 Ambassador Ani Lhamo, Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Centre Bishop Brian McGee, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interreligious dialogue Rev Dr David Miller, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland Acharya Ji Mishra, Priest of Hindu Mandir Scotland Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Advisor Sikhs in Scotland Imam Hassan Rabbani, Imam of Zia-Ul-Quran Mosque, Chair of Scottish Muslim Forum Lama Yeshe Choje Losal Rinpoche           Abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling Buddhist Centre Rabbi David Rose            Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Senior Rabbi of Scotland Shaykh Sohaib Saeed, Al-Furqan Mosque The Revd Mark Slaney Chair Methodist Church Scotland Sr. Isabel Smyth               Sisters of Notre Dame & Secretary to the Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Inter-religious Dialogue Most Rev Mark Strange Primus of the Scottish Episcopal …

  • Make COP Count Parliamentary Event

    Ahead of COP26 in November 2021, the interfaith initiative Make COP Count gathered faith leaders and parliamentarians together to explore the role of faith communities in encouraging an ambitious and effective climate summit, in partnership with the all-party parliamentary groups (APPG) on Climate Change and the APPG on Faith and Society. Members of Parliament, Peers and faith representatives explored faith’s key priorities, listened to lived experience of global communities on the front line of the crisis and focused on next steps, including the need for action on loss and damage financing. Top 5 things we learnt… 1. Faith groups have a history of driving political change, and can build on this to challenge  the climate crisis. Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, the Chair of the APPG on Faith and Society, pointed to the rich history of campaigns such as Make Poverty History and the Jubilee Debt campaign to remind us that faith groups have used their power to build political consensus for change in the past, and can do this again for radical climate action. 2. Faith groups share key values that underpin their push for climate justice. Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Trustee of Faith for the Climate, highlighted that different faiths groups all share the core values of equality, fairness, compassion and justice, a key part of the reason that across the world they have been some of the first to recognise and act on the seriousness of climate breakdown. 3. Loss and damage financing is more needed than ever as other avenues of supporting communities impacted by climate breakdown become less feasible. Enamul Mazid Khan Siddique, Head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights at Oxfam in Bangladesh, explained that severe flooding is forcing Bangladeshis to flee to Europe as previously feasible adaption strategies such as climate risk insurance are no longer financially viable. He informed us that commitments on loss and damage at COP26 would be a major step to prevent this. 4. Faith groups should prioritise amplifying the stories of frontline communities impacted by climate breakdown. Gareth Quity, Project Coordinator of PACCCIL at Oxfam in the Solomon Islands, explained that for many Solomon Islanders, tropical cyclones and rising seas have destroyed their homes and forced them to relocate, in the process destroying aspects of their culture, traditions and livelihoods.  He urged faith groups to prioritise amplifying the voices of the communities most affected by climate breakdown, such as Solomon Islanders experiencing displacement, to ensure that those most affected are involved in the design of new loss and damage mechanisms. 5. Faith groups and Parliamentarians need to keep working together to campaign for action on loss and damage. Dr Caroline Lucas, MP and Chair of the APPG on Climate Change, reiterated the importance of delivery on loss and damage, arguing it needs additional finance rather than adaption or mitigation. She urged faith groups to continue to pressure Parliamentarians for action on this, and encouraged MPs to continue to work closely with faith groups. How can we be part of Make COP count ahead of COP26? The Make COP Count coalition is a network of representatives from faith communities with a shared focus on advocacy, hospitality and consciousness-raising ahead of COP26. Together we hold a common belief that the global response to the climate crisis has to be rooted in justice and human rights, with loss and damage action as an essential element of this. Alongside JPIT, a variety of faith groups are represented within Make COP Count, including the Church of England, Eco Congregation Scotland, the Eco Dharma Network, Eco-Sikh UK, Eco Synagogue, Faith for the Climate, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Hindu Climate Action, Islamic Relief UK and Quakers in Britain. Make COP Count has two key priorities for COP26: ending fossil fuel subsidies and establishing a new finance facility for loss and damage. Loss and damage refers to the impact that climate breakdown is having on people right now. It includes the loss of lives, livelihoods, homes, cultures, traditions and habitats.  To find out more about Make COP Count, why not have a look at their website – makecopcount.org. or email them at cop26liaison@faithfortheclimate.org.uk. Reflection As Christians, we believe that care for God’s creation is a central call of our faith. By joining together with other Christians alongside wider faith groups, we can call for change that improves the lives of our neighbours, be they nearby or far away. A prayer ahead of COP26 – Creator God, Thank you for the world you have made, where there is space and resource for each of us to flourish if we learn to share well.Help us love our neighbours, wherever they may call home. We lift up to you our world leaders as COP26 approaches, and ask you give them guidance to make wise choices and ambitious commitments. Thank you for the ways your Church has fought for those most affected by the climate crisis, embolden us to call for change with their needs at heart.We pray for more of your kingdom to come, where there is justice for all. Amen COP26 is the 26th annual UN Climate Change Conference, the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). It’s going to be held in Glasgow, Scotland this November. To find out more about COP26 and JPIT’s work on it, look here.

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