Churches in UK calling for concrete commitments ahead of climate summit in Glasgow

50 British religious figures sign a common text, a strong appeal to support immediate action to protect creation

More than 50 British religious figures have signed the “Multireligious Declaration of Glasgow”, which asks policy to implement the Paris Agreement’s points for the 2015 climate, which we recall was adopted by 196 participants. It is a legally binding international treaty on change. The then Cop21. We are weeks away from the appointment with COP26, which will be hosted by the Scottish City, in the awareness once again that in the area of ​​climate policies, time has already passed and urgent concrete action is needed.

Announcement, which is made public during climate fringe week, a week dedicated to raising awareness on climate change, highlights the urgent need for action to avoid the loss, catastrophic damage to human and physical life and forced migration caused by ongoing climate change.

Signed by Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Reformed, Catholic, Episcopal, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Bahá’í and Buddhist communities among others, the text calls for a transition towards a just and green economy and governments that are zero-carbon. Committed to achieving future science-based goals.

Here is the text of the statement:

“Our communities of faith are united in caring for human life and the natural world. We believe in a hopeful future as well as share an obligation to be responsible for caring for our common home, the Earth.

We recognize the urgent need for action to limit the effects of climate change and the opportunities provided by COP26 to address the critical importance of decisions taken at this conference to advance the Paris Agreement in 2015.

People have exploited the planet, which has led to climate change. We recognize that the greatest burden of loss and damage falls on people living in poverty, especially women and children.

We recognize the commitments made through the Lambeth Declaration in 2015. Now, given the gravity of our situation, the impact of climate change on the world, and the disparity of its effects, we want to strengthen those commitments.

We are committed to answering this challenge by:

-Reflecting deeply in prayer, meditation and worship to learn how to care for the earth and others, and encourage our respective communities to do the same.

Promote transformative changes in our lives and the lives of our communities through individual and collective action.

– Remaining advocates of justice by inviting governments, businesses and others in power and influence to implement the Paris Agreement

Prioritizing transition to an equitable and green economy

Committing ourselves to science-based goals that align with a healthy, resilient and zero-emissions future.

We remind governments of the commitments made in Paris in 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and that Article 17 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights states that “the interrelationship between humans and other forms of life should be given due consideration, the importance of appropriate access to the use of biological and genetic resources to protect the environment, biosphere and biodiversity, respect for traditional knowledge and the role of humans in protecting the environment, biosphere and biodiversity”. We urge them to take necessary immediate action to avoid the loss, damage and forced migration caused by climate change.

We hope that governments work together and with each other to create a positive vision for 2050, in which addressing climate change is an opportunity to not only stop burning fossil fuels, but to achieve clean air and water. It is also meant to reduce food wastage, ensure justice. Equal sharing of the Earth’s resources, and to protect the habitats we share with all other forms of life on whose health we also depend.

Despite our ideological and political differences, we know that to ensure quality of life we ​​must change our ways and we must give hope to people of all ages, everywhere, including future generations. To give hope to the world, we must believe that those in power understand the important role they must play at COP26 in Glasgow.

Our collective energies and our prayers will be with those who work towards a positive outcome.”