COP26: Quaker perspectives on the negotiations so far

Friends (Quakers) worldwide are urgently concerned with the human impacts of the climate crisis. We use the term sustainability, defined in the broadest sense, to include concerns around climate breakdown, peace, economic and climate justice, human rights and depletion of natural resources.

Earthcare unites traditional Quaker testimonies: peace, equality, simplicity, integrity, and justice. It is consistent with our understanding of Jesus’ teachings. It is rooted in the lived experience of our global community, many of whom have described in Quaker gatherings and elsewhere, what it is like to live through increasingly frequent extreme weather events, as well as worsening violent conflict.

Quakers around the world used the global focus on COP26 to call on governments to commit to essential climate targets and to place justice at the heart of solutions to climate breakdown, and protect life on earth. There are many ways to support climate action beyond the UN climate talks.

During this hybrid event recorded on 6 November 2021, Lindsey Fielder Cook, Representative for Climate Change at the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva, and Olivia Hanks, Programme Manager for Economics and Sustainability at Quakers in Britain share their reflections on the COP26 UN climate negotiations so far.