The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, began with two events on Sunday, 31 October. The opening day of the intergovernmental meeting started with a plenary addressed by the past and future Presidents of the COP and the leaders of the UNFCCC and IPCC, along with an inspiring statement by a young Maori woman representing indigenous peoples, invited specially by the President of COP26 to address its opening. Read a brief account of the opening
Disrupted progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the broad commitments of all nations to achieving them have prompted deep and shared concerns. Amidst the urgent challenges and uncertainties that the COVID-19 emergencies have caused, momentum, focus, and financial progress are at grave risk. Read Religious Commitments to SDGs: Children, Hunger, Water, and Sanitation
FaithPlans participant Eco-Sikh UK has teamed up with the UK Environment Agency in the battle against plastics pollution. Part of a wider community of some 30 million members, Eco-Sikh UK is a non-profit organisation focused on inter-faith responses to climate change. In joining with the Environment Agency it is seeking to engage with audiences throughout the United Kingdom on the issue of avoidable plastics. Read more here
Faith Plans partner Global One has dramatically updated its groundbreaking Green Guide for Hajj and Umrah, encouraging green thinking and sustainability for religious faithful undertaking one of the world’s best known pilgrimages. Read more here
Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) is a climate justice-based organization established to unite women in movement building for ecological and social justice. Our primary work is with women (and their communities) on the frontlines of climate change and environmental degradation; specifically, Indigenous women, women of color, low-income and underserved communities. Read about the work of WECAN and watch the side-event video
International development charity Christian Aid is organising a special COP26 event at Glasgow Cathedral on Monday (7pm, 8th November 2021). Christian Aid lead Chine McDonald says the event promises to be something quite special, with justice at its core: “What better way to draw people’s attention to climate justice than through the power of music? Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity today, with some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised groups bearing the brunt of it, facing floods, droughts and storms on the frontline of this crisis. Read about this event, and watch the video.
The Ecumenical Service of Worship to Mark COP 26 was held at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday 7 November at 4PM. The event was fully subscribed and no seats remaining. The Order of Service is given, and the livestream is available for viewing.
The All African Conference of Churches delivered one Green Zone Event on the topic, The Welfare of the Earth is our Welfare. Climate protection is the litmus test for sustainability in the 21st century and faith leaders in Africa and across the world. Faith leaders will not remain silent as people continue to suffer from the effects of climate change. Faith leaders and faith communities are pushing for higher ambition and commitments for touchable action to confront the threat posed. Read more here
Protecting Mother Earth: Sacred Guardianship & Ecocide Law: How can the profound traditions and practices of sacred guardianship be respected/included in the existing dominant legal system? Ecocide law reflects a factual reality (both physical and spiritual) – that if we damage the Earth, there are consequences. Could this protective law be a bridging piece towards rebalancing our relationship to Mother Nature? Watch the video of this event
Faith for Ecocide Law: More than 80% of the world’s population identify themselves as adhering to a religion. In all religions there are components of ethics and how to understand the natural world. To protect the most vulnerable is something that most traditions have. That’s why faith voices are needed to get an international law on ecocide. Read more here and watch the video
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is partaking in COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, to join in on dialogue surrounding action and collaboration towards the goals set forth by the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In this video, there is discussion of Adaptation and Mitigation through Land Preservation and Management. Climate actions have often fallen into one of two strategies: mitigation efforts to lower or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, and adaptation efforts to adjust systems and societies to withstand the impacts of climate change. Read more and watch the video
