Faith groups take their message on climate change to Copenhagen

Quakers were represented at the Windsor Celebration of faith groups’ commitments to action for climate change in early November, jointly organised by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, was present and was committed to carrying the message of the event with him to the Copenhagen climate summit in December.

Among the faiths represented were Sikhs and Hindus; Christians of many flavours from evangelical to orthodox; Jews from Britain, America and Israel; Shinto priests from Japan and Daoist monks from China; Muslims from Egypt to Indonesia; Buddhists and Baha’is.

Together the nine religions represented some 4 billion people worldwide. Also participating were a range of secular environmental organisations.

(above) Prof Dr Tarek Wafik, Muslim Association for Climate Change Action, was among the speakers.

The objective was to recognise and celebrate commitments made by faith organisations, to harness the power and influence of faith groups for change, for the peace of the planet, and to send a strong message to political negotiators prior to the Copenhagen summit in December.

The Quaker public statement on climate change, endorsed by Yearly Meeting Gathering in July, was part of the process building up to this event.

On behalf of Quakers, Alison Prout and Helen Rowlands received a certificate in recognition of Friends’ long-term commitment to work ‘to protect the living planet’. Other faith groups being similarly recognised have produced 7-, 8- or 9- year plans for change, in response to the UNDP’s call for faith commitments. The scope of those commitments is awe-inspiring.

Each faith is asked to consider what can be done, from within its own teachings and traditions, under seven headings: faith-consistent use of assets; education and young people; wisdom; lifestyles; media and advocacy; partnerships and eco-twinning; celebration.

On the evening following the Windsor event, Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) hosted a public event in the Large Meeting House at Friends House, London, called Many Heavens, One Earth: Faiths, the Environment and Copenhagen.

The event drew a much wider group of people into the vivid Windsor experience, with the same imaginative mixture of music, dance and dramatic readings, drawing on Hindu, Sufi and Christian traditions and with many of the Windsor guests present. Speakers included the UNDP Assistant Secretary-General, Olav Kjørven, and leading religious and scientific figures.

The build-up to Copenhagen continued as many Friends joined The Wave, the big demonstration in the streets of London (and other cities around the world) on 5 December. But of course the work has only just started. Friends House itself has signed up to 10:10 (reducing emissions by 10% by the end of 2010). QPSW is recruiting an additional staff member to focus on sustainability and peace. And crucially, Friends and meetings across the country continue to work on reducing their carbon emissions.

For more information on the Windsor event see http://www.windsor2009.org

For the Quaker statement on climate change and to keep up with relevant news see http://www.quaker.org.uk/environment or contact Alison Prout:
alisonp@quaker.org.uk
020 7663 1035