Christians were among tens of thousands of people who joined in hundreds of “actions” which took place in cities around the world last Saturday, demanding greater action on climate change.
More than 900 events were held in 95 different countries – from the US and Australia to Indonesia and Nigeria – as part of an international effort under the umbrella of ‘Rise for Climate’.
Rev Fletcher Harper, executive director of GreenFaith – the interfaith environmental organisation that led the organising of religious groups globally as part of ‘Rise for Climate’, said that with the climate “dangerously out of balance”, the world has to “wake up and make serious changes”.
“We need commitments to fossil fuel divestment and no new fossil fuel projects. Bold investments in 100 per cent renewable energy for all. Electric transportation. An end to tropical deforestation and the persecution of forests’ indigenous guardians. Jobs in a green economy. Personal lifestyle change at scale. If we’re serious about addressing this crisis, an ‘a la carte’ approach simply will not cut it.”
The actions came as officials were meeting in Bangkok to draft a “rule book” for the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change ahead of a summit in Poland this December.
Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, said there has been “uneven progress” among nations in addressing climate change and that climate change action needed to increase significantly. “Clearly, fully implementing the Paris Agreement is the way to do this in a balanced, coordinated manner that leaves nobody behind,” she said.
Meanwhile, the three day Global Climate Action Summit kicks off in San Francisco on Wednesday with the aim of celebrating achievements already made with regard to addressing climate change while at the same time urging deeper worldwide commitments and accelerated action.
Faith communities will join in a special multi-faith service on 13th September at Grace Episcopal Cathedral as part of the event. It will include messages from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Dalai Lama and a call for people all around the globe to take part in the flagship campaign, Living the Change, which aims to encourage people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
