Walk2COP27

Eco-Congregation Scotland is working with a new initiative called Walk2COP27. Please join us with your participation and support, registering your interest today:

https://www.walk2cop27.com/i-am-interested

Volunteers, churches and faith groups across Scotland welcomed thousands of pilgrims and visitors for last year’s COP26 climate conference, including Walk2COP26 which you can hear more about here. This has developed into Walk2COP27 as we join people from different countries, faith groups, charities, businesses and education establishments to “educate each other on climate challenges and action, forge a sense of solidarity, connect with like minds and catalyse action”.

Walk2COP27 aims to accelerate climate action in the run-up to the COP27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, based around a virtual journey over 45 days from COP26 host city Glasgow. Twelve countries between Scotland and Egypt will host a hybrid or virtual Townhall meeting that showcases how climate change is impacting that location and solutions that are being deployed.

Eco-Congregation Scotland invites individuals, churches and faith groups across Scotland to take part in the virtual journey from 22 September to 7 November:

• WALK each participant will be encouraged to walk – or run, cycle or wheelchair – as far as they can over 45 days, in their chosen locations, with progress tracked on the platform atlasGO and trees planted by the Jane Goodall Institute for kilometres travelled
• TALK all participants will be encouraged to attend the Townhalls and other dialogue sessions run in between
• ACT participants will be encouraged to fundraise, provide input to a proclamation to be published for COP27 and engage in local climate actions

Open to participants all over the world, organisations, teams and individuals can participate by tracking their kilometres travelled on an app in their own locations. It will be great opportunity to walk or take part in other active travel in your own area and with others in your church and community.

Participants can share their climate-related projects, and learn from others via the planned Townhall meetings and social media – including a participants’ forum on the Clubhouse app where all involved can chat. We look forward to supporting discussion on the issues that matter to you.

Towards the end of our journey, participants will contribute to a proclamation which will be delivered to the formal participants at COP27. Climate Justice is always a strong motivator for faith-inspired action and this offers a timely opportunity to join voices around the world, speaking as one on tackling the climate crisis.

How to participate

The journey starts on Thursday 22 September at 12.30pm with the Glasgow Townhall hosted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. This is an open, hybrid public meeting that you can attend in person or join online, with panel discussions on Scotland’s climate change challenges and solutions plus the intersection between health and climate globally.

Participants will be able to register on an App and join a team from 1 September. Once the journey starts participants will be able to:

• Have trees planted on their behalf by tracking the distance they travel up to 6 November 2022
• Communicate with their team on the app and see how others are progressing – we hope you will join us and other Scottish faith groups
• Participate in the 12 Townhalls which are run across the 45 days
• Lead or participate in sessions on climate action on Clubhouse run by participants
• Raise funds for the Jane Goodall Institute
• Contribute to a proclamation summarising the views of all those participating for COP27 delegates to hear

Participants can do as much or as little as you want. Many are planning local activities to complement those above.

What to do now

We look forward to you joining us in September. For now, please:

• Register your interest here
• Share this message and/or the social media posts here
• Visit the website and send any questions to support@walk2cop27.com

Please also think about how you would like to get involved or organised through your own group or eco-congregation. Contact our own team with ideas for Eco-Congregation Scotland in your church or area, and for all our volunteers across the country.

A request to register on the app will be sent out on Wednesday 31 August, a link to the app with our code will also be directly accessible on the website from that date.

You can follow Walk2COP27 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Linktree. Please register your interest today:

https://www.walk2cop27.com/i-am-interested