Registering your congregation with us is a declaration of your intent to care for creation. Its free and comes with no pre-requisites. Register online today.
Registering your congregation with us is a declaration of your intent to care for creation. Its free and comes with no pre-requisites. Register online today.
Climate emergency, coronavirus and Brexit. How can we as faith communities work with others to build a just and green future? These are moments of great opportunity but also significant challenge. Hosted by St Columba’s by the Castle Episcopal Church in Edinburgh, join the discussion with:
As Scotland comes into the spotlight hosting COP 26, due in November 2021, it becomes imperative that Scotland’s churches join the conversation and take action on the Climate Emergency.
One of the most powerful ways we can encourage change is in talking, listening and telling our stories. Eco Congregation Scotland has produced a pack of monthly themed resources to help congregations begin a series of awareness raising conversations about the Climate Emergency and to encourage everyone to take action.
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything in the Universe. (John Muir)
How we choose to live our lives has a direct impact on the lives of other people. The way we choose to travel, the food we eat, the way we heat our homes, our continuing demands for goods and services and the way we deal with the waste produced all have a direct impact on other people.
Certainly the worst of the changes in weather patterns can be seen in other areas of the world producing severe storms and conversely severe droughts leading to famines and other humanitarian crises:
Pollution of water courses and air as other countries attempt to recycle our rubbish affecting the health of many people.
Effects of global warming on our oceans and on plants and animals threaten the web of life.
Inequalities can be seen too in the ability of countries to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, with less affluent countries struggling to provide basic healthcare, sanitation and access to food.
In this month where leaders from many countries across the globe were to have converged on Glasgow for COP26 to consider how best to address the issue of climate change and agree a way forward working together, how will we respond to ensure a fairer world for current and future generations?
Conversation Starters:
How do you feel when you hear about the effects of climate change on the planet and the effects it has on people’s lives?
As Scotland comes to the forefront of international attention, what message would you like the leaders to take home to their country about what is happening in this country?
Is it easy to adopt the kinds of changes that experts suggest we need to if we are to reduce our impact on the world’s climate? What makes these easy/ tricky to do? (eg: eating less meat, reducing waste, insulating our homes, using public transport, changing the kinds of energy we use, buying Fairtrade goods)
Do you feel differently about any of these changes in the light of the pandemic? How have the views and behaviour of other people changed?
Faiths Unite: Visions for Transformative Climate Action
Join the final of three global sessions organised by the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
Reaching the time of what should have been the COP26 in Glasgow, this session offers a space for dialogue on faith-based climate action. Stories of hope in action from faith communities around the world are shared and reflected on.
The session offers interactive opportunities for participants, facilitating connections and raising motivation for the year ahead. Join friends around the world to learn, discuss and explore climate action with opening speakers:
The moderator is Brussels-based Chiara Martinelli from CIDSE, the international family of Catholic social justice organisations including SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund).
A key highlight of the 2020 Scottish Interfaith Week, this interactive meeting hosted by Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow includes a breakout session enabling all to participate fully. Please join us to help share your own hopes for the future from Scotland.
As a Christian charity, one of our purposes is the “promotion of religious, racial and social harmony through a demonstration that care for creation is an essential part of all faiths and by working with other faiths and groups to promote this understanding”.
Eco-Congregation Scotland is delighted to support Interfaith Scotland and local interfaith groups along with the UK Faith for the Climate network in all our combined efforts towards the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow next year.
We thank those who are already active through their own church connecting with other faiths – particularly at this time of year – and encourage our volunteers and friends to join events connecting faiths during Scottish Interfaith Week from 8th to 15th November.
Hosted by Hope for the Future and Faith for the Climate, bringing together constituents and Members of Parliament from across the UK, marking the previous start date of COP26 before it was postponed due to the pandemic. Please join us to reflect on the potential of this coming year, in the run up to the new conference start date in November 2021.
This event welcomes people from all faith traditions and backgrounds – as well as MPs from across the political spectrum – to reflect, share and consider the vision of this year as the UK prepares to host the UN’s annual climate negotiations, with contributions from:
Kate Hughes, Director for International Climate Change at BEIS (UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Jonathan McAveety, Senior Campaigns Officer at SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund)
Isabella O’Dowd, Senior Climate Change Specialist at WWF
Join the final of three global sessions organised by the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Reaching the time of what should have been the COP26 in Glasgow, this session offers a space for dialogue on faith-based climate action.
Stories of hope in action from faith communities around the world are shared and reflected on. The session offers interactive opportunities for participants, facilitating connections and raising motivation for the year ahead. Join friends around the world to learn, discuss and explore climate action with opening speakers:
The moderator is Brussels-based Chiara Martinelli from CIDSE, the international family of Catholic social justice organisations including SCIAF. This interactive meeting hosted by Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow includes a breakout session enabling all to participate fully. Please join us to help share your own hopes for the future from Scotland.
Workshop organised by Deeside CAN, formed out of representatives from four Aberdeen Local Network eco-congregations in Banchory and Torphins, including Eco-Congregation Scotland depute chair Richard Murray:
“CAN stands for Climate Action Network; it also means Care And Nurture. We are a group of people living on Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, who want to do something to minimise climate change, reduce waste and decrease the loss of biodiversity.”
“Do you want to know how your lifestyle impacts the environment – or what to do to reduce your carbon footprint? Our lifestyles are impacting the environment and causing climate change. We need to change! The Scottish Government has set a Net Zero target for 2045. This means we must all reduce our carbon footprint by 4% every year. Come and join our free Zoom workshop.”
This Sunday 8th November, as we begin the season of Remembrance, please again join Christians across Scotland in ecumenical prayer with Church leaders at 7pm.
Eco-Congregation Scotland is encouraging churches to consider local transformation addressing the climate crisis, supported by the new Community Climate Asset Fund – and global engagement by our volunteers as we build towards next year’s COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, supporting action by all faiths, wider civil society and governments.
The aim is to reduce usage of petrol and diesel cars, cut waste, grow local food and decrease emissions from community buildings. Fundable items include electric vehicles, bikes, energy efficiency measures in community buildings, polytunnels and raised beds, community fridges, tools or repair equipment and wood fuel equipment.
Grants range between a minimum of £1,000 and maximum of £100,000. Match funding is required for grants over £10,000. The application deadline is Monday 9th November 2020 at noon, but early submission is encouraged as funding will be allocated to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccaf
COP26 – Ramp up ambition! Tuesday 3rd November 2020 4.00pm – 6.00pm Register here
Join the second of three global sessions organised by the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) – organisers of COP26 – bringing together representatives from the scientific, policy and faith communities engaged in climate change. This open discussion on the agenda for COP26 and what this means for climate action now includes panelists:
ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches participants at COP25 illustrate the lack of balance in finance of the global climate response, where most of the finance is put into mitigation, some into adaptation, but very little into loss and damage, even though “that’s where the people are.” They chanted: “What do we want? – Climate justice. When do we want it? – Now!” Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
This webinar will discuss what needs to be on the agenda of COP26 and what does it mean for climate action now. The postponement of COP26 creates a challenge to keeping up the tempo on climate action. States’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are not even close to ensuring global temperature rise remains below 2°C, let alone the necessary 1.5°C.
Inaction from governments is no longer an option. 2020 is the year when the greenhouse gas emissions curve must begin to fall in order to have a chance of attaining the Paris Agreement goals. Climate actions undertaken by states must contain a mechanism to compensate for loss and damage. Finance, technology transfer and capacity building for adaptation must be made available to least developed and climate vulnerable countries. COVID-19 has shown the world that there is finance available to respond to an emergency. The climate emergency needs to be met with the same determination. There is no real alternative – continuing to stall action will eventually lead to catastrophic loss and damage.
As we rebuild from the devastating impacts of coronavirus, we can transform our society for the better. Eco-Congregation Scotland is among 80 organisations calling on the Scottish Government to take five steps for a just and green recovery plan that puts people and planet first:
🚮 Provide good publicly funded services 💷 Provide an adequate income for everyone 🌳 Fund action to cut climate emissions and restore nature 🗳️ Strengthen democracy, participation and human rights 🌍 Support an international coronavirus and climate emergency response
We can’t go back to an economy that destroyed our environment and increased inequality. We must do our fair share of climate action, restore Scotland’s nature and create good, green jobs across the country. We can start that collective action now by letting the Scottish Government know that we can and must Build Back Better. If you agree, please join us in this movement:
📧 Read our letter to Scotland’s First Minister ✍️ Sign the petition now to show the growing public desire for change 🎦 Share the video on Twitter and Facebook explaining the campaign
We are also backing the coming Week of Action on 4–11 November encouraging Members of the Scottish Parliament to match words with action.
Supporters in every region of Scotland will be asking their MSPs to set up an online meeting with constituents during the Week of Action, discussing the need for a fair recovery that can create a more sustainable, equal world for all. Please sign up now to get involved:
This is a key moment with politicians and civil servants already drawing up recovery plans to deal with the economic fallout from the pandemic. The impact of choices made now will be felt for years to come. Now is the time to use our collective power to make sure that we really do build back better. We can only make change happen if we work together. Read more on the Virtual Lobby for Real Change:
Hundreds have already signed up and are now arranging meetings to speak to their local politicians. The Virtual Lobby is your opportunity to let MSPs know how the pandemic has impacted you and what your vision for a just and green society is. Please join today:
As Scotland comes into the spotlight hosting COP 26, due in November 2021, it becomes imperative that Scotland’s churches join the conversation and take action on the Climate Emergency.
One of the most powerful ways we can encourage change is in talking, listening and telling our stories. Eco Congregation Scotland has produced a pack of resources to help congregations begin a series of awareness raising conversations about the Climate Emergency and to encourage everyone to take action.
Throughout October the focus has been on a “New Clothes”.
Fast Fashion. Inexpensive clothing, produced quickly so that the latest trends are available almost instantly on the high street. Clothing that may not be of especially good quality, and may end up being thrown away almost as quickly as it is purchased.
Low cost fashion? Perhaps the price paid at the till is low but what about the cost to the planet? Fashion has been credited with producing about 10% of humanity’s carbon footprint, employing poorly paid labour, drying up water sources – 2000 gallons of water are needed to produce one pair of jeans – polluting rivers and releasing microplastics into the ocean as clothes are washed.
Second hand clothing and swap shops are becoming a more common sight on our high streets. Textile recycling is available in many locations, yet a lot of clothing ends up in landfill.
Conversation starters
“Clothes make a man.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? Is fashion important to you?
What do you do with clothes you no longer want? How have you reused or repurposed old
clothes? Can you sew or knit?
How do you feel about second hand clothes shops and clothes swaps?
Join us on Zoom, to talk and reflect on thoughts about “New Clothes”.
To register for the event please fill out the form below. We will send you the link on the day of the event.
