A few places are still available to book onto the Interfaith Week on Iona on the theme of ‘Caring for Creation’ from 14th – 20th September, staying in the Abbey and hosted by the Iona Community.
Caring for Creation is a key message in the scriptures of all faith traditions. In this interfaith week you will explore what different faiths have to say about respect for all life and the careful and responsible protection and preservation of the earth’s resources.
Interfaith Week will be facilitated by Maureen Sier, Director and Frances Hume, National Development Officer at Interfaith Scotland; Caro Penney, Iona Abbey Warden and climate change activists Zarina Ahmad and Adrian Shaw.
For more information and to book click on the link below:
Scottish faith communities call on COP26 President to honour Glasgow Pact commitments
Eco-Congregation Scotland chairperson Richard Murray is among diverse faith leaders and groups calling on COP26 President Alok Sharma to honour the Glasgow Pact commitments.
The Pact includes commitments from 197 nations to build resilience to climate change, curb greenhouse gas emissions and provide finance for both, agreed at the COP26 United Nations climate conference in Glasgow last November.
Religious leaders and faith organisations across Scotland have signed a letter requesting a meeting with Mr Sharma to discuss progress.
At COP26, Mr Sharma said the pact was a “fragile win” and that “unless we honour the promises made – to turn the commitments in the Glasgow Climate Pact into action – they will wither on the vine.”
Scottish religious leaders at the COP26 Vigil on 31 October 2021 courtesy of kelvinstudio.co.uk
Representatives of Scottish faith groups are concerned that world developments have diverted attention from COP26 commitments.
United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has warned it is “now or never” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Director of Interfaith Scotland, Dr Maureen Sier said: “The fragile win achieved at COP26 is at grave risk. It is essential that all governments commit to actioning the Glasgow Pact and work together, with others, to ensure a future for all”.
The letter was developed by the COP26 Interfaith Working Group and signed by faith leaders and organisations across Scotland. The COP26 Interfaith Working Group is made up of representatives from Scottish faith groups and organisations working on climate issues. The group is chaired by Interfaith Scotland with Interfaith Glasgow acting as Secretariat.
Chair and Secretariat of the COP26 Interfaith Working Group
The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, COP President Designate
Dear Mr Sharma,
cc Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP and First Minister Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Faith and Belief Communities request meeting in preparation for COP27
We write to ask for a meeting with you to hear what your Presidency has been doing to honour the Glasgow Pact commitments and what progress has been made.
As representatives of faith groups from across Scotland, we were proud to welcome delegates, campaigners, pilgrims and others to COP26. We joined people of faith from around the globe demanding action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
We are increasingly concerned that developments around the world since COP26 have diverted attention from the commitments that were made. The persistence of the Covid pandemic, a terrible war in Ukraine and dramatic energy price rises that are promoting calls for new oil and gas development put these commitments at risk.
You told us at the close of the conference that it was a “fragile win” and that “unless we honour the promises made – to turn the commitments in the Glasgow Climate Pact into action – they will wither on the vine.” And UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has warned us it is “now or never” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
We call on you to ensure that the COP26 commitments are put into effect and that climate justice and real energy security are available to all. As priorities we call upon you to ensure the following:
End new oil and gas exploration as recommended by The International Energy Agency
Build sustainable economies powered by renewable energy
That no one lives in fuel poverty, in the UK or overseas.
As representatives of faith groups across Scotland we commit to doing our part. Many of us are working across Scotland to promote community action on climate change. We will redouble our efforts and assure you of our continuing support to ensure the commitments made at COP26 are put into effect.
Yours, in hope,
The COP 26 Interfaith Working Group and Scottish religious leaders
The Right Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly, The Church of Scotland Sheikh Hassan Rabbani, Chair of Scottish Muslim Forum Acharya Ji Mishra, Priest of Hindu Mandir Glasgow Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills, Priest, Scottish Episcopal Church Revd Paul Whittle, Synod Moderator, National Synod of Scotland, The United Reformed Church Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, Abbot, Kagyu Samye Ling Sr Isabel Smyth OBE, Catholic Bishops’ Interreligious Dialogue Committee Baha’i Community of Scotland Muslim Council of Scotland Richard Murray, Chairperson, Eco-Congregation Scotland Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland Alistair Dutton, Director, SCIAF Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Chair, Religions for Peace UK Women of Faith Network, Sikh Representative, Scottish Religious Leaders Forum, Advisor, Sikhs in Scotland Dr Rose Drew, CEO, Interfaith Glasgow Dr Maureen Sier, Director, Interfaith Scotland Professor Joe Goldblatt, Chair, Edinburgh Interfaith Association Olivia Fuchs, Coordinator, Eco Dharma Robert Harrap, General Director, Soka Gakkai International – UK Jill Kent, Chair, Justice and Peace Scotland Elizabeth Allen, Clerk of General Meeting, Quakers in Scotland Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly, Chaplain, The University of Glasgow Harjot Singh Kambo, Lead Coordinator Scotland, EcoSikhUK Jonathan Baxter, Curator, A+E – Pilgrimage for COP26 Sister Mary McClure, Provincial Leader, Sisters of Notre Dame (British Province) Christine Anderson, Faithful Companions of Jesus William G Crook, The Order of Interbeing Plum Village Tradition Aekus Kamboj, Environment Officer, CEMVO Scotland David Somervell, Member, South Edinburgh Quaker Local Meeting Mahrukh Adnan Shaukat, Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre The Iona Community Glasgow Baha’i Community Brahma Kumaris Earth Holders Edinburgh The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC)
Supporting organisations Shanon Shah, Director, Faith for the Climate Fletcher Harper, Executive Director, GreenFaith Rev Henrik Grape, Co-Chair, Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC) to the UNFCCC
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.
