November 2025
Faith for the Climate at the faith and belief bloc for the COP26 Global Day of Action, Glasgow, 6 Nov 2021 (Pic by Giles Goddard)
Dear Faith for the Climate network,
Welcome to the November edition of our e-news. This update comes to you as we approach the UN climate conference, COP30, in Belém, Brazil. This conference brings higher hopes than previous iterations of COP, primarily because of President Lula’s explicit ambition to tackle climate and environmental injustice. COP30 will also be accompanied much more prominently by a People’s Summit during which faith groups will contribute significantly — keep track with the Laudato Si’ Movement’s COP30 page.
Yet, COP30 commences in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and Cyclone Montha, which have battered the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent, as well as escalating atrocities in Sudan and Gaza. I am especially concerned and praying for those of you in this network who have ties to these locations.
There is no sugar-coating anything now. Despite these increasingly alarming headlines and Lula’s urgent message, prospects for progress continue to be bleak. On the 10th anniversary of the historic Paris Agreement, the State of Climate Action 2025 report by the World Resources Institute finds that: ‘Across every single sector, climate action has failed to materialize at the pace and scale required to achieve the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal. None of the 45 indicators assessed are on track to reach their 1.5°C-aligned targets by the end of this decade.’ Some indicators, such as rates of deforestation, have barely shown any progress. Others are going in the wrong direction entirely — for example, we are seeing increased public finance for the coal, oil and gas industries.
I am livid. I have a friend whose family home in Jamaica was completely destroyed by Hurricane Melissa — I’ve stared open-mouthed at the pictures she’s shown me. At Faith for the Climate, our work is based on the conviction that we have a sacred responsibility to show solidarity and support for those who have done the least to cause climate change but are suffering its worst impacts. And still Jamaica drowns while the fossil fuel industry prospers?
Still, I am not only angry. There is something else firing me up, and I can’t quite find the words to describe it. It’s the connectedness, determination, and joy (yes, joy) I have felt when I’ve read and re-read the in-depth profiles we have exclusively featured for Black History Month. These have been so good and so detailed that we vastly underestimated our publishing schedule. So, in November, you can expect more amazing interviews on our website. And why not? Why should a celebration of Black history be confined solely to October? If you are demoralised or despondent in the next few weeks, do return to these profiles and savour them. I am similarly inspired by our interfaith Diwali webinar in October, which is also available as a recording for you to revisit.
I didn’t want to reach for words like ‘hope’ and ‘faith’ to describe how putting these resources together has made me feel. I wanted to avoid sounding glib or clichéd. But, in the end, it is right and good to hold onto hope and faith. Not because I believe things are getting better and that our political and economic systems are on track to achieve climate justice, but because the current dire state of climate action demands an imaginative and bold response, rooted in justice, wisdom and compassion, that only a combination of hope and faith can inspire. The People’s Summit does not need to be something that only happens in Brazil during COP30. We can nurture and grow its spirit within our hearts wherever we are, and not just during COP.
Read on for an edition that is chock-full of events, actions, and resources to fortify your faith for climate justice — including a way that you can help us to organise a post-COP30 debrief specifically for faith communities in the UK. We look forward to your responses before 23 November!
Announcement: Meet our new trustees
By now, you will have sensed that we are growing our vision and ambition for interfaith contributions to climate justice, and vice versa. And we have recruited a stellar group of new trustees to help steer us forward. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Associate Professor Chris Ives, Dr Sachi Patel, Jo Chamberlain, Lucy Plummer, Dr Moiz Bohra, and Sue Curd. Read their bios,which include their faith backgrounds, on our website. We look forward to the wisdom and expertise they will contribute to our growing network.
(Clockwise from top left: Associate Professor Christopher Ives, Dr. Sachi Patel, Jo Chamberlain, Lucy Plummer, Dr. Moiz Bohra, Sue Curd)
A huge thanks also to our outgoing trustees who have stepped down after reaching their maximum term limits — Jamie Cresswell, Dr Husna Ahmad, and Canon Guy Wilkinson. It has been the utmost pleasure working with them these past few years, and I personally appreciate the warm support and guidance they have given me. We wish them all the very best and look forward to staying connected.
(Left to right: Jamie Cresswell, Dr Husna Ahmad, Canon Guy Wilkinson)
Our movement builder Rosh Lal and me with Livvy Hanks and Rebecca Woo from Quakers in Britain at the Fridays for Future mobilisation, COP26, Glasgow, 5 Nov 2021 (pic by Giles Goddard)
Join COP30 and Inter Faith Week solidarity events and actions
his year, Inter Faith Week (9-16 November) overlaps with COP30 yet again. Ever since Faith for the Climate mobilised UK interfaith contributions to COP26 in Glasgow, we have approached this overlap with intentionality, reflectiveness, and action. Because yes, we need meaningful global cooperation to address the climate crisis together, but COPs are also routinely hijacked by the interests of big polluters and super-rich elites.
Wherever you are in the UK and whatever your faith tradition or spiritual background is, you can uphold climate justice at COP30 with prayer, meditation, words, and action. We have listed confirmed actions and events below.
Now until 10 November: Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) just launched its open letter for signatures, ‘Climate Action Requires Truth: COP30 Must Codify Information Integrity’. Individuals and organisations are welcome to sign. Please sign and share in your networks to help expand the letter’s reach. The deadline is 10 November.
Ongoing: CAFOD want us all to email UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. With over 93% of the most climate vulnerable countries also suffering a debt crisis, in this Jubilee year the UK must play a key role in pushing rich countries to unlock new sources of public finance for climate action — especially for those countries that are suffering a debt crisis too. Take action here.
And while governments debate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) at COP, often too little and too late, people of faith and goodwill are stepping forward with their own People’s Determined Contributions (PDCs) — concrete actions of hope for our common home. Join Pope Leo XIV — add your voice and your action here.
Thursday, 6 November to Saturday, 15 November: Christian Climate Action are hosting several events you can join calling for climate justice, uplifting Earth defenders, and standing in solidarity with some of the most impacted communities. Including webinars, prayers, vigils and other actions. Check here for details.
Monday, 10 November: The COP30 Talanoa Dialogue is a powerful interfaith gathering that brings together climate justice advocates from around the world to reflect on the outcomes of COP30 and explore shared solutions. Register here for the online gathering.
Wednesday, 12 November: Join EcoJudaism supporters at the ‘Kol for Climate’ vigil over COP30 as we urge the UK government to take serious climate action, 11am to 12pm GMT. Register here.
Thursday, 13 November: Join CAFOD’s webinar at 7pm GMT to hear real time updates from CAFOD partners into how the COP the negotiations are shaping up. Register here.
Saturday, 15 November: On the Global Day of Action, mobilisations will be decentralised, and we will update this page with more information. Here are the faith actions that are confirmed:
Manchester: CAFOD supporters will be joined by Bishop John Arnold (Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford). Find out more and register here.
London: Faith for the Climate will be convening an interfaith bloc. Gather at 12 noon opposite Downing Street. Find out more and register here.
You can also check and sign up to join the one nearest you through this interactive map. Visit our special page on our website for the latest information as well.
Tuesday, 18 November: Islamic Relief UK, in partnership with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Environment and Afzal Khan MP, are hosting ‘Rooted in Faith, Rising for Justice: COP30, Muslim Communities and the Climate Crisis’ in the House of Commons. During this second week of COP30, Islamic Relief UK will bring together parliamentarians, environmental experts, civil society, and grassroots organisations to champion inclusive climate action, amplify Muslim voices, and explore how Islamic values can inspire environmental leadership. Event details: Tuesday 18 November, 6-8pm GMT, House of Commons. To attend, please email suraiya.rahman@islamic-relief.org.uk for a full invitation.
Other upcoming events
Saturday, 8 November: The Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Conference is taking place this weekend at St John’s Church at Waterloo, London, and everyone is welcome. The theme this year is ‘Jubilee’, and there will be speakers and workshops to inspire, challenge and encourage. You will also have the chance to meet others, ask questions, and have access to further information at the marketplace stalls. Conference speakers and attendees will explore topics of poverty, racial justice, climate justice, disability, and much more. Register at the link here or email them with any queries.
Wednesday, 19 November: Do you live, work, worship or volunteer in Richmond borough? Join London School of Economics Religion and Global Society (LSE), Richmond Faith & Belief Forum, and Richmond Council for an interactive afternoon of discussion and collaboration on the intersection between faith, belief and climate change. Through small group discussions, there will be explorations on how faith and belief traditions inspire environmental action, and how the people of Richmond can work together to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable borough. The event will be held at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and you can register here.
Wednesday, 19 November (also!): This is for those of you based in and around Southwark in South London. I’ll be facilitating our flagship Faiths for Climate Justice workshop for the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. No previous expertise in campaigning on climate and nature is necessary – come with an open heart to learn and act together. The workshop will explore how we can draw on the strengths of relationships across faith traditions as we learn more about each other and how to work together. Find out more and register here.
Friday, 21 November until Sunday, 30 November: Our Shared Futures: Climate & Migration Community Film Festival 2025 is a free, new community-powered film festival that shares powerful stories at the intersection of climate and migration. Curated & produced by Counterpoints Arts in partnership with Earth Refuge, CMJ (Climate & Migrant Justice Organising Group) and City of Sanctuary, the festival coincides with COP30 and Climate and Migrant Justice Day on 22 November. If you are interested in hosting a screening, register your interest here.
Thursday, 27 November: Eight of the UK’s leading experts will brief an invite-only audience of politicians and leaders from business, culture, and faith at the National Emergency Briefing at Westminster Central Hall. It is vital that as many MPs as possible are present to hear this authoritative account. We are pleased to be working with the organisers to help make the event a success, and we invite you to support this effort. Visit www.nebriefing.org to check whether your MP is attending. If they are not, you can email them through the site to request their attendance.
Sunday, 30 November: It’s been 30 years since the Jamyang Buddhist Centre London moved into the Old Courthouse in the borough of Lambeth. To celebrate this momentous anniversary, Jamyang will be throwing a party. Come for a joyful day of celebrations with the whole community. There’ll be fun, laughter, and plenty of time to reconnect and make new friends. Visit their website as more information will be released soon.
Friday, 12 December to Sunday, 14 December: ‘An Inexhaustible Lamp: Dharmic Responses in an Age of Collapse’ is a Triratna Earth Sangha online conference that imparts radical Buddhist approaches for transformative adaptation. What perspectives can the Triratna Buddhist Community offer a world in turbulent times? This year’s conference will showcase papers, workshops, guided meditations, pujas, music, poetry and the visual arts. Confirmed speakers include: Prof. Jem Bendell, founder of the ‘Deep Adaptation’ movement and author of Breaking Together; David Loy, author of Ecodharma, and Margo Van Greta. Register here for tickets.
Saturday, 24 January: ‘A Planet in Crisis: The gifts of Buddhism’ is an in-person event in London at Soka Gakkai’s Centre in Brixton that explores the gifts that Buddhism can make in the face of the climate and ecological crises. Together, participants can celebrate the ecological and climate actions already happening in our faith communities, inspire each other, and strengthen our community. Organised by the Eco Dharma network, they will also be launching BAM (Buddhist Action Month) 2026. Save the date and please get in touch via email to eco@nbo.org.uk, if you want to be involved in any way.
April 2026: At this year’s UN General Assembly, Colombia stepped forward with a bold proposal: to host the First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels in April 2026. It’s a historic offer — not just because it comes from a fossil fuel-producing country in the Global South, but because it dares to name the problem and convene the world around its solution. Read more about this historic event, and endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
At the Mass Lobby of Parliament in July this year (pic by Jon Chew)
Take action: Defend the Climate Change Act
Whatever their party, MPs need to hear that people in every constituency want practical, fair and forward-looking action — not rollbacks. But any progress made in protecting our environment is currently under threat. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to repeal the UK’s Climate Change Act — the cornerstone of 15 years of cross-party progress on climate and nature, including efforts which have already halved UK emissions.
It’s an extreme proposal that reflects how the long-standing cross-party consensus on climate action is beginning to fracture. And it doesn’t reflect public opinion or the shared leadership that has made the UK a global example.
But we can do our part. You can help by contacting your MP via Writetothem.com and asking them to act now to defend the Climate Change Act and protect the UK’s progress on climate and nature.
- If you haven’t contacted your MP before (or not for a while): Introduce yourself as a constituent, share why this matters to you, and ask them to take one or more of the actions below. You can also ask to meet with them and talk to them in person.
- If you have a meeting booked: Use these as your key asks when you meet.
- If you’ve already met your MP: Send a short follow-up email thanking them for their time and encouraging them to take these next steps publicly.
The Climate Coalition has created this tailored, easy-to-use guidance to help you contact your MP, whether you’re following up from Lobby Week, continuing a Mass Lobby conversation, or getting back in touch. We’ve come too far to turn back. This is the moment for MPs of all parties to protect our progress and stand for people, climate and nature, and we need to be telling them exactly how we want them to represent us.
Other actions: Tax private jets
Did you know: Someone driving to work often pays more tax on their journey than a billionaire does when they take a private jet flight? We could generate billions for public services just by making air travel tax a bit fairer. And yet, while our schools, hospitals and councils struggle for funding, the super-rich are flying around in untaxed luxury. It’s indefensible.
The Chancellor could change that with one simple move: end unfair private jet tax breaks and ask super-polluters to pay their dues, just like everybody else. Email your MP and ask them to tell the Chancellor — it’s time private jets started paying their fair share. Support this campaign by adding your name through the button below. And while you’re at it, check out the campaign-linked website WeWingAnyCar.com
One more: Demand a Budget for the 99.9%
Extreme inequality is concentrating power in the hands of a few, poisoning democracy, stalling growth and fuelling division. At the upcoming Budget, the Government can stop the rot if they choose to tax the super-rich, end the cuts and protect public services.
Tax Justice UK has created this handy tool for you to write to your MP to demand an equitable budget for the 99.9%. This means supporting new measures, such as introducing a 2% wealth tax on the super-rich and clamping down on super-rich tax dodgers. Or reforming the Capital Gains Tax to close loopholes that make wealth pay more than work, or ending subsidies for fossil fuel companies. Click below and make sure your MP hears your voice on a fair Budget.
Credit: Crispin Hughes / Clean Cities Campaign / Climate Visuals
Information Resource: Who Owns Britain?
The privatisation of Britain’s public wealth since the 1980s has caused a sharp decline in the quality and affordability of almost all British services and assets. But rarely have we seen this charted and explored in such graphic detail as in this full report by think tank Common Wealth.
Who Owns Britain? is a deep-dive into the the radical privatisation of Britain’s essential services. Some of the findings by Common Wealth are incredibly worrying, including:
- Childcare. As of 2021, 70 per cent of group-based day nursery places in England were run for profit. It’s unsurprising then that the UK is the third-most expensive country in the world for childcare.
- Housing. Since 1980, about 780,000 former council homes worth an estimated £176 billion have entered the private rental sector, causing extremely high rents and a lack of social housing for people who need it.
- Transport. Rail fares in the UK have risen by 40 per cent on average in real terms since privatisation. Meanwhile shareholders and rolling stock companies have pocketed soaring profits through dividends and high margins, without investing in the infrastructure.
- Water. On average, 28% of your water bill goes to paying dividends and financing debt. Meanwhile, crucial infrastructure is not being invested in. For example, in 2023, the UK’s largest listed water company lost 175bn litres of water to leaks.
- Land. Privatisation has seen a huge transfer of public land into the hands of the ultra-wealthy. In 2024, just 1% of people held half of England and Scotland by area.
This report has already been gaining much-needed publicity in media outlets like The Guardian and The i Paper – read it and share widely.
Other information resources
Oxfam’s climate inequality report for this year, ‘Climate Plunder: How a powerful few are locking the world into disaster’, has some damning findings about why the planet is on fire even though the majority of the global population want more ambitious climate action: since the Paris Agreement, the richest 1% of people have burned through more than twice as much of the remaining carbon budget as the poorest half of humanity combined. And in the UK, this inequality is similarly stark: each of the UK’s richest 0.1% produce more carbon pollution on average in eight days than someone in the least wealthy 50% does in an entire year. You can read the report in full here.
The Climate Reframe x Climate Outreach webinar recording features climate justice activists Suzanne Dhaliwal, Fahmida Miah, Simmone Ahiaku, and Sam Narr, who came together to explore how the UK’s climate movement can rebuild trust, bridge divides, and communicate more effectively with the public. Grounded in findings from the ‘Britain Talks Climate and Nature‘ report, the session exposed a paradox: Britons overwhelmingly love nature and want to protect it — yet public trust in institutions, media, and government is rapidly eroding. To address this trust gap, the speakers called for a transformation in how climate communication is imagined and delivered: one that is authentic, inclusive, creative, and rooted in social justice. You can watch the recording here.
The UK government published its newest climate plan after two High Court wins by ClientEarth over previous governments’ inadequate plans. This has been years in the making, as back in July 2022, the High Court ruled in favour for the first time against the previous government’s inadequate net zero strategy, concluding that it breached the Climate Change Act, and needed to be strengthened. This is thanks to the work of environmental organisations ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth and Good Law Project, and a year after this ruling, the government produced a revised climate plan. However, it still fell far short of the credible plan required by the law, so in February 2024, the government was brought to court a second time. Finally a second High Court win, a second new plan was finally published in October 2025 by the current government. You can read the revised plan here, and ClientEarth has published their thoughts on this plan that is both comprehensive and critical.
Al Jazeera’s new documentary on Al Mizan, a groundbreaking Islamic environmental charter, is well worth watching. In February 2024, leading Muslim scholars launched Al Mizan (an Arabic term meaning ‘the balance’) at the UN Environment Assembly. Produced in consultation with 300 Islamic institutions, this Covenant for the Earth is rooted in the teachings of the Quran. It urges the world’s nearly two billion Muslims to live up to their role as khalifas, or stewards, of the Earth by protecting nature, addressing climate breakdown and upholding justice for all life. For more information on Al Mizan, visit the website here, and watch the 25-minute documentary here.
Opportunities
Are you a Christian with a passion for addressing the climate and biodiversity crises? Do you believe the Church has a vital role to play in this work? Operation Noah is looking for new trustees to help lead their mission to inspire and equip the Church to take action on climate change. In this voluntary position, you will play an active role in shaping the strategic direction of the charity and supporting its growth. The organisation is especially looking for people with skills in human resources or fundraising. Further details are here. To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to admin@operationnoah.org by 5pm on 28 November.
Thank you for reading this far, and well done for all that you do for people and planet. While there is no denying that things are more serious than ever, we do not need to be paralysed by despair.
Many admirable faith leaders, campaigners and activists in our network will be at COP30, and we want to ensure their efforts can be of benefit to the wider interfaith and climate justice movements in the UK.
As I said at the beginning of this update, we are considering hosting a special post-COP30 webinar and want to make this as meaningful as possible to you.
If this sounds useful and interesting, please take 2 minutes to fill up this form to help us organise this special webinar: https://forms.gle/E6R6hn5jotjKQJv96. The deadline for responses is the end of Sunday, 23 November 2025. Based on the feedback we receive, we will announce further details soon.
For now, all my very best wishes and deepest thanks.
Shanon Shah
Director at Faith for the Climate
About Faith for the Climate's monthly e-news
Faith for the Climate exists to encourage, inspire and equip faith communities in their work on climate change. If you have any items you would like to be included in upcoming editions of our newsletter, contact us, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our e-news here.