Faith Leaders call on the Prime Minister to deliver a world-leading plan to tackle climate change
In a letter to the Prime Minister, faith leaders have called on the government to put forward an enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) that gets the UK on track to a 1.5C future.
The letter, signed by more than 60 representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities, emphasises that the government’s plan must raise ambition globally ahead of the COP26 summit, taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.
Prime Minister told the UK’s ‘single most important job’ is to raise ambition at COP26
The 29 Oct 2020 letter, jointly coordinated by Faith for the Climate and the Climate Coalition, says: “A world-leading high ambition UK NDC would send an important political signal and catalyse historic action across the world’s capitals to make the right investments for all our futures.” “As faith leaders in the UK, we know this especially because of our engagement with the poorest communities here and around the world who are already suffering most.” We must all try to find the moral courage to confront these questions, and to transform ourselves and our society.” “Faith groups in the UK are already taking urgent climate action, with thousands of places of worship switching to renewable energy and religious groups divesting from fossil fuels and reinvesting in measures to protect the environment.” “This is an historic moment for global leadership from the UK, to put forward a world-leading NDC to inspire all other nations of the world to do the same – arguably the most important investment that could be made in all our futures.”
Signatories
Jewish
- Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, Manchester Reform Synagogue
- Rabbi Dr Barbara Borts, Associate Lecturer, Dept of Music, Newcastle University; Honorary Research Associate, Department of Anthropology, Durham University
- Talia Chain, CEO, Sadeh Farm; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
- Rabbi Colin Eimer, Emeritus Rabbi, Sha’arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
- Rabbi Warren Elf MBE, Faith Network for Manchester; Southend and District Reform Synagogue; Liverpool Reform Synagogue
- Rabbi Adam Frankenberg
- Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
- Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Chair, Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors; Senior Rabbi, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue
- Rabbi Margaret Jacobi, Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
- Rabbi David Mason, EcoSynagogue Steering Group
- Rabbi Danny Newman, HaMakom; Edgware Masorti Synagogue; and Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community
- Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, Emeritus Rabbi, Finchley Reform Synagogue
- Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich, Nottingham Liberal Synagogue; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
- Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild
- Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
- Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky, Menorah Synagogue, Cheshire Reform Congregation
- Rabbi Irit Shillor, Harlow Jewish Community
- Rabbi Jackie Tabick, Convenor of the Beit Din for Reform Judaism and Progressive communities in Europe
- Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Rabbi, New North London Synagogue; Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
- Rabbi Alexandra Wright, Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Christian
- Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford; Bishops Conference lead on the Environment; Chair of Trustees of CAFOD
- Andy Atkins, CEO of A Rocha UK; Co-Chair of the Churches Environmental Issues Network Chair of Climate Sunday Initiative
- Rt Revd Richard Cheetham, Bishop of Kingston
- Rt Revd Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford
- Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
- Canon Giles Goddard, Chair, Faith for the Climate
- Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading
- Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury and Church of England lead Bishop on Environmental Affairs
- Rt Revd James Jones, KBE
- Carolyn Lawrence, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference
- Peter Pay, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
- Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
- Revd Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Conference
- Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy and Communications, CAFOD
- Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich
- Canon Guy Wilkinson CBE, Secretary, Faith for the Climate
Muslim
- Sheikh Abdulqadir, Imam Al-Muntada, West London Islamic Cultural Centre
- Imam Abid Khan, The CMA (Cheadle Muslim Association) Community Centre and Masjid (Centre)
- Fazlun Khalid, Founder, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES)
- Dr Husna Ahmad OBE, CEO, Global One, Trustee, Faith for the Climate
- Sheikh Imtiyaz Damiel, Abu Hanifah Foundation
- Sheikh Kazi Luthfur Rahman, Imam & Khateeb, London Central Mosque, Regents Park
- Molana Mujahid Ali, Imam, Hafs Academy
- Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Chair, Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB)
- Imam Rahmat Salik, Hull Mosque and Islamic Centre
- Dr Ravi, Trustee, Liverpool Mosque & Institute
- Chief Imam Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, FRSA, Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
- Shaykh Suliman Gani, Imam, Purley Masjid
- Sheikh Suliman, Trustee, Edmonton Islamic Centre
- Tabarak Iqbal, President, Liverpool John Moore University Islamic Society
Buddhist
- Jamie Cresswell, Chair, Religions for Peace UK; Trustee, Faith for the Climate; President, European Buddhist Union
- Olivia Fuchs, Eco Dharma Network coordinator
- Robert Harrap, General Director of SGI-UK
- Alison Murdoch, Chair of Trustees, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
- Francesca Sanchez, Deputy Chair of Trustees, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
Sikh
- Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Senior Lecturer, Sikh Studies, University of Birmingham; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
- Amandeep Kaur Mann, EcoSikh UK
- Dr Hardeep Singh Mudhar, Director, EcoSikh UK
- Prubhjyot Singh, Midlands Representative, EcoSikh UK
Hindu
- Trupti Patel, President Hindu Forum of Britain; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
- Avnish Thakrar, National Coordinator, Hindu Climate Action
- BK Jayanti, Director, Brahma Kumaris, UK