Scotland must lead the way in tackling climate change to support the poor, church leaders have said
Faith leaders across Scotland have joined forces to call for tougher action on climate change.
More than 20 organisations have urged the Scottish Government to strengthen its new climate change legislation to help stem the tide of a growing climate crisis wreaking havoc on the world’s poorest countries.
The leaders have issued a hard-hitting statement to get their message across to politicians that Scotland must do more to save those living in poverty from further devastation – with the new Climate Change Bill due to be unveiled this summer.
The statement has been signed by 20 leaders representing Scotland's faith communities' including SCIAF’s Bishop President Joseph Toal, Archbishop Mario Conti, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Dr Derek Browning and Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society Engagement Director Ameed Versace.
It urges the Scottish Parliament to pass a “strong and ambitious Climate Change Act; one which reflects Scotland’s fair share of global efforts and one which puts Scotland firmly on the path towards an inclusive, low-carbon future in which we can all flourish.”
The statement calls on politicians of all parties to show the courage needed to pass an ambitious new act and in doing so provide an example of strength and hope to the rest of the world.
Scotland’s environment and climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham met the delegation at an event in Edinburgh this month and was presented with the statement calling for tougher action on climate change.
The Faith Communities and the Climate Change Bill event was hosted by Claire Baker MSP and organised by SCIAF, Christian Aid, Tearfund Scotland and Islamic Relief in the city’s Dynamic Earth to get the message across to politicians that Scotland must do more to save the world’s poorest people from further devastation.
SCIAF’s director Alistair Dutton said he was proud to see faith leaders across the country coming together.
He said: “I am proud to see faith leaders come together to push for a strong and ambitious Climate Change Act. Our responsibilities to care for the planet and be good stewards of creation are essential elements of all our traditions. This way we can care for the poorest people who suffer the most, despite doing the least to cause it.”
