Comes ahead of COP26

A petition by the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s has been delivered to the prime minister.

Over 4,000 people supported the charity’s call on climate action ahead of the crucial COP26 conference in Glasgow in a few weeks’ time.

Representatives from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu faiths gathered at Downing Street and asked for urgent action on climate change.

SCIAF launched its COP26 campaign earlier this summer, which saw a costumed Boris Johnson race against time in front of the SEC, which will host the event.

Supporter Olivia McKibbin helped launch the petition in August and is one of the 4,080 signatories.

The campaign “3 asks. 2 weeks. 1 planet” calls on the UK government to:

• Pay to protect the poorest communities on climate change: Make sure financial support is given to those impacted by climate change so they can adapt and recover.
• Act now to stop runaway climate change: Make sure world leaders commit to keeping rises in global temperatures below the disastrous 1.5°C threshold.
• Listen to those on the frontline of the climate crisis: Make sure that people worst affected by the crisis are at the heart of the climate talks.

SCIAF works with partners in 8 countries around the world and is supporting voices from the frontline of the climate emergency to be heard at COP26.

Geraldine Hill, Advocacy Manager at SCIAF said: “The voices of over 4,000 Scots has been delivered today to the Prime Minister, joining in a chorus of tens of thousands calling for action from around the UK.

“The poorest communities in the world have been hit hardest by the climate emergency. SCIAF’s supporters have made their voices heard and expectations are now on Boris Johnson and world leaders to take action in Glasgow.

“We’re calling for communities to be given financial support to adapt and recover from climate change, for those on the frontline of the climate emergency to be listened to, and for global warming to be stopped in its tracks.”

Olivia McKibbin, SCIAF supporter, said: “If our leaders don’t take urgent action on climate change then nothing else matters. The things that our governments deem important now will be worthless when we cannot breathe the air that’s around us.”