Jews, Muslims and Christians united in call for climate action

Climate walkers

Jewish, Muslim and Christian organisations will march together calling for action to address climate change this Sunday, November 29th, united by a shared concern for protection of the earth and all who live on it.

The march, backed by more than 60 faith-based and secular organisations, will take place on the eve of the Paris climate change summit and call on the UK government for better investment in renewable energy, green infrastructure and new clean jobs.

On behalf of the faith-based organising team, Tim Gee of Christian Aid said: "At times like these when both human lives and the earth itself are threatened, it is vital that we are united and not divided. Our unity on November 29th is one way of showing this. Likewise, in order to address a truly global problem we need to see governments working together at the Paris summit."

At the final rally, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner (Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism), Dr Ruth Valerio (Churches and Theology Director, Arocha UK) and Shanza Ali (Director of Muslim Climate Action) will speak together in a public statement of interfaith unity.

The march will be preceded by an interfaith event at Westminster Synagogue at which Rabbi Jonathan Whittenberg, Dr Ruth Valerio and Sheikh Talat will all speak on behalf of the Abrahamic faiths.

The marchers will be joined by Voltaire Alferez of Christian Aid's partner organisation in the Philippines, which has recently experienced the devastating effects of extreme weather.

He said: "In the Philippines, we no longer debate or deny the impacts of climate change because we experience them every year. Particularly, our country saw the impact of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 which killed more than 6,000 people, separated families and communities and devastated livelihoods. Nevertheless, our compatriots with our government continue to strive to rise above the devastation. We are also very grateful to the governments and peoples who donated money to help us in our time of need.

"But we cannot carry on under this kind of new normal. Hence, we demand fair and ambitious action from the leaders of the world, particularly from those historically responsible countries, to reduce carbon emissions and sufficiently support vulnerable countries."

People of faith will meet on November 29th at 11.45 at Westminster Synagogue for the interfaith event, and then at 12.30 on Park Lane with others in The Climate Coalition who are taking part in the march.

The event is supported by Christian Aid, CAFOD, Quakers in Britain, Islamic Relief, MADE in Europe, World Jewish Relief and Oil Vay amongst many others.

For more information and to sign up, visit: www.christianaid.org.uk/peoplesmarch.