Climate Sunday coalition calls for moral leadership from UK government in wake of COP26

While there have been some welcome agreements reached in Glasgow at COP26, the outcomes of the conference on the whole fell short of what was needed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.

The Climate Sunday coalition urges the UK government to show moral leadership and to take bolder action at home on the climate crisis after COP26. With the likelihood that countries will be asked to ramp up their pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions within a year - instead of waiting another five - it is urgent that rich countries step up their domestic action before then to be in a position to commit more internationally.

Climate Sunday is a broad coalition of Christian denominations and organisations who acted together to mobilise churches in the lead up to COP26 and represents thousands of churches across Britain and Ireland. The coalition urges churches to keep going on their commitments to environmental action, and to continue to put pressure on the UK government to deliver on its climate responsibilities.

Andy Atkins, Chair of Climate Sunday and CEO of A Rocha UK explains: "It is vital that we see COP26 not as the end of global efforts to avoid climate catastrophe, but as a step along the way, with much more yet to be done. Churches have much to offer to address this challenge, and we must use all of our assets - buildings, land, local influence and national voice - to respond. Collectively, churches participating in Climate Sunday have accomplished much, but we have only just begun."

The UK's hosting of COP26 has proved a catalyst for churches' engagement with climate action across Britain and Ireland with more than 2,200 churches holding climate focused church services, committing to practical action in their local communities, and speaking up on climate issues over the last year. For many congregations, Climate Sunday represented the first time they had taken action on the climate crisis. At COP26, Climate Sunday hosted a stall in the green zone, showcasing these commitments made by churches over the course of the campaign.

Hannah Brown, Campaign and Churches Engagement Officer at the Joint Public Issues Team, said: "We know that the journey ahead as we transition to net-zero across the world will not be easy. We are grateful that church communities across Britain and Ireland have been part of enabling the legacy of COP26 to be more than a negotiated outcome, but also a transformation of grassroots churches' engagement in climate action".

Reverend Judith Morris, General Secretary of Baptist Union of Wales said: "We give heartfelt thanks for what has been achieved over the past two weeks at COP 26: for new agreements and for the ways in which so many from the faith communities have joined together to create such a positive momentum for the care of our planet and its future. We pray that all agreements - and more - will be honoured recognising that in order to ensure a good tomorrow our work continues today with no room for procrastination".

Richard Murray, chair of Eco-Congregation Scotland, said: "Climate Sunday demonstrates that churches are tackling the climate emergency with urgency, leading by example, with Christians increasingly motivated and supported to care and act for God's creation. Scotland's churches were delighted to welcome the world to COP26. While we called on leaders to achieve more through the Glasgow Climate Pact, we can all continue to seek transformational change at home and support climate justice globally. Net Zero commitments by local churches and national denominations ensure that we must all take practical action now."

Reverend Andrew Orr, Church of Ireland and chair of Eco-Congregation Ireland said: "Churches across Northern Ireland have really responded to the Climate Sunday initiative, but following COP26 there is much more to be done. We hope and pray that churches throughout the island of Ireland will see this as a springboard to continue to work for climate justice, through worship, through practical action, and calling on those in our governments to make the courage decisions we need to keep warming below 1.5C."