In December 2018, government delegates from around the world will meet in Katowice, Poland to decide how to implement the Paris Agreement. The faith community will be there again to support action on climate. Interfaith Power & Light is joining the People’s Demands for Climate Justice -- a joint global call to government delegates demanding that this year’s climate talks actually lead to meaningful, just climate solutions.
The latest UN climate reports underscore the need for a more rapid shift to clean energy, and tension is building within those countries still heavily dependent on coal — including the host country of Poland. And even though the U.S. under the Trump administration has said it will abandon the Paris Accord, they cannot do that formally until 2020, and are expected to play a “big role” in the Poland talks, possibly advocating for a fossil fuel agenda.
Sign the petition to call on the UN delegates to listen to the People’s Demands, not Big Polluters.
Recently, the world’s leading climate scientists warned that we have only 12 years to begin the massive transformation needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change. If governments don’t agree on strong guidelines for the Paris Agreement this year, our next chance won’t be until 2023. That will be too late for millions of people around the world, many of whom are already experiencing climate change’s devastation.
Tell U.N. delegates you want meaningful and just climate solutions to be put in place now.
Over the past couple of years the faith community has been a huge part of the conversation on the world stage demanding action on climate. In 2015 IPL went to COP 21 in Paris to present a scroll with a list of faith communities who pledged to reduce their carbon pollution 50% by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050. Since then faith communities across the nation have pledged that even though our current administration is pulling out of the Paris Agreement we are “Still In Paris”.
People of faith who have taken the responsibility for stewardship of our common home, must redouble our efforts. Our theology and faith traditions call us to love our neighbors and to be keepers of Creation.
Thus there will be no letting up on the work we do. We will be working harder and digging deeper into our resources. Our 20,000 congregations will continue to cut emissions and lead congregants to do the same. We will continue to help solarize buildings and homes and we will promote renewable energy at the state level. We will lead by example. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we must demand that our national and world leaders take real action on climate. Sign the People’s Demands for Climate Justice -- so we can bring your voice to Poland
Faithfully,
Susan Stephenson
Executive Director, Interfaith Power & Light