Climate change – Page 2 – QUAKERS & CLIMATE CHANGE WORLDWIDE

QUNO Geneva at the 61st Session of the IPCC

Photo by IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou

QUNO Geneva’s Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme, speaking on behalf of Friends World Committee for Consultation, took part in the 61st Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Sofia, Bulgaria from the 27th of July to 2nd of August. Our FWCC interventions and the IPCC Meeting summary are available to read here.

At this session, the panel had to decide on the programme of work for the 7th Assessment Cycle (AR7) and approve outlines of two IPCC products: the Methodology Report on Short Lived Climate Forcers and the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.

Since 2017, QUNO has been the only independent faith-based observer at the IPCC. At this session, QUNO made interventions to raise concerns over the failure to include military emissions in greenhouse gas inventory and the dangerous reliance on speculative technologies such as large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) over transformation of root causes. QUNO also highlighted the need to ensure inclusivity and transparency, to uphold the integrity of science in the upcoming cycle, to focus on protecting the most vulnerable, and for discussions of the ‘cost’ of inaction to include cost to human lives and not just economic.

By the end of the session, the IPCC approved the two outlines for further work and delayed the decision on the programme of work to the next plenary session in late February of 2025.

In addition to advocacy at negotiations, QUNO also works to communicate IPCC findings to wider audiences to help empower urgent, transformative and equitable climate action. The latest related QUNO publications include a toolkit for Government Officials and a personal guide on what we can do. Both are available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

FWCC QUNO Interventions IPCC 61st Download

ENB summary Download

FWCC Climate Emergency Fund

General Resources

FWCC World Office and Europe and Middle East Section (EMES) are jointly committed to contribute to carbon offsetting to support the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF). The CEF seeks to provide short term funding to projects presented by members of Quaker meetings and yearly meetings, especially those in the Global South experiencing the immediate impacts of the climate crisis. The maximum amount given cannot exceed 500 British Pounds. The fund is administered by the Justice and Peace Secretary, in consultation with the General Secretary and Treasurer upon submitting an application to the World Office.

For more information and to donate, please click here.

Quaker led side events at international climate negotiations

International Political Engagement

The following links highlight Quaker led side events at international climate negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

SB60 – ‘How ethical values can guide more successful and effective NDC policies’

COP28 – ‘Shifting money and power: true transformational climate action as a peace and justice multiplier’

SB58 – ‘Truthful engagement in real, effective and ethical emission reductions for an ambitious GST’

COP27 – ‘Effective, ethical, and equitable climate action in the Arctic: the role of climate justice’

A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Healthy, and Equitable Climate Action

General Resources

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva published an updated version ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Healthy, and Equitable Climate Action,’ which is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. This publication is aimed at enhancing understanding and communication of climate change.

‘A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Real, and Equitable Climate Action’ has been updated with the most recent scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report (AR6). This report was compiled for just over seven years and involved hundreds of scientists worldwide.

The IPCC informs governments on what is happening, why, and what people can do to avert catastrophic climate change.

QUNO’s updated ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit’ aims to empower policymakers and climate advocates with the latest IPCC findings on root causes and urgent, feasible, and near-term options that are already available at scale to address climate change and improve well-being and planetary health. QUNO believes that everyone should have easy access to the science presented to our governments.

This publication is accessible online and via a print-at-home version, which can be used for personal distribution and campaigning.

A Government Official’s Toolkit English – Web

A Government Official’s Toolkit English – Home Print

A Government Official’s Toolkit Spanish- Web

A Government Official’s Toolkit Spanish- Home Print

A Government Official’s Toolkit French- Web

A Government Official’s Toolkit French- Home Print

A Government Official’s Toolkit Arabic – Web

A Government Official’s Toolkit Arabic – Home Print

Fig & Ishka – Illustrations to Inspire Hope

General Resources, Spiritual, Lifestyle and Community

Lynn Finnegan, a Quaker based on the north coast of Ireland, is doing a year-long art and storytelling project called Fig & Ishka. It involves illustrated stories about two friends who paddleboard, grow food, read, hike, and sit around the fire together. They are also trying to show up to the world’s current ecological and social crises without jumping ship to complacency, cynicism or despair. Fig & Ishka often draws upon wisdom found in the teachings of Quakerism, systems thinker and activist Joanna Macy, and Buddhist Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

The illustrations are done with tea, ink, water and her dad’s old typewriter. They are released every Friday for one year, starting from February 2024: you can browse them all, and subscribe to new weekly posts, at www.lynnfinnegan.substack.com.

website: www.lynnfinnegan.ie

instagram: @lynn.finn.egan

Climate Change: What We Can Do

General Resources

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva published a ‘Climate Change: What We Can Do” (previously known as ‘How to be a Hero for All Our Children’) which is available in English, Arabic, Spanish. and French. It aims to connect people with the most recent climate science and suggests personal actions and questions for politicians.

‘What We Can Do’ has been updated with the most recent climate scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report (AR6). This report was compiled over seven years and involved hundreds of scientists worldwide.

‘What We Can Do’ is written for a wide audience, whether already active or new to climate concerns. It includes categories such as “What we eat”, “How we grow and sell food”, and “How we use and source energy.” This publication is meant to aid in our collective empowerment to transform the root causes driving planetary crisis.

This publication is accessible online and via a print-at-home version which can be used for personal distribution and campaigning.

What We Can Do – English Home Print

What We Can Do – English Web

What We Can Do – Spanish Home Print

What We Do – Spanish Web

What We Can Do – French Home Print

What We Can Do – French Web

What We Can Do – Arabic Home Print

What We Can Do – Arabic Web

Grassroots Quaker Climate Action in the U.K.

General Resources, National Political Engagement

Photo taken from Quaker in Britain’s film of a ‘Defend Our Juries’ Action.

Quakers in Britain have been actively engaging in grassroots action for climate change. Highlights of recent action are detailed below.

Loving Earth (LE) Exhibition:
The LE Exhibition is part of the Quaker Arts Network, and comprises textile panels that have been made in workshops considering the question: what do you love? The idea is that, while making the panels, participants reflect on their love for the Earth and their concern with what is happening to the climate. Quakers in Britain made this film and interviewed Jaya, a young Quaker about her responses to it.

Defend our Juries:
Defend Our Juries is a movement of grassroots activists, involving many Quakers, to raise awareness of defendants and juries being influenced by judges. In the U.K., there are growing accounts of defendants being instructed not to use terms such as ‘climate change;. In response, DoJ held a people’s assembly inside the Royal Courts of Justice. Watch Quakers in Britain’s film of the action here.

On the same theme, a retired social worker, Trudi Warner, took (copied onto a placard) a piece of writing from on the wall in The Old Bailey (Central London Criminal Court) that reminds juries of their right to ”give their verdict according to their convictions” and stood outside court with it. Trudi was arrested for contempt of court and tried last month, the case was thrown out.

In response, Quakers and other climate campaigners put on this event that reenacted the original case that brought the writing to the wall of the Old Bailey. Watch this invitation video, made by Quakers in Britain, to find out the distinctly Quaker history.

Climate Choir:

The Climate Choir was started by a Quaker from Bristol called Jo Flannagan. They featured in the Penn and Mead video and have been present at actions throughout the last few years raising awareness of climate change through song. Find out more here.

Insurance activism:

Many Quakers are concerned about insurance companies and their involvement with the fossil fuel industry. A vigil was held (see this article here) and more direct action, including meetings for worship inside the offices of the insurers, are planned.

Climate Vigils:

Friends have also been involved in ongoing climate vigils throughout the country. You can hear a number of them share their experiences here and news of some others in our most recent here.

For more updates, subscribe to Quaker in Britain’s Faith in Action newsletter here.

Quakers Aotearoa Monthly Climate Change Correspondence

National Political Engagement

Through a monthly newsletter, New Zealand Friends share space, events, wisdom, and testimonies about the climate emergency, highlighting the ways that Friends can mobilize nationally and in community.

You can find inspiration in the following example newsletters here:

Climate letter 25 February 2025 Download

climate-emergency-correspondent-20245ej-no.15ej-kohitatea Download

QUNO Geneva’s Engagement at the 60th Session of the IPCC

International Political Engagement

QUNO’s Human Impact of Climate Change programme, speaking on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, participated in the 60th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Istanbul, Turkey.

At this session, the panel was tasked with crucial decisions on IPCC’s finances and its work for the 7th Assessment Cycle. QUNO submitted three interventions: advocating for the need to focus on the transformation of root causes rather than feeding unhealthy reliance on fossil fuels through research on geo-engineering; for research that upholds the rights and knowledge of Indigenous peoples; and the inclusion of military emissions in IPCC modeling and greenhouse gas emissions reporting.

QUNO’s specific interventions and a debrief analysis on the negotiations and results of the 60th Session are available for download.

fwcc-quno-interventions-at-60th-session-ipcc Download

ipcc-ar7-quno-one-pager-Download

QUNO Geneva publication communicates climate science

General Resources

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva has just published an updated version ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Real, and Equitable Climate Action,’ which is available in English, Arabic, and Spanish. This publication is aimed at enhancing understanding and communication of climate change.

‘A Government Official’s Toolkit: Inspiring Urgent, Real, and Equitable Climate Action’ has been updated with the most recent scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report (AR6). This report was compiled for just over seven years and involved hundreds of scientists worldwide.

The IPCC informs governments on what is happening, why, and what people can do to avert catastrophic climate change.

QUNO’s updated ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit’ aims to empower policymakers and climate advocates with the latest IPCC findings on root causes and urgent, feasible, and near-term options that are already available at scale to address climate change and improve well-being and planetary health. QUNO believes that everyone should have easy access to the science presented to our governments.

This publication is accessible online and via a print-at-home version, which can be used for personal distribution and campaigning.