Quakers have long understood that this violence against people and planet is driven by an exploitative economic system that puts profit above all else. That’s why the climate work of Quakers in Britain focuses on justice. We are calling for a fair share of emissions reductions from wealthy, industrialised countries. In particular, we want to see far greater support for communities hit by climate disasters and for a just transition to a fossil-free future for all.
As the climate justice movement has emphasised for a long time, climate change is not simply an inevitable by-product of human development. It is the result of an economic system designed to hoard wealth and resources for the rich, at the expense of the global majority and the ecosystems we all depend on for survival.
Transforming this system is a huge task, but one that can be achieved through collective social action. This means ordinary people working together to act as a powerful movement. It may be a cliché, but there is strength in numbers.
Different kinds of social action
Social action has many names and can take many forms. You might hear it called ‘activism’, ‘organising’ or – by Quakers – ‘witness’. You might be familiar with actions like organising or participating in strikes and demonstrations; taking direct action such as blocking roads or occupying buildings; setting up community projects; taking legal action; or lobbying decision-makers. Forms of social action like childcare, emotional support, cooking or administrative tasks are less recognised but are essential to building and sustaining movements.
Social action is any activity that contributes to building and sustaining movements for progressive change. Creating change requires many different forms of social action taken by many different people working towards shared aims.
Countdown to COP26
Quakers in the UK have put together a timeline of actions in the run up to the UN climate talks in Glasgow from 1–12 November 2021 – COP26. We’ll be keeping the timeline updated as we receive new information about events and actions we think Quakers would like to know about so check back regularly for updates!
Key moments we would love you to join!
There are two key moments during COP26 we would love Friends around the world to join:
Sunday 31 October: Join Quakers around the world in a Meeting for Worship as COP26 begins
On Sunday 31 October, Friends World Consultation Committee, the Quaker United Nations Office, Quaker Peace and Social Witness and Woodbrooke call on Quakers around the world to hold an in-person or online meeting for worship.
Sunday 31 October will be the first day of the COP26 UN climate talks in which representatives of all the world’s countries will come together to negotiate action on climate change. By worshipping together on this day, we wish to uphold the communities and activists in those places most affected by environmental destruction, who have for so long borne the brunt of the impact of climate change and been at the forefront of action for climate justice.
Friends are welcome to hold their meeting at any time of the day, with their meeting or any other group, and in whatever way works best for them. We’d love to see photos and hear your stories of action on this day – please send them to climatejustice@quaker.org.uk or share them on social media (tag @BritishQuakers and use the hashtag #QuakersAtCOP so we can see your posts too)!
Saturday 6 November: Join COP26 Coalition Global Day of Action
Quakers in Britain is part of the COP26 Coalition, which is a network of groups mobilising around climate justice for COP26. Together with the COP26 Coalition we are calling on concerned individuals and groups to demand system change by organising a demonstration or action wherever they are in the world. This will be day to join movements from around the world in taking action for climate justice. Visit the COP26 Coalition’s website for more information about the Global Day of Action. There you’ll find a
map of actions happening around the UK and you can also submit your own.
For more information about Quakers in the UK and their countdown to COP 26, you can read more here
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The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October–12 November 2021. Quakers are undertaking various actions in the run up to COP26
Tags: Countdown to COP26, Different kinds of social action, Quakers in the UK, UK Quaker statement