Scottish faith leaders unite for climate action
Quakers in Scotland gathered with 30 others, including faith leaders, scientists, and conservationists last week to collectively declaring the moral and scientific imperative to tackle the climate crisis.
This unprecedented gathering in Edinburgh followed the Scottish Government's decision to drop its legally binding 2030 emissions targets.
Speakers including The Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, moderator of the Church of Scotland, and Professor Stuart Hazeldean, co-director of the University of Edinburgh's Climate Institute, urged new Scottish First Minister John Swinney to take urgent action.
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Scotland has a moral necessity to take proper sustained action on climate change
- faith leaders
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Instead of just setting world leading targets, Scotland has a moral necessity to take proper sustained action on climate change, including slashing greenhouse emissions, they said.
Quaker Susan Mitchell, assistant clerk of General Meeting for Scotland, representing Quakers, emphasised the need for everyone to work together.
“Our hope is that the Parliamentarians and people of Scotland will find a collective sense of trust and purpose to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and work to restore our natural heritage," she said at the event.
Ellie Kirkland, who chaired the event alongside fellow young climate activist Dylan Hamilton, said: “Flooding, wildfires, heatwaves, droughts – these aren't far away problems, they've all happened in Scotland in the past year.
“And yet policy is moving backwards. It feels like a betrayal."
The event, held at the Moderator of the Church of Scotland's residence in Edinburgh on Thursday, 9 May, was featured on the front page of the Scotsman.