In a letter to the Prime Minister, faith leaders have called on the government to put forward an enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) that gets the UK on track to a 1.5C future.
The letter, signed by more than 60 representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities, emphasises that the government’s plan must raise ambition globally ahead of the COP26 summit, taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.
The 29 Oct 2020 letter, jointly coordinated by Faith for the Climate and the Climate Coalition, says: “A world-leading high ambition UK NDC would send an important political signal and catalyse historic action across the world’s capitals to make the right investments for all our futures.” “As faith leaders in the UK, we know this especially because of our engagement with the poorest communities here and around the world who are already suffering most.” We must all try to find the moral courage to confront these questions, and to transform ourselves and our society.” “Faith groups in the UK are already taking urgent climate action, with thousands of places of worship switching to renewable energy and religious groups divesting from fossil fuels and reinvesting in measures to protect the environment.” “This is an historic moment for global leadership from the UK, to put forward a world-leading NDC to inspire all other nations of the world to do the same – arguably the most important investment that could be made in all our futures.”
Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, Manchester Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Dr Barbara Borts, Associate Lecturer, Dept of Music, Newcastle University; Honorary Research Associate, Department of Anthropology, Durham University
Talia Chain, CEO, Sadeh Farm; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
Rabbi Colin Eimer, Emeritus Rabbi, Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Warren Elf MBE, Faith Network for Manchester; Southend and District Reform Synagogue; Liverpool Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Adam Frankenberg
Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Chair, Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors; Senior Rabbi, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi, Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
Rabbi David Mason, EcoSynagogue Steering Group
Rabbi Danny Newman, HaMakom; Edgware Masorti Synagogue; and Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community
Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, Emeritus Rabbi, Finchley Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich, Nottingham Liberal Synagogue; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue
Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky, Menorah Synagogue, Cheshire Reform Congregation
Rabbi Irit Shillor, Harlow Jewish Community
Rabbi Jackie Tabick, Convenor of the Beit Din for Reform Judaism and Progressive communities in Europe
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Rabbi, New North London Synagogue; Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism; EcoSynagogue Steering Group
Rabbi Alexandra Wright, Liberal Jewish Synagogue
Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford; Bishops Conference lead on the Environment; Chair of Trustees of CAFOD
Andy Atkins, CEO of A Rocha UK; Co-Chair of the Churches Environmental Issues Network Chair of Climate Sunday Initiative
Rt Revd Richard Cheetham, Bishop of Kingston
Rt Revd Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford
Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
Canon Giles Goddard, Chair, Faith for the Climate
Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading
Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury and Church of England lead Bishop on Environmental Affairs
Rt Revd James Jones, KBE
Carolyn Lawrence, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference
Peter Pay, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church
Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
Revd Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Conference
Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy and Communications, CAFOD
Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich
Canon Guy Wilkinson CBE, Secretary, Faith for the Climate
Sheikh Abdulqadir, Imam Al-Muntada, West London Islamic Cultural Centre
Imam Abid Khan, The CMA (Cheadle Muslim Association) Community Centre and Masjid (Centre)
Fazlun Khalid, Founder, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES)
Dr Husna Ahmad OBE, CEO, Global One, Trustee, Faith for the Climate
Sheikh Imtiyaz Damiel, Abu Hanifah Foundation
Sheikh Kazi Luthfur Rahman, Imam & Khateeb, London Central Mosque, Regents Park
Molana Mujahid Ali, Imam, Hafs Academy
Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Chair, Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB)
Imam Rahmat Salik, Hull Mosque and Islamic Centre
Dr Ravi, Trustee, Liverpool Mosque & Institute
Chief Imam Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, FRSA, Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
Shaykh Suliman Gani, Imam, Purley Masjid
Sheikh Suliman, Trustee, Edmonton Islamic Centre
Tabarak Iqbal, President, Liverpool John Moore University Islamic Society
Jamie Cresswell, Chair, Religions for Peace UK; Trustee, Faith for the Climate; President, European Buddhist Union
Olivia Fuchs, Eco Dharma Network coordinator
Robert Harrap, General Director of SGI-UK
Alison Murdoch, Chair of Trustees, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
Francesca Sanchez, Deputy Chair of Trustees, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Senior Lecturer, Sikh Studies, University of Birmingham; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
Amandeep Kaur Mann, EcoSikh UK
Dr Hardeep Singh Mudhar, Director, EcoSikh UK
Prubhjyot Singh, Midlands Representative, EcoSikh UK
Trupti Patel, President Hindu Forum of Britain; Trustee, Faith for the Climate
Avnish Thakrar, National Coordinator, Hindu Climate Action
BK Jayanti, Director, Brahma Kumaris, UK