By United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Climate Sunday
This virtual stall tells the story of Climate Sunday, a coalition of Christian denominations and organisations across Britain and Ireland taking action on the climate in the lead up to COP26. In this story, we take visitors through the vision behind the campaign - the things we’ve been asking churches to do - such as hold a service, commit and speak up, review how the campaign has gone, and decide what’s next after COP26.
The message of the campaign is simple: churches in Britain and Ireland are prepared to make commitments to action on the climate, and we’re calling on the UK government to show the same commitment and take decisive action at COP26 and beyond.
Glasgow Cathedral (2021) by Hannah EvesUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
How Did Climate Sunday Begin?
In 2019, the Churches’ Environmental Issues Network recognised that COP26 is a key opportunity to engage local congregations in climate action. They developed Climate Sunday for that purpose.
It has become the broadest Christian coalition focused on COP26 in Britain and Ireland.
Worship - Act - Speak Up (2020)United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
What is Climate Sunday?
The idea was simple. Churches were asked to do three things: hold a climate-focused service, make a commitment to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, and join the common call for the UK government to take bolder action on climate change in advance of COP26.
Procession at the Nations' Climate Sunday Service (2021-09-05) by Karen Bass/David ColemanUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Then, on Sunday 5th September 2021, a Nations’ Service would gather commitments made by local churches across all nations of Britain and Ireland to present them to the UK government, as COP hosts, showing that they will have our support to act boldly, justly and compassionately on this issue.
Climate Sunday in Ireland (2021-07-01) by Peter Cheney, Kevin O'Brien and Andrew OrrUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Climate Sunday has become one of the broadest ever ecumenical Christian coalitions in Britain and Ireland on a public issue, involving denominations, Christian agencies, church groupings and individual congregations.
Climate Sunday - Churches Taking Action (2021) by Climate SundayUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
And the church responded! Thousands of local Climate Sunday events took place in churches up and down the Nations over the year. Climate Sunday led to churches exploring climate change and other environmental issues together, at the same time, in an unprecedented way.
Climate Sunday Service Launching 'Towards Carbon Neutral Churches in Craven' (2021-05-02) by Charlie TheodosiusUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Holding a Service
In services across the nations, congregations made commitments to stand up for the world’s poorest people as they are impacted by climate change. At the same time they deepened their understanding of creation care and the climate crisis.
St Richard's, Ham Receives Eco Church Award (2021-06-27) by Hannah EvesUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Committing to Long Term Action
Starting a conversation is only the beginning, which is why we also built into the campaign a way for churches to commit to long term action beyond Climate Sunday.
St John the Baptist Cathedral, East Anglia, Receiving Their LiveSimply Award by CAFODUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
They can do so through one of the four church greening schemes: Eco Church, Eco Congregation Scotland, Eco Congregation Ireland and Live Simply.
100 Days to COP Event (2021-06-23) by Judy ChaussaletUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Speaking Up
Churches have a distinctive and powerful voice as part of civil society, and we have been encouraged that hundreds signed The Time is Now declaration through Climate Sunday. They join more than 150,000 signatories calling on the UK government to accelerate towards a greener and fairer future.
Andy Atkins, Climate Sunday Chair, Presents Church Actions (2021-09-05) by Speaker: Andy Atkins. Video: Glen Collie, Glasgow Cathedral Television NetworkUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
The Collective Effort of Churches
By the time we arrived at the Nations’ Climate Sunday in Glasgow, nearly 2,000 churches had registered a Climate Sunday service, and the number joining pre-existing church greening schemes accelerated to almost 5,000.
Nations Climate Sunday Service - Church Leaders Offer Final Blessing (2021-09-05) by Karen Bass/David ColemanUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
The Nations’ Climate Sunday Service
On the 5th of September we celebrated the tremendous achievement of the collective action of churches, bringing together voices from a huge range of traditions, denominations and backgrounds to pray and worship in the heart of Glasgow, the home of COP26.
Rev Dr Martin Johnstone, Glasgow Churches Together, Offers a Prayer of Commitment (2021-09-05) by Speaker: Reverend Dr Martin Johnstone. Video: Glen Collie, Glasgow Cathedral, Television NetworkUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Legacy Beyond COP26
Whatever the outcome of COP26, the church has a critical role as a witness to the beauty and irreplaceable value of creation and as an advocate for climate justice. Climate Sunday will encourage churches to implement their commitments, and build on them in the years to come.
St Bartholomew's, Yarnton, Climate Sunday Service (2021) by Alison RiggsUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Whether you’re a large or small church, in a city or in a rural area, you can get involved in care for creation. If you’d like to get resources for worship, action and speaking out, or just to learn more about the Climate Sunday campaign, go to our website at: https://www.climatesunday.org/
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views and opinions of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The mere appearance of the story on this website does not constitute an endorsement by the UN Climate Change Conference COP26. The UN Climate Change Conference COP26 does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of third party material included in the story featured.
