Humanist Climate Action is a volunteer-led network of Humanists UK members and supporters committed to redefining lifestyles and campaigning for policies that promote low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable living in the light of the degeneration of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. On 6 November, Humanist Climate Action joined forces with Eco-Humanists, from Humanist Society Scotland, at demonstrations as part of the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice around the COP26 summit. Humanists marched alongside representatives from religious groups in Glasgow and London for climate justice. With the COP26 now over, the group has reflected on what the summit achieved and where it fell short.
Humanist Climate Action Coordinator Lori Marriott commented,
‘While we welcome some of the progress made at COP26, such as the multilateral agreement on tackling deforestation and pledge to cut methane emissions, it is clear from the latest expert analysis that the current set of commitments will not do enough to keep temperature rise at or below 1.5°C. Not only are the current pledges not ambitious enough, but policy around the world does not match action to words, leaving a credibility gap between promises and what needs to be done to halt the climate crisis.
‘The “phase down” rather than “phase out” of coal and continued investments in oil and gas around the world and in the UK, are particularly worrying. The lack of fairness and climate justice for the global south at COP26 was also discouraging to see.
‘Looking forward, particularly to the coming months during which the UK continues to hold the COP Presidency, the pressure must stay on the big emitters to show progression in reducing emissions and governments around the world must be held accountable for meeting their wider commitments. Further pledges will also be needed to bring closer the $100bn annual climate finance target which helps developing nations cut emissions and manage the effects of climate change.’
Humanist Climate Action will continue to campaign for policies that make firm and meaningful commitments to reduce carbon emissions and halt environmental degradation.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Read Humanist Climate Action’s COP26 Declaration
Read more about Humanist Climate Action
Humanist Climate Action is a volunteer-led network of Humanists UK members and supporters committed to redefining lifestyles and campaigning for policies that promote low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable living in the light of the degeneration of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. We bring humanists together to facilitate individual and collective action on these issues. Humanists are guided by reason and science and recognise a moral duty towards the welfare of our fellow beings and the natural world. Humanists seek to engage in dialogue and debate rationally, intelligently, and with evidence, and promote the belief that humans are part of a wider natural world which must be treated sustainably for the sake of current and future generations.
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