Faith convictions lead to action and inspiration, and religious leaders are on the ground with people who are suffering. But faith is often left out of these talks.
Key asks: restore trust in the COP process, the next COP will be in Africa; developed countries to enhance Carbon emission reductions, alongside global south inc. Africa; involve faith communities to reach the grassroots.
In Zambia the impacts of climate change is now. The church is giving children the skills to mitigate and adapt, each child at school plants a tree and cares for it throughout their education. Children know and experience not only nature but also poor air quality and pollution. Children need to be financed and encouraged to be climate stewards, their voice needs to be heard.
Kenya: ‘without environmental knowledge we are like a bird without feathers, we may walk but we will never fly.’ Growing our ecosystem with young children does not cost lots of money, rather it can bring employment if the education is in place. Love and appreciate nature, and it will feed us. Give young people skills in nature and it also helps mental health. Important to give women the skills also. The church connects communities.
Rwanda: solar energy systems on church rooves. Better cooking stoves, carbon reduction but also socio-economic benefits for women. Health is improved with less smoke and particulates in the kitchen and house. Carbon credit can be achieved in planting trees rather than cutting them down to produce more charcoal.
