Friends hail Birmingham climate emergency declaration
Friends welcome the news that Birmingham City Council has declared a climate emergency
Central England Quakers are celebrating the news that Birmingham City Council has declared a ‘climate emergency’ after a campaign involving other faith groups. The motion sets targets for the city to become carbon neutral by 2030 and includes creating a Climate Emergency Task Force.
According to Chris Martin, member of Cotteridge Meeting and secretary to ‘Footsteps – Faiths for a Low Carbon Future’ (FFLCF), councillors linked the motion to the local benefits of tackling climate change, including clean air, warmer insulated houses, improved public transport, addressing present splits in society, and protecting green spaces and carbon sinks. One councillor said that sustainable lifestyles should become the default position, not a lifestyle choice by the wealthy.
Chris Martin told the Friend: ‘Passing the motion presents a major opportunity for Quakers and all the faith groups to make a faith-based contribution to tackling climate change in Birmingham. The motion recognises the social justice, inequality, natural environment and health issues involved in moving to a low carbon future.’
The decision made on 11 June came after a letter was handed to council leaders on 10 June ahead of the council debate the next day. Quakers were among the forty signatories. The letter was initiated by FFLCF, a project of Birmingham Council of Faiths, and highlights how each faith community brings different resources to the crisis.
Kamran Shezad, from the Bahu Trust, said: ‘It is vital at this time of political uncertainty and division that our faith communities unite to stand up for justice and protect all our futures from the threat of climate catastrophe.’
Bristol and Manchester Councils both passed similar motions in November 2018. Since then, nearly ninety councils have joined them.
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