Meeting for Sufferings: Sustainability Monitoring Group
180 tonnes: BYM’s carbon footprint for 2021-22, in CO2 equivalent, according to the Sustainability Monitoring Group.
The afternoon drew to a slightly rushed close due to the previous lengthy session. Caroline Howden spoke on the annual report of the Sustainability Monitoring Group (SMG), which considers how Quakers in Britain are meeting their commitment to becoming a low-carbon, sustainable community.
Caroline drew attention to the progress in five areas: eldership, oversight, living faithfully, right ordering and witness. These were set by MfS in its recommendations for action. She flagged the ongoing legacy-funded ‘Climate Crisis: Spiritual nurture and learning project’, delivered by Woodbrooke, as well as the year of learning and spiritual reflection on climate justice launched by Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) and Woodbrooke in July.
In addition to vigils and witness, she said that some Quakers had run ‘climate cafes’ or ‘twinned’ with other Quaker Meetings to share their leadings on the matter. Several had hosted public debates on relevant topics, such as ‘Should we all become vegan?’.
‘We think we need to look at small good ideas that we can all take on board,’ she said, noting that language around sustainability has evolved, with more emphasis now on ‘climate justice’.
The report also revealed that Lindsey Fielder Cook, the ‘human impacts of climate change’ representative at the Quaker United Nations Office Geneva, has written a prayer for COP27 as part of the interfaith preparations for the United Nations summit. It also notes: ‘We anticipate the Book of Discipline Revision Committee will include more about the spiritual basis of our commitment to sustainability and climate justice in the new book.’
Friends welcomed the report, with one saying: ‘I know what a lot of information people have to digest but I do really recommend that you follow some of the links. There’s some exciting stuff, if you want some little nuggets to report to Area Meeting.’
Oliver Robertson, BYM staff link to the SMG, said that BYM could get the report more widely circulated ‘but monitoring is always best when it leads to development’. He said it would be useful to know ‘if Friends think that other things should be happening. Is there anything different in how we produce and present it that would encourage Friends into greater action?’
One Friend said that, in their own work, ‘what I’m trying to improve is inclusivity. There’s lots of things happening but the challenge is what does it add up to – how do you know if you are going to make that change in the world? What are your impacts?… It would be useful to think those things through, so we know what works best.’
Others emphasised spiritual underpinning, the question of loss and damage reparations, and how including an occasional query – a ‘what canst thou say?’ about a particular aspect of our witness – could invite engagement.
The minute thanked Caroline and noted that the SMG ‘should have three members, and at present there is only one’.
Minutes at www.quaker.org.uk/mfspapers.
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