We have news of webinars on divestment, an update to our climate-themed Bible study resource and a forthcoming global divestment announcement. There is an opportunity for Operation Noah supporters to help us push the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill up the political agenda.
We have also recently welcomed four new trustees to the Operation Noah board and are excited about the new skills and experience they bring.
To receive future newsletters straight to your inbox, please use the email sign-up form on the left or click here.
Back in December 2020 we announced Operation Noah’s support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill). We are one of more than 60 organisations who are members of the CEE Bill Alliance. We now need your help to keep it high on the political agenda.
The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
In a nutshell, the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill calls for the UK to make and enact a serious plan to deal with the climate emergency.
“This Bill outlines the path needed to avoid the catastrophe outlined by the United Nations… it is farsighted aiming to protect those at risk now and in the future.” – Kumi Naidoo, former International Executive Director of Greenpeace International and Secretary General of Amnesty International,
It has the potential to become the most significant move forward on the climate emergency since the Climate Change Act 2008. It is a Private Members’ Bill, and taking it through parliament will be a hard-fought process but it has been done before with major climate legislation. It is an alliance bill that has been written by scientists, lawyers and activists and it is gathering support from a broad range of campaign groups, businesses, charities and individuals.
Create a Twitter storm and drop a banner
Recently, a second hearing of the bill was postponed for the second time when Friday sittings of Parliament were cancelled. With this in mind, the CEE Bill Alliance is calling for a day of action on 26th March. We’re encourage Operation Noah supporters to get involved by doing two things:
Help create a Twitter storm – a sudden increase of posts on Twitter about the Bill. Record a message and tweet it to your MP asking them to back the CEE Bill (#CEEBill).
Drop a banner in your local area. Many Church buildings would make good locations for a banner drop.
As Scotland prepares to host the UN climate talks (COP26) later this year, we have a unique opportunity to make an impact and increase the pressure on institutions and governments to respond with the urgency that the climate crisis demands.
Eco-Congregation Scotland is organising a webinar to help you find out how Churches in Scotland – both locally and nationally – can support a just and green recovery by divesting from fossil fuels and re-orienting investments towards a clean energy future.
Very Revd John Conway, Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, will speak about how St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral divested from fossil fuels, as well as what needs to happen now in the Scottish Episcopal Church
Seonaid Knox, former clerk to the Church of Scotland Youth Assembly, will speak about her involvement in the Church of Scotland divestment campaign, and why the Church needs to listen to the voice of younger generations
Alejandro Alemán Treminio, Climate Change Officer at the Nicaraguan organisation Centro Humboldt (a Christian Aid partner) and coordinator of Climate Action Network Latin America, will speak about the impacts of the climate crisis in the region, how communities are being supported to adapt and his hopes for climate justice at COP26
The webinar will be chaired by Fiona Buchanan, Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator at Christian Aid Scotland.
The webinar will see the launch of the Scottish Churches COP26 Pledge on Divestment and the Just and Green Recovery, which can be signed by individuals, churches, regional Church bodies and national Churches.
The webinar is an excellent opportunity to find out more about how your church can join the next global divestment announcement for faith institutions in spring 2021. Join us to find out where your Church denomination currently stands on fossil fuel divestment, and how you can get involved in the campaign.
Operation Noah is delighted to introduce four new trustees.
Stephanie Lake
Stephanie is passionate about environmental justice and intersectionality, based in Bristol. Before her current role as Development Intern at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Stephanie gained experience in the community renewable energy sector when working with Pure Leapfrog as their Social and Environmental Impact Officer. Whilst at University, where she studied Geography, Steph worked at NUS as the UK’s Student Sustainability Ambassador and ran the Switch Off campaign encouraging energy-saving behaviour changes to students across the UK.
Hannah Malcolm
Hannah Malcolm writes and campaigns around the subject of climate justice and the Church. She is training for ministry in the Church of England and writing a PhD on a political theology of climate and ecological grief. She edited the new SCM Press collection Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church (2020).
Shilpita Mathews
Shilpita is an environmental economist and focuses on climate resilience and sustainable cities. She is passionate about linking faith and climate justice and getting young people and the private sector involved in climate action. She is an active member of the Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) and serves in the student ministry of her church in London. Originally from India, Shilpita grew up in Sri Lanka, Jordan and Thailand before moving to the UK. She holds a BA in Land Economy from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change from the London School of Economics.
Rachie Ross
Rachie has worked with excluded and challenging young people for 30 years, since studying at Manchester University and later London School of Theology. She is also a Therapeutic Coach which brings theology, behavioral change and life into sharp focus. Rachie has been active in the climate scene for ten years, working with her local church to get Eco church interest and lifestyle change. She is a regular writer, preacher and motivational speaker on any platform that will have her! Rachie’s heart is for the church, both local and global, to lead the way on the needs of the earth and she loves resourcing, encouraging and galvanizing authentic living in this space. She is married with three nearly-adult children, and they live in NW London with Totem the dog. Rachie is also an active member of Christian Climate Action.
Operation Noah board member, Rachie Ross, recently spoke to church leaders in her local area about how they could best tackle the climate crisis. Watch her talk here.
Operation Noah has board members available to talk to your church or church leaders. Get in touch to find out more.
2021 is a crucial year for climate action. In November, leaders from across the world will meet in Glasgow for COP26 and have the opportunity to take the urgent action necessary to tackle the climate crisis. Before that, in June, the G7 will meet in Cornwall to discuss a number of issues, including the climate crisis. Operation Noah’s work this year aims to make sure that our leaders make the most of these opportunities.
To receive future newsletters straight to your inbox, please use the email sign-up form on the left or click here.
