Events

Scottish Churches webinar: COP26, divestment and investment in the just and green recovery

Operation Noah is pleased to be sponsoring this free webinar.

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.

Speakers at the event will be:

Dr Lorna Gold, Director of Movement Building at FaithInvest and Acting Chair of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, will share how the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference divested from fossil fuels, as well as how the Republic of Ireland became the first country to commit to divest
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
James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Manager at Operation Noah, will share the key findings of the report Church investments in major oil companies: Paris compliant or Paris defiant?
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.

Around the world, more than 400 faith institutions have divested from fossil fuels, including the World Council of Churches, the United Reformed Church, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Fossil fuel divestment will be on the agenda at this year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

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.

The webinar series is sponsored by: Eco-Congregation Scotland, Operation Noah, Christian Aid, Justice and Peace Scotland and Friends of the Earth Scotland.