Climate Emergency Correspondent

Primary tabs

The Quaker Climate Emergency Correspondent position acknowledges that society has been avoiding for many decades the increasing warnings by science that our lifestyles are destroying the future of our civilization. Despite the many efforts, the measures we have undertaken fall far short of that which is required to adequately address the problem, and the situation has become increasingly dire, as recognised by the many authorities that have declared climate emergencies.

As many of these authorities have found out, however, the link between declaration and action is often quite tenuous. However, this has proven not to be the case in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Quakers have taken the opportunity of working from this to promote thinking on an effective recovery. The result is the following “Call to Action” which is being promulgated throughout the society. See the Face-book page.

What can we do? Check out the guide

View Betty and Bernie's Brilliant Balancing Circus

Scroll down for more. . .

The Challenge of Sustainability

Western society has adopted a lifestyle which is seriously degrading our environment and exhausting our resources, and most developing countries are rapidly adopting similar lifestyles, thus exacerbating the problem. While many people and organisations are trying to address this situation, few societies are prepared to make the changes required. Challenges are extensive, affecting our economy, relations between states, energy systems, transport, agriculture, fisheries, recycling, mining etc.

Sustainability in power - click to read about the small-scale (but effective) power generation at the Quaker Settlement

Quaker NZ Statement on Environmental Sustainability 2000

Quaker Statements related to sustainability (FWCC - Quaker global centre)

Sustainable Security – A Briefing for Friends (British Yearly Meeting)

Building Sustainability, Building Peace (British Yearly Meeting)

Overview of Sustainability Action in Aotearoa - a resource document

Key issues include:

i. Climate change and environmental degradation

ii. Use of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources.

iii. Materialistic social values.

iv. Economic system dependent on growth.

v. Unsustainable consumption and production.