6 minute read
Rise to the Moment
Climate justice Rise to the Moment
The climate crisis is a storm we all face, but we’re not all in the same boat. Every day, people living in poverty battle the worst of a crisis they did not create. This is deeply unjust.
But a better way is possible. Together we can tackle the inequalities in wealth and power that have led to this climate crisis – starting now.
In November, the UK Government will host the United Nations key climate talks, COP26. This is a decade-defining opportunity to impact and influence the decisions made. We must ensure our global neighbours are heard.
That’s why Christian Aid is joining together with Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) for Rise to the Moment – a journey of prayer and action in the run-up to COP26. Together we can amplify our prophetic voices and create one unified movement for change.
From now on, every moment matters and every action counts in the fight for climate justice. Will you rise to the moment?
What is COP26?
COP26 is the 26th meeting of world leaders at the UN climate change talks. The conference has been described as the most important gathering on climate change since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.
After being postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, COP26 is due to take place in the first two weeks of November 2021. For many, this conference remains the best, and only, global platform to build consensus on climate justice and action.
Where will COP26 take place?
All being well, COP26 will be held in Glasgow. This is a fitting city for such an event. Fondly known as the Dear Green Place, it was once a centre of industrialisation. Now, the very site where the conference will be held is at risk of being reclaimed by the rising River Clyde.
For two centuries, Glasgow has been the birthplace of social movements sparked by injustice. Here’s hoping the warm Glaswegian hospitality and longheld passion for justice will set in motion climate justice for all.
What is Christian Aid’s role?
One of the key characteristics of the COP conferences is that people from all over the world are represented, both in official delegations and from civil society. A crucial part we play is ensuring that the voices of our partners and the communities we work with are heard during the conference.
We can’t achieve climate justice without involving the people
most affected by the crisis in the discussions and decisions.
What are we hoping for?
At COP26, we will be looking for progress on the key issue of climate finance – making sure that those most affected by the crisis are provided with money to help cope with it.
In 2009, the world’s richest countries, including the UK, agreed to deliver $100bn a year in climate finance to the world’s poorest and most climatevulnerable countries by 2020. This promise was not fulfilled. We will be pressing this issue alongside faith communities in the UK, partner organisations around the world, and YCCN.
YCCN’s model boat represents our hope that we will rise to the moment and use this year to set sail towards a more just future.
Support the relay
In the run-up to COP26, we’re supporting an exciting relay with YCCN to push for ambitious action to tackle the climate crisis.
YCCN is an action-focused community of people aged 18-30, following Jesus in the pursuit of climate justice. They share Christian Aid’s determination to bring about a fairer world.
The relay kicked off in Cornwall after the G7 Summit in June and will make its way across the UK until it reaches Glasgow in November.
There are lots of things you can do as an individual, church or community to support the relay and help press for climate justice – and it all starts with a paper boat.
Taking inspiration from the model boat YCCN have built to journey with them on the relay – which represents hope – we’re asking you to create an origami prayer boat.
This prayer boat is the start of several ways you can rise to the moment and call for climate justice ahead of COP26: from creating a display of boats in your church, to adding it to our online fleet, to using it to catch your MP’s attention.
You can even send your boat to join an installation at COP26, helping us ensure decision makers cannot ignore our calls for action.
Step 1: Download the prayer boat activity pack from caid.org.uk/rise
The pack contains all the information you need to know.
Journey to COP26
Step 2: Write a prayer on your paper
There are prayer points and an example prayer in the pack.
Step 3: Fold your piece of paper into a boat
Follow the step-by-step instructions in the pack.
Step 4: Set sail for climate justice
Look at the options in the pack and choose which voyage your boat will take! You can find out more about YCCN and the relay in the Last Word (page 23) where we speak to relay co-lead, Rachel Mander.
Are you a teacher or a youth leader? As children and young people have been at the forefront of calls for climate action, we know you may be keen to talk to them about COP26.
We’ve worked together with The Climate Coalition on the Together for our Planet COP26 pack for schools which can be downloaded on Twinkl’s website at
twinkl.co.uk/resources/twinkl-partnerships/cop26
There’s also our Letters for Creation project which encourages a creative and spiritual response to climate justice. Through community art making and exhibitions, children and young people can exercise their voices in the run-up to COP26 and beyond. To find out more go to caid.org.uk/lettersforcreation
Get your skates on
For those of you based in Scotland, you can get involved in Get your skates on. Inspired by the iconic painting of The Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn, and the race against time to stop this climate crisis, Glasgow-based artist ID Campbell has recreated this masterpiece and invites others to do the same.
Get your skates on captures all the activities happening locally in Scotland in the run-up to COP26. Find out more at
caid.org.uk/get-your-skates-on
Save the date
We know some of you avid campaigners are used to attending COP. But with coronavirus still a part of our everyday lives, nothing is certain.
We do hope there will be opportunities to attend events in Glasgow and other satellite cities across the UK to make your voice heard. Plans are still to be confirmed but the main day of action will be 6 November – so save the date and sign up to our campaign emails to ensure you’re the first to know more. Sign up at
caid.org.uk/campaignwithus Artwork by ID Campbell
