WDP Acting for Climate Justice

In collaboration with the WDP Scottish Committee, WDPIC held a Global Conversation on WDP acting for Climate Justice. Over 60 women from all over the world attended the conversation to learn about climate change, and how we can make a difference as the 26th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is happening in Glasglow (Oct 31- Nov 12).  

In Gaelic, Glasgow’s name means “The Dear Green Place”. The city, the largest in Scotland, is thought to have been founded in 550 A.D. by the patron saint of the city, St. Mungo, also known as St. Kentigern, is the host of the COP26. 

Mary Welsh started her presentation using the American Museum of Natural History definition of climate change: “Climate change refers to the long-term changes in global temperatures and other characteristics of the atmosphere. Climate has changed throughout Earth’s long history, but this time it is different. Human activity is causing worldwide temperatures to rise higher than at any time we know of in the past”. Starting from the ancient Greeks and Romans to today, she recalled the 2019 UN Nations Climate goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius as the socially, economically, politically and scientifically safe limit to global warming to be reached by the end of this century.” In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that “Climate Change is widespread, rapid and intensifying.” 

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated “Climate change is happening now and to all of us. No country or community is immune. And, as is always the case, the poor and vulnerable are the first to suffer and the worst hit.” Margaret Roy introduced Guterres’ concept to point out “the impacts of climate change, which will not be borne equally or fairly, between rich and poor, women and men, and older and younger generations. Consequently, there has been a growing focus on climate justice, which looks at the climate crisis through a human rights lens and on the belief that by working together we can create a better future for present and future generations.” Then, she explained “when COP26 comes to Glasgow, one of the main subjects will be lowering the temperature by looking at our carbon footprint. Governments will be looking at new agreements. Whilst this is important there are other issues for which we need to take responsibility.” 
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What is our responsibility? What can we do about climate change and climate justice? Then, Denise, a girl from Scotland called us to act as blessed and beloved people of God:  

People of the world, your children are calling to you.  
Do not lose the wonder of this beautiful world! 
The trees, the birds that fly, the brilliant blue sky, the sparkling waters, all the lovely flowers. 
And you people, God loves you all as Jesus taught us. 
Blessed be, blessed be all creation and beloved of God. ​

World Day of Prayer over the years has listened to the stories of climate change in several countries. We have prayed and supported those affected by natural disasters, forced migration and hunger. During the Global Conversation on WDP acting for Climate Justice, WDP leaders lift up their commitments. For Cornelia Trommer-Klimpke (Germany), we simply need to take the first step, while for Laurence Gangloff (France), we will do it with prayers of hope, and for Bianka Paz (Guatemala) it means to continue the struggle for justice. From changes in lifestyle to advocacy, the participants presented a list of concrete actions for climate justice. Here is a summary of the breakout group conversation registered in the chat. ​

• I aim to use much less water. Clean water for everyone is vital (Mary Welsh, Scotland). 
• Unirnos a la lucha y denuncia por los derechos de agua sin contaminación, acceso a agua potable. Reflexionar sobre el consumo y no dejarnos llevar por la presión social (Rebeca Cascante, Costa Rica). 

• Usar menos productos de limpieza que contaminan el medio ambiente (Ingrid Mai, Argentina). 
• Try to install solar panels if you can in your homes to reduce using fossil energy (Kyoungeun Kim, Korea). 
• Use more natural light and less air-conditioning (Janice Delaney, Jamaica). 
• We should stop flying (Jarmila Cihova, Czech). 
• Consider purchasing in terms of need not greed (Mary Nordick, Canada). 

• We can take personal choices like buying less clothes; iron when only necessary (Nina Cryne, UK). 
• Recycle, reuse, repair. Be satisfied with what we have and buy less. Plant. Use solar energy. It is always good to encourage one another to keep on taking care of our beautiful planet (Maral Haidostian, Lebanon) 
• I do not accept anything wrapped in plastic. I take my own cloth bag to the supermarket, and at home I reduce the use of plastic as much as possible (Vino Schubert, Sri Lanka). 
• Take the basket to the market, buy only what is needed (Supapan, Thailand). 
• Buy fewer clothes and recycle more effectively (Carole Bourne, UK).    

• As women we can be an example for others, mostly the youth. Learn not to use plastic bag, but to use reusable bag (Marthe Sybille Martial, Mauritius). 
• Recycle everything we can. We should go back to no plastic, as years ago (Sue, Scotland). 
• Encourage people to use less plastic (Virginia Longo, Italy). 
• We can plant vegetables and herbal plant in our backyard (Orpha Ramos, Philippines). 
• Our group aim to plant more trees (Sylvia Marowa, Zimbabwe and Marjorie Paton, Scotland). 

• Reflorestamento na beira de rios (Leda Witter, Brasil). 
• Avoid deforestation especially at the farming season (Queen Chilobwa, Zambia). 
• We all need to share what we need and not frivolous wants. Justice is not sending leftovers to hurting people but offer our best. Every one of us who can take less do so, so everyone can have some (Stephanie McClellan, Canada). 
• We can give our contribution to people in need, especially in the flooding area. We are knitting with group of WDP women for the children on flooded areas (Floresha Cenolli, Albania). 
• Seguir compartiendo que es justicia climática, como nos está afectando a todas las personas en el mundo. Papel importante como mujeres para que tomen conciencia del uso mesurado. Ser parte de la Auditoria Social con acciones concretas en nuestros países (Elizabeth, Guatemala). 

• In some countries, churches start to feel responsible for climate-protection (Vroni Peterhans) 
  
  

We join Manon Naidoo, South Africa words of appreciation for the conversation: “Thank you for sharing about global climate justice, a joy to know that women are proactive. We can make a change.”  

- Rosângela Oliveira, WDPIC Executive Director 

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