Exclusive:Church of Scotland joins call for ‘united’ effort to tackle climate change ahead of emergency summit in Edinburgh

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland has joined other religious leaders, academics and conservationists in demanding tougher action to tackle the “climate catastrophe” or face “grave implications”.

Addressing the environmental crisis is a “moral necessity”, they warn, and Scotland must play its part and do everything possible to slash greenhouse gas emissions because further delay will have “dire” human and economic costs.

The plea comes ahead of an emergency summit on the climate crisis, being held in Edinburgh today at the official residence of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Among those attending are representatives from several faiths, including Presbyterians, Catholics, Quakers, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and Hindus, as well as academics, activists, conservationists and aid workers.

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US-born minister Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, the fifth woman to hold the honorary position of Moderator, is currently taking a year-long sabbatical from her role as leader of the charity Christian Aid to represent the Kirk.

She hit out at repeated failures to adequately slash emissions, highlighting the “alarming” conclusion by government advisers that Scotland’s 2030 climate targets were achievable – leading to them being dropped.

l-r Dylan Hamilton (Climate Activist), Stuart Haszeldine (University of Edinburgh), Modertor Chuch of Scotland Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Mike Robinson (Chair of Stop Climate Chaos) and Ellie Kirkland (Climate Activist)ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE A '˜SCIENTIFIC AND MORAL IMPERATIVE' SAY CIVIC SOCIETY, FAITH LEADERS AND SCIENTISTSScotland's inability to meet key climate change targets must be a 'wake-up' call for all ofsociety and failure to work openly and collaboratively to drive progress will have graveimplications for the planet.This is the stark view of a group of religious and civic society leaders and scientists whohave taken the unprecedented step to team up and urge people to acknowledge the risksof inaction and devise solutions to tackle the climate crisis.More than 30 individuals have signed statements calling on the Scottish and UKgovernments to 'bridge the widening gap' between promises and practical action tobuild a fairer, greener, healthier society for all.They said addressing the climate crisis is a 'moral necessity' and Scotland must do all itcan to play its part because further delay will have dire human and economic costs.The signatories are led by Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assemblyof the Church of Scotland, Professor Stuart Haszeldine, Co-Director at the EdinburghClimate Change Institute, hosted by the University of Edinburgh, and Mike RobinsonChair of Stop Climate Chaos in Scotland and Chief Executive of the Royal ScottishGeographical Society.

She said it should act as “a wake-up call to us all” and doing nothing would have “grave implications for the planet – our common home”.

“Climate change is here and our shared planet is in the middle of a climate catastrophe,” she said, “and we all have to play our part because the time for delay has passed.

“Five years ago the Scottish Government set strong climate targets but we have gone back to a business-as-usual model.

“Today we call on each other to reset, to refocus and rethink to find ways to meet strong targets, for our own sakes and for those around the world who have done the least to cause climate change.”

The impacts of climate change are already being felt across the world, with increasingly extreme weather conditions causing damage and destruction at home and abroad

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She urged “unity” from all political parties, business leaders, communities and everyone in society to recognise the risks of inaction.

She added: “We must regather and redouble our efforts and seek ways to work together to deliver the action we all know we need to see.

“It is our shared belief and hope that action is possible, and that together we may yet still limit global heating to what science informs us is necessary and possible.

Global temperature records continue to fall as time passes – the past ten years have been the warmest on earth for millennia, with 2023 the hottest yet – and extreme weather events are increasingly frequent

“We stand united in our wish to protect the dignity of human life and creation.”

More than 30 individuals have signed statements, calling on the Scottish and UK governments to “bridge the widening gap” between promises and practical action to build a fairer, greener, healthier society for all.

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The signatories are led by Right Reverend Foster-Fulton, Professor Stuart Haszeldine, co-director at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, hosted by the University of Edinburgh, and Mike Robinson, chair of campaign group Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and chief executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

“Climate change is not optional,” said Prof Haszeldine.

“The longer we wait or delay, the more it will cost in both human and economic terms.”

Mr Robinson added: “Climate change doesn’t stop just because we don’t want to deal with it or other issues demand our simultaneous attention.

“This is not the time to step back or be distracted from our climate commitments.

“It’s time to regain that collective focus.

“Politicians of every creed, businesses in every sector, public servants, communities and civic leaders in every part of Scotland need to come together to solve this crisis.

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“We need to see beyond our differences and to work openly and collaboratively together to deliver the accelerated investment we all need to drive faster progress.

“We have an opportunity to get back on track, but we all need to step up.

“This is the moment to reset, re-energise and redouble our efforts.

“In working together and addressing the climate emergency with the urgency it demands, we can build solutions that work for everyone.”