Action for climate justice

After hearing from our Asia-Pacific friends at Voices for Justice 09 about the devastating impact of climate change in their countries, we felt called to take stronger action to ensure climate justice for the poor. On this page you'll find information and action ideas to help ensure climate justice for the poor.

Click below to watch a video message from Iskandar, one of the Asia-Pacific Leaders who joined us for Voices for Justice 2009.


Pray for creation and for the poor

Creator God, We thank you for the beauty of your Creation, and for giving us the privilege of caring for it. We confess that we have not cared for the earth with the self-sacrificing and nurturing love that you require of us. We mourn the broken relationships in creation. We repent for our part in causing the current environmental crisis that has led to climate change.

Faithful God, sustainer of all - we pray with hope, because you are already at work through Christ to reconcile all of creation to Yourself and to renew all things.
Loving God, help us to turn our lives around to be people of restoration. Help us build just relationships among human beings and with the rest of creation. Help us to live sustainably, rejecting consumerism and the exploitation of creation.
God of justice, give us courage and persistence to work for justice for those most affected by environmental degradation and climate change.
God of mercy, hear the cry of the poor who are already suffering and will continue to suffer water and food shortages and who will be displaced by climate change.
God of all wisdom, give wisdom to the leaders of the world's nations. Let them work together for a global agreement to tackle climate change. Give them the determination to find a just solution that protects the people who are most vulnerable in our world, and protects creation.
Creator God, give us your Spirit to work together to restore your creation and to hand on a safe environment and climate to our children and theirs. Let our care for creation be our act of worship and obedience to you. Your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.

Learn more about faith and climate change

Micah Challenge believes that, as people of compassion, Christians should be taking the lead on climate justice. We also believe there is a strong biblical basis for taking action in this area.
Click here to download the Micah Challenge Theology of Climate Change paper (PDF).
Click here to read the Micah Network Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change and Statement to World Leaders.
Click here to visit our research page with more reports on a Christian response to environmental issues.

Take action for climate justice

1. Write to your MP
We encourage you to take the time to write a letter about climate justice to your elected Member of Parliament. As a member of the community they represent, it's their job to take your concerns seriously.
Click here for more information on letter writing and contacting your politician.
Click here to download a letter writing guide on climate change.

2. Participate in the '40 Day Fast'
Engage in six weeks of group discussion, reflection and action, using this resource on themes of oversees aid, debt, trade justice, good governance and climate change.

The 40 Day Fast resource is featured in the Micah Challenge Action Toolkit and encourages participants to think about our western lifestyle and how it impacts our earth and the poor.
Action ideas presented in the Climate Change section include:
- Conduct an energy audit and switch to renewable energy
- Think about where your food comes from and buy direct from farmers
- Reduce your meat consumption - see the ARRCC Meat Free Day resource

3. Pray for creation and the poor
As Christians, we believe prayer is essential in bringing about change in our world. Use the prayer featured above and participate in a time of public prayer and repentance with your church or community.

4. Join the Micah Challenge Faith and Creation Blog
If you're interested in exploring your faith through online dialogue, join the Micah Challenge group on the A Climate for Change social networking site - post your prayers and contribute to the discussion about faith and creation. Click here to visit the blog.

5. Become a UN Climate Tracker
You can also join and participate in the UN Climate trackers group and take action to express your concern about climate change and the impact on the poor. Click here to visit the Climate Trackers group.

How will the Copenhagen decisions impact the poor?

In the midst of global commentary on Copenhagen, Micah Challenge is calling Christians not to forget the world's poor.

"In many parts of the world, climate change threatens progress toward the MDGs. Already there are an estimated 150 thousands extra deaths each year because of climate change, most of them children. Far from making poverty history, climate change threatens to make poverty permanent", said National Coordinator of Micah Challenge Australia, Mr. John Beckett.

There is widespread disappointment at the deal brokered by world leaders at Copenhagen. While the commitment by a vast majority of leaders to keep warming below 2 degrees centigrade is encouraging, the current Copenhagen deal, with the absence of concrete targets, cannot guarantee a limit on warming. That spells disastrous effects for the world's poor... MORE

Click here to download a media release from Micah Challenge in response to the climate change negotiations.

Useful Links

- Micah Challenge faith and creation blog
- A Climate for Change
- A Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRC)
- Copenhagen prayer updates
- Bell ringing action
- Walk Against Warming
- Meat free day
- Hopenhagen

Videos:
- A Gathering Storm: The human cost of climate change
- Sisters on the Planet
The following Sisters on the Planet video 'Ursula's story' is also featured on our new DVD resource THE WORLD WE WANT TO SEE, part of the Micah Challenge Action Toolkit.


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