Friends worldwide are urgently concerned with the human impacts of the climate crisis. We use the term sustainability, defined in the broadest sense, to include concerns around climate breakdown, peace, economic and climate justice, human rights and depletion of natural resources.
Earthcare unites traditional Quaker testimonies: peace, equality, simplicity, integrity, and justice. It is consistent with our understanding of Jesus’ teachings. It is rooted in the lived experience of our global community, many of whom have described in Quaker gatherings and elsewhere, what it is like to live through increasingly frequent extreme weather events, as well as worsening violent conflict.
Collectively these experiences inform the ‘Kabarak Call’ agreed at the global gathering of Friends in Kenya in 2012, in which Friends affirm our commitment to be “patterns and examples in a 21st century campaign for peace and ecojustice, as difficult and decisive as the 18th and 19th century drive to abolish slavery.”
In 2017 FWCC launched a sustainability programme in response to the Pisac Sustainability Minute agreed at the World Plenary Meeting in Peru in 2016.
The programme gathered stories of Friends’ experiences of the climate crisis and Quaker climate witness across the globe, and brought Friends together across different Quaker branches, encouraging us to find shared language on the climate.
FWCC recognises that our work in every part of the world is affected by a history of colonialism and racial inequality and has committed to continue engaging Quakers and examining the issue of sustainability alongside issues of privilege and historical injustice.
The work of the sustainability programme includes:
- Supporting Friends around the world taking climate action at the local level
- Representing Quakers in a number of global interfaith efforts and supporting faith dialogue with governments on climate ambition
- Participating at the UN climate negotiations
- Convening the Global Quaker Sustainability Network to encourage collaboration between Quaker agencies on issues of sustainability and environmental justice
- Nurturing networks of Young Friends around the world engaged in climate action, peace and justice work
This programme ran to May 2022. Following it’s evaluation it’s successor programme is titled ‘Caring for Creation and One-another’, to be staffed by the Justice and Peace Secretary.
FWCC Sustainability Timeline
Please visit our resources for case studies, videos and other materials you can use to get involved.