Glenise Morgan sent ECI this update:
The Corrymeela Climate Justice Group continues to meet by Zoom. We recently heard from a new Provisional Member, Stéphanie Heckman, who had attended Cop26 in Glasgow, carrying out some work there as a visual artist. She gave an excellent presentation on her report that provided an insightful overview of the conference area, inside and out.
The divisions between environmental activists loudly protesting outside and those with vested economic or political interests within were stark, but there was another side. People from all over the world were playing music and getting to know each other at other venues throughout the city. The human element was to the fore, despite the suffering of those poorer countries currently experiencing the consequences of climate change, without the means to deal with them. The importance of building relationships for resolution of conflict was apparent.
Stéphanie noted the promise of technical solutions and the new appearance of biodiversity at this Cop event. Our economic, environmental and biodiversity systems are inter-linked and we should be working with each other – and with nature – to address the climate crisis. Investment in community-led projects can be replicated elsewhere.
Our group are inspired to take this challenge further at Corrymeela. It aligns with our principles, policies and strategies. Climate change brings new divisions in N Ireland; rural and urban, economics versus environment, the views of young and old – but also one common goal: to protect our planet.