As world leaders acknowledge the links between climate change and poverty at the UNGA Post-2015 Summit, which opened in New York today, ACT Alliance called for increasing urgency to address the impacts of climate change.

Addressing a parallel event focusing on the role of faith-based actors in sustainable development, the international humanitarian and development network said that the SDGs must steer the world onto a sustainable pathway towards poverty eradication.

“Ending extreme poverty starts with addressing climate change, as a key pillar of our moral imperative,” said ACT Alliance General Secretary John Nduna, addressing faith leaders and political dignitaries. “Mother earth weeps for climate justice. As long as we human beings abuse mother earth, ending extreme poverty will be an illusion.”

“Climate change denies people and communities the ability to overcome poverty,” he continued. “Without  rain in sub-Saharan Africa, people cannot grow their food or feed their families. When streets and fields flood in Asia, communities lose their livelihoods and lives. As the sea level rises in the Pacific, people are stripped of their land and risk statelessness. Our leaders must urgently and adequately confront climate change.”

ACT Alliance has engaged in work related to climate justice and sustainable development since 2010, from community mobilisation to high level political engagement.

“While we celebrate the adoption of the  SDGs,” said Nduna, “we must now urgently stand together, ready, excited and motivated begin working in partnership with one another for the effective implementation of these goals.”

The negotiations towards the new global development framework continues to build momentum towards the UN climate change meeting (COP21) which will take place in Paris, France, in December.

“The ambition that we see with the adoption of the SDG framework today must translate to concrete action in Paris at COP21,” said Nduna. “Sustainable Development and poverty eradication is largely dependent on the ambition of the climate agreement to be adopted in Paris. Progress on SDGs should encourage parties to come up with a strong, fair and equitable climate agreement.”

As world leaders acknowledge the links between climate change and poverty at the UNGA Post-2015 Summit, which opened in New York today, ACT Alliance called for increasing urgency to address the impacts of climate change.

Addressing a parallel event focusing on the role of faith-based actors in sustainable development, the international humanitarian and development network said that the SDGs must steer the world onto a sustainable pathway towards poverty eradication.

“Ending extreme poverty starts with addressing climate change, as a key pillar of our moral imperative,” said ACT Alliance General Secretary John Nduna, addressing faith leaders and political dignitaries. “Mother earth weeps for climate justice. As long as we human beings abuse mother earth, ending extreme poverty will be an illusion.”

“Climate change denies people and communities the ability to overcome poverty,” he continued. “Without  rain in sub-Saharan Africa, people cannot grow their food or feed their families. When streets and fields flood in Asia, communities lose their livelihoods and lives. As the sea level rises in the Pacific, people are stripped of their land and risk statelessness. Our leaders must urgently and adequately confront climate change.”

ACT Alliance has engaged in work related to climate justice and sustainable development since 2010, from community mobilisation to high level political engagement.

“While we celebrate the adoption of the  SDGs,” said Nduna, “we must now urgently stand together, ready, excited and motivated begin working in partnership with one another for the effective implementation of these goals.”

The negotiations towards the new global development framework continues to build momentum towards the UN climate change meeting (COP21) which will take place in Paris, France, in December.

“The ambition that we see with the adoption of the SDG framework today must translate to concrete action in Paris at COP21,” said Nduna. “Sustainable Development and poverty eradication is largely dependent on the ambition of the climate agreement to be adopted in Paris. Progress on SDGs should encourage parties to come up with a strong, fair and equitable climate agreement.”

Horgos (Hungary border)

ACT member HEKS-EPER EHO began its activities in providing humanitarian assistance for refugees in early September through its partner EHO. In the previous period, around 3,000 refugees received humanitarian and emergency assistance in fruits, bread and water. Children and mothers with infants received chocolates and biscuits. Upon demand, EHO distributed baby food and second-hand shoes. Also, medical nurses involved in the project EHO – “Diaconia Home Care” provided First Aid on the spot. EHO also provided presence of a doctor.

By the end of the week, EHO will be present every day (10:00 to 18:00) in the camp on “no man’s land” at the border crossing Horgoš – Rözske.

The project is implemented in cooperation and with the financial support of the Swiss partner – HEKS-EPER.

Sid (Croatia border):

On Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 September 2015, EHO has organized all-day work in the field, on the road Sid – Tovarnik. Employees and volunteers of EHO participated in the distribution of aid. After the closing of Hungarian border, refugees changed their route and went toward Croatia. To enter Croatia, the most used crossing was Sid – Tovarnik.

During two days of work in the vicinity of the border, EHO distributed 800kg apples, 400kg banana, 1,000 loaves of bread, 1200L of water, 1,000 chocolate bars, 600 packages of biscuits, 10 pairs of new shoes for mothers with young children, 400 raincoats, 30 tents, 20 sleeping bags with 20 mats.

On the 22 of September, EHO was working in Bapska, border crossing between Serbia and Croatioa and spoke to a young man Avdulah, 21.

Avdulah, 21, is refugee from Syria who is traveling with his wife, son and younger brother. They left their home town 23 days ago. At the beginning the family was on smuggling boat from Turkey to Greece. After that, they took 3 buses – from Greece to Macedonia, from Macedonia to Serbia and through Serbia. They wanted to cross the border between Serbia and Hungary, but because the fence (Hungarian Government closed the border with Serbia) they chose the route to the border with Croatia. Their final destination is Finland. Avdulah wants to provide better and peaceful future for his family, far from the war in his country.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

To strengthen the network of volunteers in emergency preparedness and response called Redvolución Climática, on September 21st, 22nd and 23^rd, 2015, 18 young Salvadorans are receiving a workshop to address issues related to Climate Justice.

This is the first national workshop, which will be reproduced in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia.

These activities are conducted under the Program for Promotion of Ecumenical Leadership that the Lutheran World Federation is implementing in partnership with Action by Churches Together for Development – Alliance ACT, with the participation of young leaders of Churches members of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI for its acronym in Spanish) of The Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Latin America – AIPRAL and the Lutheran churches in the region.

“For the LWF it is important to promote and facilitate ecumenical meeting space and in this case prioritize participation of young people from different churches and denominations. It is important to know and get involved in issues such as climate justice, which should be a priority in our advocacy agendas, working with the community and the churches” said Elena Cedillo, Regional Representative of the Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service, Central America Program.

During these three days, young people will talk about climate change, its background, causes and effects, extreme weather events; the COP and global negotiations; Climate Change Law in El Salvador and the National Climate Change Plan; and Climate Justice focus from the churches, as well as biblical theological reflection.

During the day, young people have shown great interest and enthusiasm for work on the issue. “I am happy because this issue is a very important and it has to generate a greater impact on us, it’s important because maybe we cannot make big changes all at once, but can be gradual, we must begin ourselves in our home, in our community”, said Carmen Martinez, a 23-year-old young woman from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church.

“We have high expectations of what this group will do, because it is a new space with young people who are church leaders, who are appropriating and developing other vision of care of the Creation”, said Carlos Rauda, Regional Representative for the Alliance ACT Latin America and the Caribbean.

“I feel good because I’m here, it’s a new experience, I had never been to a meeting, it’s something new for me and very interesting, I think I’ll learn a lot about climate change, which affects us, its causes, and how can avoid it. My expectations are to learn and put into practice”, said Pablo Quintanilla, a 20-year-old representative of the Emanuel Baptist Church.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.