Southwark Report Internals final single

IMPACT
REPORT
JPIC Assembly - COP26 What next
for working towards sustainable development. With
Diocesan policies established, 30% of parishes
signed up to the Inter Diocesan Fuel Management
Programme, another 46% submitted applications for
the delivery of 100% green power and 71% green
gas, and more have now followed suit.
Commission members joined Walks for COP26
focussing attention on the organised pilgrimage walk
of over 500 miles from London to Glasgow with
travellers from Germany, Spain and France to meet
with politicians and policy makers, business, civil
society and students. Fr Arbo Lekule, former JPIC
Chair and Parish Priest at Kidbrooke, contributed to
an influential climate justice debate at the University
of Strathclyde.
On return from the COP, JPIC ran a series of
informative talks through a day entitled ‘COP26:
What Next?’ at the parish of Corpus Christi, Brixton
Hill, the first in-person Assembly for two years,
following relaxation of COVID restrictions. Parish
groups and Catholic organisations highlighted the
urgent need to work in partnership with government
and local councils to support, advance and
demonstrate the important role of local leadership
by young people in meeting the ambitious UK target
of zero net emissions by 2050. Speakers from
CAFOD, the Jesuit Mission and Christian Climate
Action promoted good practise in universal learning
and the sharing of innovative solutions, including
the essence of living by Laudato Si’ the valuable
and influential encyclical of Pope Francis. Many,
disappointed by the response from world leaders at
COP26, advocated that the developed world owes
a huge debt to less developed countries.
We are linked to the Southern Dioceses
Environmental Network, one of several new faithbased
networks that have become more visible.
The Laudato Si’ movement (previously the Global
Catholic Climate Movement) is prominent and
brings together a range of Catholic organisations
and grass-roots members from all over the world,
working to make real the message of the Pope’s
letter in daily life. Laudato Si’ Animator networks
have been established in each diocese this
year, including Southwark. Anyone interested
in becoming an Animator can visit: https://
laudatosianimators.org/ At least three parishes
have qualified for the LiveSimply award: Lee (2014),
Tunbridge Wells (2015) and Petts Wood (2016),
whilst others are actively working towards it.
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