Students call on adults to join third wave of action
Rangatahi/Youth in Aotearoa NZ and the Anglican Church are once again putting the pressure on Government, industries, companies, and individuals, to take notice of how today’s climate is affecting their rights to enjoy tomorrows future. Round two of the School Strike 4 Climate is planned and our rangatahi/youth are calling on us to stand with them by getting involved.
Climate Change is well embedded on the radar of the Anglican Church here in Aotearoa, NZ, & the Pacific. We are responsible to act on our promise ‘to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.’ How might we do that? We have to believe that we can make a difference and not leave Climate Change on the shoulders of our rangatahi/youth alone. We have a shared responsibility for others and the world.
Let’s Strike 4 Climate NZ alongside our Youth/Rangatahi as good Kaitiaki should!
Here are some relevant Anglican resources to inspire you:
School Strike 4 Climate NZ national coordinator Sophie Handford said standing up for the planet can't just be left to young people. Climate change "poses a threat to all of our futures," and while young people will be most affected, it was important to acknowledge "the solution has to be inter generational".
She said the power of group action had already been seen in the growing number of councils to declare a climate emergency. "That declaration needs to mean things," Handford said, saying school strikers would be holding councils to account on their environmental policies.
The school strikers' demands centre on governments doing everything in their power to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. They are calling on the government to declare a climate emergency, and asking for cross-party support for a Zero Carbon Act. They are also demanding the Government ceases all new exploration and extraction of fossil fuels and invests in building a renewable and regenerative economy. Youth have made a difference already:
AGENCIES WHO HAVE MADE DECLARATIONS:
May 16 - Environment Canterbury, Nelson City Council
May 23 - Christchurch City Council, Kāpiti District Council
June 11 - Auckland Council
June 20 - Wellington City Council
June 25 - Dunedin City Council
Out thanks to the resources provided by the Church of England Environment Program, Green Anglicans South Africa, the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and Stuff.