Attorney General Richard Hermer acknowdges that the world order under threat to the greatest extent since the 1940s and asserts the UK's commitment to the UN, the International Court of Justice and multilateralism.
Following the service comes a @una-uk.bsky.social event. Hearing from Annalena Bärbock, president of the General Assembly, and António Guterres, General Secretary of the UN.
Moving service at Methodist Central Hall Westminster to mark the 80th anniversary of the very first sessions of the UN General Assembly in this room in 1946. In my lifetime it has rarely been so important to assert the significance of the UN and what it stands for.
Roll up! Roll up!
@quaker.org.uk
Here's what the American Friends Service Committee has to say about the US intervention in Venezuela.
Statement from our colleagues at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. @quaker.org.uk
We've joined other NGOs in calling on the Israeli government to immediately halt its deregistration process.
Otherwise it risks halting international NGO operations at a time when civilians face acute and widespread humanitarian need.
https://ow.ly/cM3b50XR89a
As the sun rose this morning I was interviewed on the Sunday programme (with @dumbledad.bsky.social from Nontheist Friends Network) about Quakers, God, belief & proposed changes to Quaker marriage declarations. Not easy to cover all that in 6 mins! Starts 26 mins in.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I don't, I'm afraid. Certainly not that many, sadly.
Thanks @nebriefing.bsky.social for pulling together such an impressive array of knowledgeable and expert speakers. Lots of realism this morning and I am leaving more hopeful than I expected to be.
Chair @mikebernerslee.bsky.social returns to wrap up. Highlights danger of misinformation and calls for leadership.
We're at a point where high upfront investment costs are hindering progress towards a more cost-effective energy system in the future. This needs bold investment for the long term.
Finally we hear from @tessakhan.bsky.social on energy transition and affordability. Fossil fuel reliance drives many of the worst economic shocks, and significantly impacts cost of living and well-being in fuel-poor households.
Solutions have to work for low- and middle-Income households. The government that makes that its focus will win elections.
Debunks a series of economic myths. Affordability. Pace of transition. UK exceptionalism and leadership role. Cost of transition reducing as pace of change increases. Cost of living benefits if policy is got right and reliance on fossil fuels is reduced.
The war in Ukraine has made fossil fuels profitable again and is driving investor behaviour. Meanwhile companies from the industries of tomorrow struggle to thrive.
Now @angelaisfranc.bsky.social from @wwf.org.uk talks about economics. Current system and rules favour the status quo and is leading to a market failure to address the issues. Different regulatory approach is needed to drive change.
Calls for leadership with the courage to look the threat in the eye and act. And highlights the need for a stronger democracy.
Again highlights the cascading effect of multiple crises crystallising simultaneously, leading to a failure of government or ungovernable states. Driving the rise of authoritarianism.
'Peace and the climate are two sides of the same coin.' Here Quakers and the army would readily agree!
Military sees climate change as a threat multiplier, driving instability, resource conflict, new flash points over water security, weather extremes, people on the move. Arctic becoming a new flash point as ice recedes and territorial conflict looms.
Retired lieutenant general Richard Nugee describes how the military sees the impact of climate change on national security and defence, responding to rapidly shifting threats. Climate change is a major factor in the strategic defence review 2025.
But points out that tackling climate change is both a public health imperative and a huge opportunity to change things in ways which would transform public health outcomes for the better.
Points to the inequality resulting from climate breakdown leading to outcomes which are catastrophic. First to mention the inevitability of war as a consequence of resource scarcity and societal collapse.
NHS intensive care consultant @hughmontgomery.bsky.social talks about human impacts of climate change and what an emergency response looks like. 'You don't treat an emergency situation with words and homeopathy.' Highlights hazard of climate change for public health and health services.
Currently agricultural policy doesn't reflect these risks. Current practice is undermining the system and driving habitat loss, biodiversity depletion, soil degradation and emissions. Dietary choices also driving the problem, especially meat and dairy.
Now @profpaulbehrens.bsky.social briefs us on the implications of food insecurity. Risks of failed harvest, loss of farmable land, flooding, drought, leading to empty shelves and likely civil unrest as people can't source key foodstuffs.
But positive tipping points also exist. UK no longer generates power from coal, for example, because climate and economic pressure created a tipping point which led to a collapse of economic coal power generation.
AMOC collapse would lead to huge temperature extremes in the UK with consequent loss of food and water security, models suggest.
