Declaration of climate emergency

Recognising that climate change poses a serious risk, locally and globally, and must be treated with urgency, The Salvation Army in the UK and Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man declares a climate emergency.

With worsening and more frequent climate extremes and disasters experienced around the world, and global average temperatures projected to reach 2.7C above the pre-industrial average – based on current national pledges and targets for greenhouse emissions¹ – The UKI Salvation Army’s recognition of the climate emergency is both highly appropriate and a crucial call to action.

In making this declaration on World Environment Day (5 June), The UKI Salvation Army joins an international movement of nearly 2,500 jurisdictions in 40 countries that have declared a climate emergency and are working towards resilient and low-carbon societies. Populations covered by jurisdictions that have declared a climate emergency amount to more than 1 billion citizens.²

The UKI Salvation Army recognises that urgent action is required to reduce carbon emissions and address the impact of climate change. It recognises that citizens in the UK and Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man – and around the world – have a fundamental human right to clean, healthy and adequate air, water, land, food, education, healthcare and shelter.

As a church, The UKI Salvation Army is dedicated to continuing to make this a priority. It aims to share its journey and ensure that its voice is raised in the public square, advocating for wider collective action and promoting legislative and systemic change.

The UKI Salvation Army has already made caring for creation one of its mission priorities. As part of this climate emergency declaration, it is committed to:

• Raising awareness of the issues across its communities in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
• Agreeing to a net zero carbon emissions target across all its direct and indirect emissions (our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) and being transparent about progress
• Supporting all UKI Salvation Army expressions – churches, care homes, Lifehouses, and programmes, etc – to engage in programmes that will reduce emissions
• Enabling communities to reuse clothing and other products through more than 390 charity shops and 8,000 clothing collection banks, thereby avoiding carbon emissions from the manufacture of new goods

Sources

1. Climate action tracker, accessed 31 May 2023
2. Climate emergency declaration, accessed 31 May 2023