27/04/2026
Faith leaders have written to Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, to urge him to attend the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels which will be held in Santa Marta, Colombia from 24 to 29 April, and to agree to a roadmap for a just transition.
Bishop John Arnold, lead bishop for the environment for the Catholic bishops’ conference of England and Wales, has signed the letter along with chair of Faith for the Climate Revd Canon Giles Goddard, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, and representatives of the Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed Churches, Quakers in Britain, Operation Noah, Christian Climate Action and Green Christian.
“In light of the ongoing energy crisis, this conference is vital for developing energy security and access for the UK and our allies, and a key opportunity for the UK to demonstrate its climate leadership,” the letter said.
The letter called Miliband to work to agree a detailed roadmap for a “fair, fast, and funded” transition away from fossil fuels and to commit the UK’s fair share of funding for the transition.
“A just transition away from fossil fuels is very important to faith communities, and we would value a meeting with civil servants, and perhaps the Special Representative on Climate, to discuss our shared experiences and perspectives on the transition,” it said.
Canon Goddard said, “It’s really important that the UK continues its record of climate leadership by working with climate allies. In the face of a fossil fuel crisis, this conference is vital to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, and ensure that it is fast, fair and funded.
“Ed Miliband’s attendance would show the UK is serious about climate justice and wants to work together, especially with the countries most impacted by the climate crisis. As Ed said himself, ‘You can’t solve a fossil fuel crisis by doubling down on fossil fuels’. Santa Marta is a key opportunity to bring on ‘the era of clean energy security’.”
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