Concluding reflections

The goal of this gathering, which built on and collated efforts and wisdom, was, to put it simply, to explore how to collaborate more and better, in order to accelerate the achievement of critical climate goals. The specific objectives were three-fold: to explore what radical collaboration to scale up climate action and advocacy across faith and sectoral lines (could) look like in practice; to discuss specific actionable next steps to scale up activism and advocacy; and to shape and launch a Global Multi-faith Women-led Climate Action Network of Networks. The short conclusion is: fully achieved – and how!

The meeting harvested knowledge and experiences showcasing the extent and diversity of climate actions led by women of faith networks, as well as by women-led secular campaigns. The discussions provided rich soil, and plenty of seeds, for new partnerships and for specific collaborations among faith groups, as well as between faith and secular bodies. These ‘seeds’ require diligent supervision, facilitation, and support, to bear fruit. In turn, this underlined the rationale, the tasks, and the deliverables, required of the Network.

Substantively, the gathering honoured both the imperative, and the tact required, for candid conversations which ‘took the bull by the horns’. As an example, the theme of colonialism – and the importance of decolonising as a conscious state of mind and actions in, for and with the Network, was reaffirmed. “Colonialism started with the slave trade and its impact is still here. Today we still have the same systems of oppression…we cannot decolonise if we do not go to the root of the issues”. Acknowledging together how history attests to the fact that some religions were part of the colonial project, and understanding the need for vigilance about assumptions that religions can work miracles, were not shied away from. The Network is called upon to be mindful that the women – and men – gathered to build, together, not repeat the same processes of exclusion and oppression. Rather, to “embody a model of what we want to see”.

The enthusiasm which entailed giving of time, sharing of wisdom, honesty, and offers to partner (including to house the Network), was plentiful, and moving. The last round of reflections included heartwarming reflections of gratitude for the selection of invitees, the organisation of the agenda, the setting of the breakout groups, logistics and more. A strong request was made to maintain, at the very least, the network of friendships established at Frascati, to continue to exchange good practices and to build radical collaboration. Above all, the gratitude and appreciation for the content of the presentations and the discussions, resonated with each and all.

Thanks to a journey that started well over a year ago in Wilton Park, and thanks to the hard work already achieved by so many women, and women-led efforts, vis-a-vis the urgency of the climate crisis, a turning point in strategic partnerships to save the climate has been achieved. In their joint words,

“We have a unique opportunity in a precious window of time to take meaningful joint action to help prevent the most extreme impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Together with the faith groups, institutions, movements, and organisations we represent, we want to transform societies, shape policies, and mobilise communities for the urgent action needed to address the climate and nature crises”

Azza Karam, Lead Integrity

Wilton Park | December 2024

A poetic reflection by one of the participants concluded the meeting, and captured much of the best of the wisdom and spirit of this remarkable moments of sharing legacies, aspirations and hope.

Climate accomplice

The climate crisis
descends on mind
like rain falls on dry earth,
moral crisis longs for
monsoon of compassion.

A newborn tugs at Mother Earth
but she has been decimated,
ravaged by her children,
careless with lust for industry and expansion.

If you listen closely,
the earth tells us a story,
tarmac built over
landscape rich with nutrients.
Man enslaves the trees to his whim,
conquers forest and forages for meaning,
counting paper stacked in the dark,
extract truth from dead soil,
excavate moral fabric,
long unwoven.

Gaza gazes into smoke-soaked sunsets,
the land is ablaze, blistered,
buried beneath our conscience.
Indigenous populations forced to confront

brittle moral backbone.
Forests for food, plants, medicine,
claimed by hands stained with greed
Caretakers of nature, taken from.

Held hostage, we bear witness to
climate collapse,
accomplice to our earth’s devastation.

We cannot sit in passivity,
we must recognise our power,
be active change makers,
rooted in ancient spiritual traditions,
to lean into the love we hold at our core,
to embrace the earth as both
mother and child,
our life-giving source,
now in need of our healing and care,
crying out for our time and attention.

Faith, an anchor,
for our journey
we are held to account by a higher power.
Our actions, hold divine meaning.

Words scattered in the space,
someone says
everything is underpinned by a story that deeply moves us.
What story will we write?

Reflect on the power you hold,
growing that power, she says.
Meditate with the voice inside you

which stresses hope and joy.
Healers and carers,
Can we honour each other
and the natural world?

In rooms with high ceilings,
we narrate stories of power,
the power of symbols,
we define womanhood,
Our nature for nurturing this earth,
which nurtures us.

The future is bestowed upon us,
a gift amid the chaos,
we are vicegerents of our destiny,
planting roots, firm and unmoving,
as the oceans rise and fall,
so too our moral commitment
to protect the earth crashes
with the waves,
bringing uncertainty to our shores.

We take courageous steps,
we open doors for women who are behind us,
and we walk through those held open,
by those who came before us.
We look to our elders, our ancestors
for guidance,
walking in their footsteps.

We stretch the earth to house our aspirations,
we build doors from scraps of tree and
water our capacity to dream.
We step into visions of new worlds,
allow ourselves a moment, to imagine,
what a different reality could look like.

How can we return to sanctity,
the space before we saw the dark?
How may we carve out new futures,
steeped in soul,
spiritual, moral conscience? 
How can we serve the earth which has
long served us?
allowed us to experience great joy,
peace, fulfilment.
How may we imagine a world restored?

Zahra Leyla Ahmad

In partnership with