Sunday evening at the Ruth Holmberg Bridge, Chattanoogans gathered in solidarity for climate justice.
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change started on November 11th until November 22nd.
The conference includes representatives from 197 countries, presenting their updated national climate action plans under the Paris agreement, which are due by early 2025.
“We’re very concerned about the climate and the environment, and just want to come as an interfaith organization to express our concern and demonstrate that”, said Laura Hampton, member of the TN Interfaith Power and Light.
The Chattanooga chapter of the Tennessee Interfaith Power and Light says their main mission is to tackle the problem of climate change through a spiritual response.
“We’re continuing to put more carbon into the atmosphere and warming the planet, and we need to respond to that. But it’s also important to bring people of faith together, just as an inspiration and as a as a moment of devotion”, said Daniel Joranko, coordinator for TN Interfaith Power and Light.
Joranko says the annual vigil is a way of bringing people together for one common cause.
“It’s just a very inspiring, peaceful, meditative and it’s just a good witness out here on the bridge for folks walking by and watching”, said Joranko.
According to Climate Central, the average winter temperature in Hamilton County has warmed by nearly 5 degrees since 1970.