QUAKERS are holding a vigil in solidarity with victims of climate breakdown, as part of an international day of action demanding big polluters compensate for the impacts of the climate crisis.

Totnes Quakers are staging the public vigil outside St Mary’s Church on the High Street between 5pm and 5.30pm on Thursday September 22, and say all are welcome to stand together in silent reflection and solidarity.

A number of interfaith vigils will be held around the UK as part of the Loss and Damage Action Day – a term referring to climate impacts including floods and sea-level rise, and extreme weather events such as hurricanes, which are becoming more frequent and more severe as a result of fossil fuels heating the planet, says Quaker Amanda Wolley.

Totnes Quakers held a vigil last year to mark the launch of the campaign. Amanda said “It felt so moving to gather together with others after an interfaith event and bring our awareness to the voices of those already affected by the climate crisis.

“This year with many others across the country joining in, we know awareness is building.”

The vigils are being held in solidarity with Pakistan, where catastrophic flooding has killed more than a thousand people and affected 33 million people.

“Climate-related loss and damage is destroying homes, lands and livelihoods around the world – but there is no international agreement on who should pay for it,” said Amanda.

“At the COP26 climate talks last year, countries representing 85 per cent of the world’s population proposed setting up a loss and damage finance facility, but this was rejected.

“Countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, along with campaigners from around the world, are calling for this option to be considered again at COP27, which will be held in Egypt in November.”

Quakers in Britain have joined the Make Polluters Pay campaign calling for the UK to support a loss and damage fund paid for by the biggest polluters – for example through a tax on fossil fuel company profits or frequent flyers.

Olivia Hanks, climate justice lead for Quakers in Britain, said: “This year, we have seen the impacts of climate breakdown like never before – from the heatwave in the UK to floods in Pakistan and drought in East Africa.

“The injustice is so stark: people are losing their homes and livelihoods, losing everything they know and love, because of a crisis caused by others - with no compensation or redress.

“And at the same time, the fossil fuel companies responsible for climate breakdown continue to make vast profits. Quakers and the other faith groups we work with are united in calling for an international loss and damage fund to be urgently set up. The UK government must take action to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the chaos they have caused.”