FCJ Letter-Writing Group
Faith Climate Justice (FCJ) is deeply committed to engaging residents of Waterloo Region on issues of climate justice. To support this work, a letter-writing group was formed in the fall of 2022, which continues speaking out through our public letters to this day. These letters are regularly published to the FCJ website here, in local news media, and in other outlets.
A key area of focus for climate justice engagement is in engaging residents of Waterloo Region. The letter-writing group produces letters-to-the-editor and regular columns for the Waterloo Region Record around many topics linked to climate justice, especially in advance of annual United Nations climate conferences. In early 2026, the FCJ letter-writing group was honoured to join The Record’s Community Editorial Board, which enables us to publish our views on climate justice-related issues about six times a year.
Another important partner in this engagement is our elected leaders. Our members draw attention to climate justice issues primarily by writing to municipal, provincial, and federal politicians. We urge them to uphold and implement commitments made in their respective climate strategies and annual plans, and aligned with climate justice. At times, we meet with politicians to discuss specific issues in more depth.
If you are interested to learn more or to join our work as a contributing FCJ writer, please contact us at: [email protected]
A key area of focus for climate justice engagement is in engaging residents of Waterloo Region. The letter-writing group produces letters-to-the-editor and regular columns for the Waterloo Region Record around many topics linked to climate justice, especially in advance of annual United Nations climate conferences. In early 2026, the FCJ letter-writing group was honoured to join The Record’s Community Editorial Board, which enables us to publish our views on climate justice-related issues about six times a year.
Another important partner in this engagement is our elected leaders. Our members draw attention to climate justice issues primarily by writing to municipal, provincial, and federal politicians. We urge them to uphold and implement commitments made in their respective climate strategies and annual plans, and aligned with climate justice. At times, we meet with politicians to discuss specific issues in more depth.
If you are interested to learn more or to join our work as a contributing FCJ writer, please contact us at: [email protected]
To read public letters and statements written by members of our team, click the dropdown menu below:
Public Letters by Members of Faith Climate Justice WR
Public Letter, April 2026: The big hurdle - Fossil fuels. This piece was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group, which now contributes a regular column to The Record (Waterloo Region) as part of the paper's Community Editorial Board. The piece speaks to the upcoming 'Transition Away Conference' taking place in Santa Marta, Colombia from April 24-29, as the first international conference bringing nations together to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. See article published in The Record here, and public version including sources here.
Public Letter, March 2026: Our new blue box program - The good, the bad, and the ugly. This piece was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group, which now contributes a regular column to The Record (Waterloo Region) as part of the paper's Community Editorial Board. The piece speaks to the changes to the new blue box program rolled out in Waterloo Region on March 1st, 2026. See article published in The Record here, and public version including sources here.
Public Letter, November 2025: Canada must act boldly for just climate action at COP30. This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention to the need for Canada to take just climate action at COP30 taking place in Belém, Brazil from November 10 to 21 - learning from Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and climate science to inform a robust climate change strategy. All Canadians should demand our government commit to bold, equitable action to protect life here and around the world, and to accelerate the energy transition nationwide. See article published in The Record here, and version including sources here.
In addition, our team sent a follow-up to this public letter directly to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin (M.P.), as well as copying the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand (M.P.), Bardish Chagger (M.P., Waterloo), Tim Louis (M.P., Kitchener-Conestoga), Kelly DeRidder (M.P., Kitchener Centre), Matt Strauss (M.P., Kitchener South-Hespeler), Connie Cody (M.P., Cambridge), and Prime Minister Mark Carney. This letter is called 'Finding Canada's Political Courage at COP30' - please read and share with others. We will update the network on responses we may receive.
Public Letter, November 2024: Canada's responsibilities at the UN Climate Conference (COP29). This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention to the urgent need to focus both on global financing of loss & damage, aligned with principles of equity and climate justice, and on the rapid phase-out of burning fossil fuels in order to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets and help move our world back towards climate safety for all. A short version of the letter was published in multiple news outlets including in The Record, while the full-length version that was shared with select Canadian federal ministers, including links to key references, can be found here.
Public Letter, November 2023: Canada's responsibility to climate justice and Loss & Damage at COP28. This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention towards the urgent need for assertive leadership in good faith, aligned with climate science and global justice, by the Canadian delegation at the 28th UN Climate Conference in Dubai, COP28. The letter urges the Canadian delegation to bring its experience in international climate financing to the negotiating table, to work for robust funding and implementation of a global Loss & Damage Fund to assist developing nations most impacted by extreme climate events, aligned with principles of climate justice and a shared international effort towards real climate solutions, global peace and stability. The letter also highlights Canada's deep moral responsibility as a wealthy country and major GHG emitter, contributing significantly to global climate change, to work for climate justice - while also transitioning Canada's economy away from burning fossil fuels which is a leading contributor to the climate crisis. To access the full letter, including research links and our topline recommendations for Canada at COP28, click here.
Press Release, November 2023: Climate vigil organizers speak out on UN climate talks. Statement co-written by organizers of the climate emergency vigils, hosting over 16 weeks Fall 2023 leading up to the UN climate talks at COP28, Dubai. To access the full letter, click here.
Statement, November 2022: Letter of concern and calls to action responding to Bill 23 from Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region. This statement was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to express concern over the province's recently-introduced Bill 23, the so-called "More Homes Built Faster" bill. It has numerous negative implications for climate, community wellbeing, local democracy and the environment - while not solving the province-wide housing crisis. A statement circulated to local elected representatives can be found here, while a simplified version of this was published as an op-ed in The Record here. Thanks to our letter-writing team for their leadership on speaking out! While the bill was eventually passed in a modified form, we encourage all residents to continue to speak out about this, and to advocate for the real solutions aligned with climate justice that we all deserve.
Joint Statement, March 2022: Statement in support of a Just Transition to a far more sustainable Waterloo region. "We as people of faith concerned for climate action and justice are raising our voices once again. We reaffirm our support for bold leadership by all... to accelerate the transition to the far more sustainable and equitable societies we know are possible - societies that care for all people, and for the sacred miracle of Creation that sustains all of us." Read the full statement here, endorsed by FCJ members and shared with local councillors for the March 12th Day of Action for a Just Transition, 2022.
Joint Statement, June 2021: Statement in support of the TransformWR Climate Action Strategy and 50by30WR. "As people of faith, we believe the TransformWR Climate Action Strategy is a crucial strategy for guiding action to address the climate emergency in our region..." Read the full statement here, that many of our members contributed to and helped secure the approval of both the TransformWR Strategy and 50by30 motion by Region of Waterloo council - a full news post is here.
Joint Statement, April 2021: Faith Communities Across Waterloo Region Call for Urgent Climate Justice on Earth Day 2021
"On the eve of this Earth Day like no other, faith communities across Waterloo Region are calling for urgent action to protect Earth - our shared home - in this crucial decade..." Read the full statement here shared by participating faith communities that have raised a banner in solidarity for climate justice this Earth Day - select photos and further details here.
Public Letter, March 2026: Our new blue box program - The good, the bad, and the ugly. This piece was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group, which now contributes a regular column to The Record (Waterloo Region) as part of the paper's Community Editorial Board. The piece speaks to the changes to the new blue box program rolled out in Waterloo Region on March 1st, 2026. See article published in The Record here, and public version including sources here.
Public Letter, November 2025: Canada must act boldly for just climate action at COP30. This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention to the need for Canada to take just climate action at COP30 taking place in Belém, Brazil from November 10 to 21 - learning from Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and climate science to inform a robust climate change strategy. All Canadians should demand our government commit to bold, equitable action to protect life here and around the world, and to accelerate the energy transition nationwide. See article published in The Record here, and version including sources here.
In addition, our team sent a follow-up to this public letter directly to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin (M.P.), as well as copying the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand (M.P.), Bardish Chagger (M.P., Waterloo), Tim Louis (M.P., Kitchener-Conestoga), Kelly DeRidder (M.P., Kitchener Centre), Matt Strauss (M.P., Kitchener South-Hespeler), Connie Cody (M.P., Cambridge), and Prime Minister Mark Carney. This letter is called 'Finding Canada's Political Courage at COP30' - please read and share with others. We will update the network on responses we may receive.
Public Letter, November 2024: Canada's responsibilities at the UN Climate Conference (COP29). This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention to the urgent need to focus both on global financing of loss & damage, aligned with principles of equity and climate justice, and on the rapid phase-out of burning fossil fuels in order to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets and help move our world back towards climate safety for all. A short version of the letter was published in multiple news outlets including in The Record, while the full-length version that was shared with select Canadian federal ministers, including links to key references, can be found here.
Public Letter, November 2023: Canada's responsibility to climate justice and Loss & Damage at COP28. This letter was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to direct attention towards the urgent need for assertive leadership in good faith, aligned with climate science and global justice, by the Canadian delegation at the 28th UN Climate Conference in Dubai, COP28. The letter urges the Canadian delegation to bring its experience in international climate financing to the negotiating table, to work for robust funding and implementation of a global Loss & Damage Fund to assist developing nations most impacted by extreme climate events, aligned with principles of climate justice and a shared international effort towards real climate solutions, global peace and stability. The letter also highlights Canada's deep moral responsibility as a wealthy country and major GHG emitter, contributing significantly to global climate change, to work for climate justice - while also transitioning Canada's economy away from burning fossil fuels which is a leading contributor to the climate crisis. To access the full letter, including research links and our topline recommendations for Canada at COP28, click here.
Press Release, November 2023: Climate vigil organizers speak out on UN climate talks. Statement co-written by organizers of the climate emergency vigils, hosting over 16 weeks Fall 2023 leading up to the UN climate talks at COP28, Dubai. To access the full letter, click here.
Statement, November 2022: Letter of concern and calls to action responding to Bill 23 from Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region. This statement was co-written by members of the FCJ letter-writing group to express concern over the province's recently-introduced Bill 23, the so-called "More Homes Built Faster" bill. It has numerous negative implications for climate, community wellbeing, local democracy and the environment - while not solving the province-wide housing crisis. A statement circulated to local elected representatives can be found here, while a simplified version of this was published as an op-ed in The Record here. Thanks to our letter-writing team for their leadership on speaking out! While the bill was eventually passed in a modified form, we encourage all residents to continue to speak out about this, and to advocate for the real solutions aligned with climate justice that we all deserve.
Joint Statement, March 2022: Statement in support of a Just Transition to a far more sustainable Waterloo region. "We as people of faith concerned for climate action and justice are raising our voices once again. We reaffirm our support for bold leadership by all... to accelerate the transition to the far more sustainable and equitable societies we know are possible - societies that care for all people, and for the sacred miracle of Creation that sustains all of us." Read the full statement here, endorsed by FCJ members and shared with local councillors for the March 12th Day of Action for a Just Transition, 2022.
Joint Statement, June 2021: Statement in support of the TransformWR Climate Action Strategy and 50by30WR. "As people of faith, we believe the TransformWR Climate Action Strategy is a crucial strategy for guiding action to address the climate emergency in our region..." Read the full statement here, that many of our members contributed to and helped secure the approval of both the TransformWR Strategy and 50by30 motion by Region of Waterloo council - a full news post is here.
Joint Statement, April 2021: Faith Communities Across Waterloo Region Call for Urgent Climate Justice on Earth Day 2021
"On the eve of this Earth Day like no other, faith communities across Waterloo Region are calling for urgent action to protect Earth - our shared home - in this crucial decade..." Read the full statement here shared by participating faith communities that have raised a banner in solidarity for climate justice this Earth Day - select photos and further details here.
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