The world as it is today

The world is heating up. Industrialisation, burning fossil fuels and unsustainable consumption have dangerously increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the air we breathe. The UK has played a significant role as the sixth largest historical carbon emitter and the country that kicked off the mass burning of fossil fuels through the industrial revolution.

Global heating is causing communities to suffer immeasurable loss and damage through ever- increasing droughts, storms and floods.

The climate crisis could push 130 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. It is the great injustice of our time that those least responsible for this crisis are bearing the brunt of its impact.

If we are to choose a fast that can loosen the bonds of injustice, then we must understand the systems, laws and practices that are causing the climate crisis.

When reconciliation is pursued, we can repair our relationships with fellow humans. The loss and damage caused by the climate crisis is a matter of justice, where some have not been considerate of others in their actions.

Reconciliation gives us a pathway to the restoration of relationships.

Reconciliation allows us to talk with each other and find ways and means in which the harm is acknowledged without cause for further division. But more than anything else, reconciliation opens the door for those communities aspiring to do justice to walk in solidarity with the common goal of being reconciled with creation and healing with creation.

I feel helpless to make a difference, what can I do?

When we look at the information from Christian Aid and their campaign it can all seem a bit detached from us here in the UK but as individuals, families and churches there are plenty of ways for us to exercise our influence by looking at our choices and lifestyles.

Do we know which industries our banks and pension funds invest in? https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/ is a great place to find out if your bank or pension fund has investments in fossil fuels.

Everything we buy has an impact in some way, an excellent magazine is www.ethicalconsumer.org/ published 6 times a year and also available online with up to date information on ethical choices whether you’re looking at energy, food and drink, health and beauty, home and garden, retailers, technology or travel.

Top tips

Bank Accounts: Choosing an ethical bank is one of the simplest and most ethically productive things you can do. An ethical bank doesn't invest your money in things like fossil fuels, weapons, gambling, tobacco and other unethical industries. Instead, the bank does invest your money in positive areas, such as renewable energy.

Holidays: When booking a holiday, consider choosing a destination you can get to by train, coach, and ferry rather than flying. For the accommodation you book, consider hostels, camping, glamping or other venues with high sustainability criteria.

Mobile Phones: Think about using a second hand phone rather than always getting a new one. Ask for a modular phone as this is easier to repair.

Campaigns: We can also support the campaigns of Christian Aid, Oxfam, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Global Justice Now, Greenpeace all calling for loss and damage finance for the countries already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis.

No more fossil fuels. Amen

God’s creation is in trouble. Antonio Guterres, the head of the United Nations says “We are firmly on track towards an unliveable world.” The International Energy Agency said we can have no new fossil fuels after the end of 2021 – yes, 2021, that’s not a misprint! Yet the UK government is giving tax breaks to oil companies to open up 100 plus new oil and gas fields. They have even given the go ahead to a new coal mine – against the advice of their own advisors. On 21-24 April a big rally is taking place around Westminster to demand an end to fossil fuels. The rally is being organised in conjunction with the police. Many of those joining the witness will be Christians, people of faith. Jesus instructed us that we are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” In participating in this mass protest, we bring our faithful communities into the space as salt, actively working as preservers and transformers in that secular space (and of that secular space), and as communities, even more than as individuals, we do so very visibly, giving light to everyone.

If you do one thing for God's creation this year, this is it. Praying for and demanding climate leadership from our government is more important than anything else you can do.

Compassionate God, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. We are hurt by the despoiling of the living Earth, which we love. We are angry at the loss we contemplate.

We long for words of comfort yet find them hard to hear.

Turn our grief to active love.

Turn our anger to energy for repair of the world.

Turn our guilt to solidarity and by your forgiveness make us whole with all creation. Amen (From Green Christians at www.greenchristian.org)

Find out more about the organisations taking part in the rally at www.christianclimateaction.org

If you would like to meet and talk more about the climate crisis and our possible responses, please contact

Bill Vincent or Anne Blair-Vincent

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