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Churches working for peace and justice

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Season of Creation

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Creationtide, Creation Time or the Season of Creation is the name given to the period from 1 September to 4 October each year. During this time, churches are encouraged to have a focus on creation, with all the joys and responsibilities that being part of God’s creation brings to us.

2023: Let Peace and Justice Flow

Eco-Congregation Scotland’s resources for 2023
Season of Creation 2023 guide

2022: Just Desserts? A focus on Food

We have produced a new food-focused resource for use in services or in small groups.

Many of our churches plan a ‘Harvest’ service each year in September or October: this year, we encourage you to celebrate the Season of Creation and Harvest by thinking about some of the big questions that we face today as Christians who care for creation.

We have some video interviews with a farmer who works tirelessly to make nutritious food, and we consider how ethical and just we can be in the choices we make about the foods we buy.

Visit the Just Desserts resources page

Season of Creation: Pick and Mix Resources

In a co-production between JPIT and Eco-Congregation Scotland, in 2021 we gathered together writers, theologians, ministers and worship leaders to prepare resources you can easily integrate into a Season of Creation in-person, online or hybrid meeting. They allow for worship and challenge, discussion and exploration, and meditation and action.

If your worship services follow the Revised Common Lectionary, you will find that some of the items are based around the readings for each Sunday of the Season of Creation during 2021. Other items are undated and appropriate for use at any time.

As always, we would love to hear from you if you have suggestions, or to tell us how your activity went.

Eco-Congregation Scotland resources

All-age activities

Building an outdoor worship space

James 2 activities [PDF, Lectionary-based]

Nature sensing

Weekly challenges [based on the gospel readings from the Lectionary]

[See also ‘Lego Bricks Isaiah 35’ and ‘Environment Sunday’ videos, below]

Discussion questions

Climate discussion questions

Poems

‘Do I love you when I burn my carbon?’ [YouTube video]

‘Hope overflows’ (The butterfly poem)

Prayers

Contemplative prayer based on Mark 8:36 [Lectionary: Sunday 12 September]

Creation: a prayer for humility

Liturgical prayers by Revd Andy Braunston [PDF, Lectionary-based]

[See also the video prayers below]

Reflections & sermons

Sermons and reflections written by Revd David Coleman [Eco-Congregation Scotland website, Lectionary-based]

Services

A Climate Sunday service script (includes an Ignatian-style meditation)
Resource sheet to accompany the service [PDF]

Climate Sunday worship resources [Climate Sunday website]

[See also ‘Environment Sunday’ video, below]

Video

Environment Sunday – an all-age service [YouTube, 51’30”]

‘Bad Judge!‘ sketch from James 2 by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 5’33”; Lectionary: Sunday 5 September]

Gospel, Earthed – dramatic readings by Jo Clifford [Eco-Congregation website, Lectionary-based]

Lego Bricks Isaiah 35 by Harry, Eric & Jennifer Dobson [YouTube, 1’18”; Lectionary: Sunday 5 September]

Prayer about energy use by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 1’59”]

Prayer for COP by Revd David Coleman [YouTube, 3’33”]

Psalms under Heaven [Eco-Congregation website, Lectionary-based]

Stories from Ethiopia (a video series by All We Can)

The voice we need to hear [YouTube, sermon by Revd David Coleman, 12’36”]

‘Tree Prayer‘ by Barry Watson [YouTube, 2’59”]

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Our Season of Creation resources are co-produced by

Eco-Congregation Scotland

Latest ‘Environment’ posts

  • Prayers for COP28
    COP28

    Creator God, as COP28 takes place in Dubai, we turn our focus to the environment and to those attending the global climate summit. We give thanks for the Faith Pavilion at COP28. Unifying God, we give thanks for this significant inter-faith space facilitating dialogue across differences, and bringing faith and spirituality to a central space at COP28. We give thanks for the thriving of some species in difficult circumstances. We celebrate the puffins on Lundy Island, the blue whales in the Indian Ocean, and the flourishing of Redonda Island in the Caribbean. Colourful God, we delight in your creation. God our comfort, we pray for those experiencing climate anxiety, particularly common in younger people. We pray that decisions made at COP28 will ease this anxiety, and encourage stronger action towards climate goals set. We pray for the people in western Gujarat state in India, experiencing extreme weather in hailstorms, heavy rain and lightning. In a year of such extreme weather due to climate change, we pray that this will be acted on at COP28. We pray for progress in phasing out the use of fossil fuels. Renewing God, we pray that decision makers and leaders truly put the planet over profits and move away from purging the Earth. May we see this commitment reflected at COP28. We pray for species particularly at risk of extinction, struggling to adapt to increasingly warm temperatures. God of all life, we pray that decisions made at COP28 will protect the lives of animals and plants, those which cannot be represented or heard in discussions. We pray for those from places contributing the least to the climate crisis, but affected the most by it. God of justice, we pray that that COP28 will deliver Loss and Damage financing, and that the voices of the marginalised are truly heard and respected at COP28 and beyond. We pray for the representatives attending COP28. Creator God, we pray for real, positive progress to reduce the climate crisis, and for the voices of indigenous people, young people and those from places worst affected to be truly listened to. God of hope, God of love, God of justice, may your will be done. Amen. Download prayers (PDF) Please feel able to use these prayers in services, groups, or for personal prayer.

  • COP28 Leaders’ Summit – what happened?
    COP28

    The Leaders’ Summit of COP28 took place over Friday and Saturday, 1-2nd December in UAE. World leaders met to discuss and make agreements prior to negotiations throughout the rest of the Conference. These negotiations will be done by other representatives, ministers or officials. The Leaders’ Summit saw some significant progress being agreed, including the Loss and Damage fund, agreements on food and farming, fossil fuels and emissions and countries committed funding to these projects, initiatives and funds. Loss and Damage Fund The Loss and Damage Fund was agreed last year at COP27, and has been launched at COP28, with donations from countries agreed. The fund is targeted at countries that have been damaged by climate-caused storms, droughts and disasters. Prior to the Loss and Damage Fund, funding had been provided to help poorer countries adapt to the changing climate and help reduce emissions, but with a lack of money to help with damage and destruction due to weather and climate change. It is positive progress that this fund has been launched and donations agreed, but let’s not forget that this is not a new or innovative idea. Poorer nations have been asking for this fund since the 1990s, and it has been launched over 20 years later – slightly overdue? The UK has promised £60 million to the Loss and Damage Fund, UAE and Germany promising $100 million and Japan $10 million, all of which is positive. Yet donations from the UK and other countries do not even begin to touch the surface of what is required. Climate Analytics for Oxfam estimated that by 2030, developing countries will need more than $400 billion annually to recover from the damage caused by extreme weather events. Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan Climate Activist, said “The loss and damage fund was operationalised. Pledges came in in millions of dollars. However, the cost of loss and damage is in billions, not millions. Frontline communities need billions to address loss and damage.” Agriculture and food initiative Also at their summit, world leaders agreed on a food initiative to cut emissions from farming. The emissions from farming account for a large proportion, between 18% and 27% of global emissions. In total, 134 countries, including the UK, EU, the US and China, signed The Emirates Declaration. This agreement sets a path towards greener farming, addressing the huge role of agriculture and food systems in climate change. These countries together represent 5.7 billion people and 75% of all emissions from global food production and consumption. There was also agreement that farmers are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and need to be protected. Fossil Fuels There was a big emphasis on fossil fuels and emissions, seeing companies and countries signing pledges and agreements. The Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter has been signed by 50 oil and gas companies, to speed up climate action within their industry. Those signatories represent over 40% of global oil production, with the largest ever number of National Oil Companies (NOCs) committing to a decarbonisation initiative. The Charter calls for the oil and gas industry to be net zero by 2050, to zero-out methane emissions and eliminate routine flaring by 2030, whilst continuing to work towards how best to reduce emissions overall. International Oil Companies (IOCs) that signed up to the Charter included BP, Shell, Exxonmobil and TotalEnergies. The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, faced criticism for being inconsistent and hypocritical when pushing for the phasing-out of fossil fuels at the Leaders’ Summit. Weeks before, the UK government had backed more oil and gas exploration in the North Sea at Rosebank. Sunak has been criticised by members of his own party, environment ministers and international leaders for scaling back on green commitments in his domestic policy. Renewable energy Also agreed this weekend, 117 countries have signed the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge. This aims to triple the global generation capacity of installed renewable power, and to double energy efficiency improvement by 2030. This aims to facilitate the phasing-out of fossil fuels and support the transition to a decarbonised energy system. The EU has announced a contribution of €2.3 billion over the next two years to support this pledge. The Global Decarbonisation Accelerator was announced by COP28 President, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. This is a series of initiatives to speed up energy transition and reduce emissions. It is focused on three areas: Rapidly scaling the future energy system Decarbonising the current energy system Targeting methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases. Other announcements The Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) was launched, to fund ocean-climate solutions, with an initial pledge of over $250 million. UK agreements The UK has agreed: £1.6 billion in UK funding for international climate projects (to fulfil the pledge made previously at COP26) To back efforts to end deforestation and speed up transition to renewable energy To commit £316 million for energy innovation projects around the world To give £60 million to the Loss and Damage Fund. More COP28 content and updates To find all of our COP28 updates and content, head to http://www.jpit.uk/cop28 where we will continue to post throughout COP, which is due to end on 13 December. You can read our ‘Benchmarks for Success’ at COP28 here. Sources https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/cop28/2023/12/03/cop28-whats-happened-so-far-and-what-happens-next/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67586855 https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/as-it-happened-over-120-countries-pledge-clean-energy-boost-health-declaration-on-day-3-of-cop28-1.1701500342963 https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/as-it-happened-over-120-countries-pledge-clean-energy-boost-health-declaration-on-day-3-of-cop28-1.1701500342963 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67594303 https://www.cop28.com/en/news/2023/12/Oil-Gas-Decarbonization-Charter-launched-to–accelerate-climate-action https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newsglobal-pledge-on-renewables-and-energy-efficiency-launched-at-cop28-11343497 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/02/rishi-sunak-accused-of-hypocrisy-after-backing-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels-at-cop28 https://www.oilreviewmiddleeast.com/energy-transition/50-oil-and-gas-companies-sign-oil-and-gas-decarbonization-charter-ogdc-launched-at-cop28 https://www.gov.scot/publications/practical-action-addressing-loss-damage/pages/9/ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-to-call-for-era-of-action-at-cop28-climate-summit

  • COP28 – Benchmarks for success
    COP28

    King Charles has opened the COP28 Climate Summit in the United Arab Emirates with the following words: I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached. As world leaders hold their summit at the COP over this weekend, there will be many warm words, and statements on the need for greater ambition. Will these be turned into action by 12 December when COP28 comes to an end? We will keep you updated. Meanwhile, here’s our assessment of what we think would make COP28 a success. $100 billion a year to enable developing countries invest in low-carbon pathways In 2009, the developed nations of the world, who in the past benefited most from cheap fossil fuels, pledged to support developing countries to decarbonise their economies. We heard the news in the past weeks from the OECD that this has probably been achieved at last, but it is disgraceful that developing countries have had to wait so long. Meanwhile the need and cost has increased, and the mechanisms need to be improved so that greater proportion of finance is in the form of cash rather than loans. It is this finance that enables many developing countries to be more ambitious on their carbon reduction targets. A large majority of nation states would agree that we need a big step up in the volumes and quality of finance, but can they deliver? A Loss and Damage Fund COP28 has been able to announce some early promising news. At least $420 million has been pledged for the Loss and Damage fund. Somalia is currently experiencing its worst flooding in decades, displacing 700,000 people. Countries like Somalia do not have the resources to repair damaged infrastructure. For faith groups, this is a matter of justice. In 2020, due to some nation states’ resistance, Loss and Damage was scrubbed off the agenda of COP25. Now, thanks to a global campaign, we have the first donations to a mechanism that has been hammered out since the Glasgow COP in 2021. When citizens come together, we can create change. But let’s get some perspective: to be effective, this fund cannot be in the hundreds of millions. It must start at $25 billion, and rise in order to help meet costs of loss and damage that will be over ten times this sum by 2030. Which leads us on to… Making Polluters Pay As a part of the Make Polluters Pay coalition, JPIT has called for oil and gas companies to be taxed to provide finance for Loss and Damage and climate mitigation. A panel at COP28 has heard that subsidies to fossil fuel companies (subsidies which campaigners have been trying to abolish) still stand at $1.3 trillion. Innovative financing mechanisms could raise the billions that are needed to address the crisis. A levy on oil-producing states will be discussed at COP28 for the first time, but how far will these discussions get? There are also strong calls for taxation of fossil fuel companies’ profits and for taxation of global shipping and aviation. If we can make polluters pay, it would raise the serious sums of money that are needed to address loss and damage and to ensure clean sources of energy for developing countries. And most importantly… Nations must pledge the action necessary for us to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees. COP28 will be a ‘stocktaking’ COP, but it is clear already that countries are well off track. The UN Environment Programme reports that, in the most optimistic scenario in which all government pledges are kept, we still only have a 14% chance of keeping to 1.5 degrees. United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, told COP28 delegations: We are living through climate collapse in real time. Record global heating should send shivers down the spines of world leaders. And it should trigger them to act. They must act before 2030, and a 2030 target is so close that it requires not so much a pledge, but a concrete plan. The time for pledging has past, the time for action has arrived. A timetable for a global phasing out of fossil fuels is vital. In two years’ time, nation states will be bringing to COP30 a new set of Nationally Determined Contributions on carbon reduction, but that work starts here, with concrete proposals to make sure that these much deeper contributions are feasible. See our Facebook and Twitter posts on COP’s progress between now and 12 December. On Monday 4 December, Annie Sharples will report on this weekend’s Global Leaders’ Summit in UAE. To see the schedule for COP28, plus prayers and other resources, go to our dedicated COP28 update page.

  • As COP28 approaches
    COP28

    With COP28 beginning this week, the UK must demonstrate commitment to our own targets as a contribution to meeting global targets set out in previous COP gatherings. This year has seen increasingly extreme weather, with heatwaves hitting around the world last week, which saw feel-like temperatures in Brazil hit a deadly 58.5C. Currently, there is a drought in Ethiopia, October saw multiple storms hit the UK, causing flooding, fatalities and enormous disruption, and cities around the world are developing new defences as sea levels continue to rise alarmingly. In September, the Prime Minister announced that a series of policies designed to help us achieve net-zero would be slackened or scrapped. These included new taxes to discourage flying, a meat tax, improvements to home recycling schemes and encouragement to car share. It also stated that new oil and gas extractions in the North Sea could go ahead. This was followed by the announcement from the North Sea Transition Authority, the UK Government’s regulator, allowing development of the Rosebank oil field. Rosebank is approximately 130 kilometres north-west of the Shetland Islands. It is the biggest undeveloped oil field in the UK, containing the equivalent of around 500 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to around 8% of Britain’s oil requirements up to 2030 although most of the oil is likely to be exported due to lack of refinery capacity in the UK. Church leaders have been clear in their objection to this change of UK government policy. Last month, over 400 Christian leaders called on the Prime Minister to cancel plans to extract fossil fuels from Rosebank. In a recent article in the Methodist Recorder, JPIT Policy Adviser, Steve Hucklesby, brought attention to this resistance suggesting that ”there must be no new investments in further oil and gas extraction if we are to stay within the 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement”. In order to live up to commitments to tackle the climate crisis the UK must concentrate first on de-carbonising our economy.  There needs to be a strict plan, with clear timelines for ending fossil fuel extraction, and any new licences must be reviewed in this light. The independent Climate Change Committee has assessed that the UK’s policy measures are currently insufficient to meet climate targets of net zero by 2050. The government must get the UK back on track to reach these targets. We hope that COP28 (30 Nov-12 Dec) will be productive and positive, ensuring a continued commitment to preventing a global temperature rise above 1.5C. We will be watching the UK government position carefully and reporting on this.  Will the rhetoric of UK leadership that was so strongly vocalised at COP26 stand up to scrutiny at the COP in UAE next week? We will be posting updates and communications before, during and after COP28, and you will be able to find them all here as well as on our social media channels – Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram. Sources Methodist Recorder article, 17 November 2023 edition Iona Community Rosebank Oil Field Briefing JPIT Church leaders respond to net zero announcement Prime Minister’s speech 20 September New York’s plans to protect itself from sea level rises, Guardian article London Thames barrier developments, Guardian article Venice flood defences, CNN article

  • Church leaders respond to net zero announcement

    In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on net zero policies, the following joint statement has been issued by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. We are dismayed that the Prime Minister is delaying the implementation of policies to achieve net zero. As Christian leaders we are deeply committed to encouraging all within our sphere of influence to be ambitious in reaching net zero as we seek to care for God’s creation. This transition must be rapid, equitable and just. At a time when so many people are struggling financially, the government has a crucial role to play in ensuring the cost of transition to net zero does not fall most heavily on those least able to afford it. Delaying measures to insulate homes will have the opposite effect, and slowing efforts to reduce fossil fuel use will increase climate impacts on vulnerable communities around the globe. Extreme weather events this year have demonstrated the urgency of the situation. The independent Climate Change Committee have assessed that even current policy measures are insufficient to meet the UK’s climate targets. The government needs to urgently demonstrate how it will get the UK back on track to reach net zero before 2050. The commitments made at COP26 were instrumental in providing confidence to industry, investors and civil society that the UK was serious about rising to the climate challenge. It is a source of extreme disappointment that the Prime Minister’s announcement will damage that confidence and undermine our collective efforts. As a country, we have moral and legal responsibilities to show leadership in tackling the climate emergency together. Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference Deacon Kerry Scarlett, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

  • Loss and Damage in the run up to COP-28
    Factories with emissions coming out.

    Our headlines are once again inundated with extreme weather reports and dire climate warnings. From raging wildfires to scorching heat and catastrophic storms, one thing is clear: the impacts of climate change are here, with universal consequences.  Over the past 50 years, extreme weather has caused economic losses of over $4.3 trillion and deaths of 2 million.[1] These are figures continuing to rise and disproportionately impacting poorer and more vulnerable countries. Loss and Damage refers to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, which the poorest and most vulnerable countries are ill-equipped to face. The impacts of climate change are universal, but they are by no means equal. While emergency services struggle to cope across Europe, flood damage is generally repaired, fires put out and those in need evacuated. The story is completely different further afield – where extreme weather is devastating livelihoods and wiping out entire villages.[2] It is these catastrophic impacts, on those who have done the least to cause climate change, that make the urgency of establishing a loss and damage fund painstakingly clear. COP27 ended with a commitment to establish a Loss and Damage fund to support those disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, paid for by wealthier nations. This was a huge win for campaigners, and we are thankful for the recognition of the urgent need for Loss and Damage finance. However, we are still a long way away from seeing money in the hands of those who need it. COP27 may have agreed on the creation of a fund, but the nitty gritty of who pays and how remains to be seen. COP27 created a Transitional Committee under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), responsible for developing a Loss and Damage Fund. The Committee is made up of 24 members – 14 from developing countries and 10 from developed (including the UK). The Committee is expected to bring a proposal for how the Loss and Damage fund should work to COP28. The Committee had their first meeting in Luxor, Egypt, in March 2023. Discussions appear to be progressing well. However, preparing the proposals is no small feat and there remain several concerns about the ability of the Committee and COP28 to finally deliver Loss and Damage financing. Firstly, there is a lot we still don’t know about what the Loss and Damage fund will look like. The COP27 agreement talked about “new and additional funding arrangements”. It is important that these are really ‘new’ and not depleting existing funds allocated to mitigation and adaptation. Nor can we permit countries to simply re-label their humanitarian aid as Loss and Damage funding.[3] Secondly, there remain significant tensions about who should pay into the fund – particularly in the case of China, where an absence of historical responsibility is contrasted with present wealth and high emissions. There is also ongoing disagreement about how broad the scheme should be. Climate campaigners are pushing for a broad fund which builds climate resilience, whilst the United States and others want the fund more tightly focused on ‘non-economic losses’ and ‘slow onset’ disasters like islands sinking.[4] Small Island Developing States have countless claims regarding the erasure of their entire countries and heritage.[5] Prioritising these against dire outlooks elsewhere is an extraordinary task. Finally, the most controversial things (clear guidelines on the financing, scope and mechanism of the fund) are all left to be agreed at COP28. Given the credentials of COP28 President Sultan Al Jabar as chief executive of a large oil company, many are already questioning the ability of COP28 to deliver. Mohamed Nasr, Egypt’s lead negotiator, said “Should we fix this discussion on who’s going to pay, or should we respond to them as soon as possible, and continue our process? I think this is the way we see it; we should respond as soon as possible”.[6] There is much merit to this point. Discussions around the technicalities of Loss and Damage can go on indefinitely. Indeed, Loss and Damage was first introduced to UN climate negotiations around 1991.[7] There cannot be 30 more years of negotiations because it will simply be too late. Some small island countries may be uninhabitable by 2050. 143 million people are estimated to be displaced by weather-related events by 2050.[8] COP28 must deliver Loss and Damage financing. To this end, it is important to keep pressure on our politicians around Loss and Damage. As the fiscal situation in the UK continues to deteriorate, both the Labour and Conservative parties are hugely reluctant to commit to spending promises. In this context, it is difficult to imagine the UK serving as an advocate for the big amounts of money needed for Loss and Damage without strong public awareness. Click here for more information on Loss and Damage Click here for a template letter to send to your MP on Loss and Damage [1] https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/atlas-of-mortality [2] https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/climate-change/loss-and-damage-testimonials-videos [3] https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/podcast/loss-and-damage-finance-becomes-reality/ [4] https://www.voanews.com/a/explainer-will-cop28-deliver-a-new-fund-for-climate-loss-and-damage-/7127095.html [5] Developing countries need a loss and damage fund for climate change. How can COP28 make it happen? – Atlantic Council [6] https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/03/27/cop27-finally-put-a-loss-and-damage-fund-on-the-map-what-can-we-expect-on-the-way-to-cop28 [7] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/a/wg2crp08.pdf [8] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190813-how-to-save-a-sinking-island-nation

  • Environment Sunday – Hope in the face of Climate Crisis

    A few weeks ago, an estimated more than 60,000 people attended ‘The Big One’, a climate protest organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR). Using different tactics from previous XR protests, the weekend brought together 200 organisations. Representatives from all three of JPIT’s denominations formed part of a faiths service held on the Friday, and the subsequent march to Westminster, demonstrating our continued concern for creation. And yet again, it feels like when the protestors went home there was little change within the walls of the Palace of Westminster. Protests can cause hassle to politicians and members of the general public but, still, the climate crisis does not seem to be the top of our government’s agenda. Despite the critical need for structural change in order to protect vulnerable people and nations from the harshest effects of the climate crisis, we have seen little change. The outlook feels bleak. But, as Christians, we know that there is hope: ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.’ (Revelation 21.1) Whilst I don’t pretend to have all the answers for what John is describing in Revelation, this passage does speak of the centrality of the renewal of creation to God’s plan for the world. Just as Jesus came to ‘bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners’ (Isaiah 61: 1), so too does God’s plan involve the healing and restoration of the planet. The need to care for and restore creation is central to our role as stewards of God’s creation. God invites us to join in with this journey. We can pray for international cooperation, for scientists finding solutions to the climate crisis. We can attend protests and marches, write to our MPs and speak truth to power. Our churches can join the Eco Church scheme, or get involved with the Net Zero in My Neighbourhood project, engaging with our local politicians to bring our local communities closer to flourishing. And we can host a Environment Sunday service. As we approach Environment Sunday this year, how could you or your community exhibit the hope of the gospel in the face of the climate crisis? You can find some resources from our denominations and other organisations below to support your planning for Environment Sunday. Resources Climate Sunday: https://www.climatesunday.org/service-resources Tearfund: https://www.tearfund.org/stories/2020/08/how-your-church-can-get-involved-with-climate-sunday A Rocha: https://arocha.org/en/ Methodist Environment Resources: https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/seasons-and-themes/themes/climate-and-creation/worship-resources/ United Reformed Church: https://urc.org.uk/could-you-hold-a-climate-sunday/ https://urc.org.uk/environmental-policy/ Baptist Union Environment Network (BUEN): https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/349554/Baptist_Union_Environment.aspx

  • Local elections: what have they got to do with climate change?

    Voter IDYou now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote for May 2023 local elections is 17 April.Learn More Don’t councils just fix potholes and collect the bins? Why does it matter who is elected? What do they have to do with climate change? On 4th May, 4862 council wards representing over 8000 seats and a handful of mayoralties across England are up for election (Click here to find out if there’s an election in your area). This is around 70% of all wards in England, meaning there is potential for lots of change in local government across the country. Local elections are often viewed as a temperature check on how the electorate are feeling about the main parties in Westminster. It can be tempting to transplant issues of national policy onto a local election, voting in accordance with historic loyalty or your current judgement on the national government or opposition. This is also reflected in the different approaches of political parties: Labour are using it as a trial run for the next general election, the Conservatives are seeking to manage expectations given their 20 point gap in opinion polls, and the Liberal Democrats are targeting Conservative voters frustrated by the rhetoric of MPs in their party.   Given all of this, it may seem odd to focus on local elections and climate change. Climate change is not likely to feature heavily in election campaigning, when councils are focussing on funding and crucial public services in the cost of living crisis. It might also be suggested that focussing on the effects of local government’s response to the climate crisis is insufficient when the latest IPCC report warns of ‘a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all’. Click here to read the report. Yet, the local is a key arena for policy in the fight against climate change. The All Party Parliamentary Group on the Green New Deal has argued that practical action that is within reach for councils and communities can be transformative. The Local Government Association has also shown that councils can have influence over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in their area. They have real power in important areas like transport, buildings, energy, waste, planning, and public awareness. The cumulative effect of every council taking strong climate action would go a long way to building a greener, fairer country. It’s also important to note that local climate action can have a number of co-benefits: better access to green spaces, education about nature, improved walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and better connections with your neighbours to name a few. We can all benefit from an improved living environment and greater harmony with the world around us. One of our hopes at JPIT is for a planet where our environment is renewed. We’re also interested in a more relational approach to politics, rooted in our communities and places. Through our Net Zero In My Neighbourhood campaign, we’re encouraging Christians and churches to engage with their local councils’ climate action plans. This brings together an opportunity to build relationships for change in our neighbourhoods, with tangible actions for climate justice. As the elections approach, here are a few ways you can advocate for climate justice. I’d like to help but I don’t have much time Vote. While turnout for the 2019 General Election was 67.3%, for the 2021 local elections it was just 35.9%. If people passionate about climate justice turn out to vote, councils in England could be filled with candidates who stand for climate action. Take the time to consider your priorities, read the Net Zero in My Neighbourhood resources, find out what the candidates are saying about climate change, pray, and make a plan to vote on May 4th. *** You now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote is April 17th. Find out more at jpit.uk/voterid.*** I can do more to connect with my councillors Connect. Councillors provide a bridge between a community and their council, and they usually love the opportunity to connect with people and groups in their wards. Most people only ever contact their councillors when there’s an issue, so positive engagement can leave a memorable impression. Councillors also want to hear what local residents care about, and it often doesn’t take many people raising an issue to establish it on their radar. Consider the controversy over 15-minute cities, where a vocal minority have raised objections and made councils hesitant. If those in favour of walkable neighbourhoods also spoke up, this could make a difference. These elections provide a great opportunity to connect with your councillors. Before the elections, could you write to your candidates? Ask them to make a specific commitment to a change you want to see, and hold them to account for any commitments they make. After your councillors are elected, contact your new representatives and invite them to your church. This could be as low-commitment as asking them to attend a service, or getting them to meet and have a conversation with your environmental reps. This is an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship with people in your neighbourhood. I want to lead the way in seeking net zero in my neighbourhood Organise. The best way to get stuck in is to sign up to our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood  network, a chance to meet with others and get trained up for change. Why not begin by reading through our resources and building a local coalition to engage with your councillors over the long-run. Working together with a broad range of other groups can demonstrate to your council …

  • How can we respond to COP27?

    COP27, the UN’s climate conference in Egypt, came to a close at the weekend. It finished with some encouragements as well as disappointments. Hannah and Steve spent 10 minutes chatting through a roundup of what happened in a new episode of our podcast – click here to listen. Whilst COP27 might be over, we know that the work to achieve climate justice carries on in so many ways. But in the face of climate disaster and disappointing inaction from governments across the world, we might feel that we are unable to make enough change on our own. However, we can always choose to respond in hope and love, knowing that God cares about us and our world. So, here are a few suggestions of how we could respond practically to the news from COP27: Loss and Damage Action: Hear the stories The main success story from COP27 was the pledge for a creation of a Loss and Damage fund to financially support lower-income nations who have been disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. This fund would be paid for by wealthier nations, who have historically been the biggest polluters. This is something JPIT and activists we work with were really hoping and praying for, so we’re delighted to see this as one of the main pledges from the summit. However, as Christian Aid’s Joab Okanda describes in his statement, ‘the devil will be in the detail and we still need to see it filled with money’. We still need to see the fulfilment of this pledge, and the practicalities should be driven by the stories of communities most affected by the climate crisis. Why not read some of Christian Aid’s Loss and Damage stories, and pray about a specific person, community or area on your heart? Or perhaps you could download their resources and engage your wider church community with praying and campaigning for the Loss and Damage fund to become an effective reality. Emission and reduction targets Action: Write to your MP Perhaps the most disappointing outcome from COP27 is the lack of clear movement on reducing the use of fossil fuels. Due to the structures and systems of the world economy, this requires a huge amount of cooperative change which seems unlikely in the world we live in. As Steve Hucklesby described in his blog last week, many nations earn large amounts of revenue from oil and gas and want to tie us to extraction of fossil fuels for many years to come. However, it still remains that ending our dependency on fossil fuels is one of the most fundamental steps towards climate justice. According to the UN, we need to see global emissions drop by 45% in the next 8 years if we are to keep global warming to 1.5°C. The Chancellor said in his recent statement that the government is committed to the Glasgow Pact. Why not write to your MP, and call on them to ask the government to show tangible action towards this? Perhaps this could include investing in renewables and other forms of clean energy, rather than nuclear energy or fossil fuels. A local response Action: Partner with your council In the face of national and international inactivity, we believe that activism has the potential to be effective on a local level. 80% of local councils have set a net zero target sooner than the national one in 2050. Local churches are uniquely placed to hold their councillors to account to their climate commitments – they are connected to their neighbourhoods, through physical buildings and outreach work. If your church isn’t already signed up to the Eco Church scheme, this is a fantastic way of making sure that your local community is responding well to the climate crisis. We also can’t underestimate the importance of local action to achieve national goals. David Renard, leader of Swindon Council, commented that ‘Net Zero can only be achieved if councils are empowered’. Could you or your church get involved in our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood campaign? Our resources give clear methods and advice for approaching your council on issues of climate justice and how you can encourage your church to get involved. In the New Year, we’ll start running workshops where you can invite a speaker from JPIT to encourage your church to think about the ways in which you can respond to the climate crisis on a local level. Why not sign up to the mailing list to hear more about this when workshops are available? Find our mailing list here. In the face of inactivity and frustration, it is so easy to get downhearted. But the God who made us and this extraordinary world doesn’t want to turn a blind eye to our frustrations and pain about systemic inactivity. So why not ask God today what you can do, and how you can bring others along with you? Creator God, we thank you for your incredible creation. It is so easy to feel frustrated and disappointed by the lack of action from those in power in response to the climate crisis. We lament the loss of so many aspects of your world. God, would you help us to respond with hope and love for our neighbours whether they are near or far away. Help us to take the action we need to so that we can have a hand in building your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

  • Statement on the conclusion of the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

    Monday 21 NovemberThe Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. While we are extremely conscious of the cost-of-living crisis and the economic bearing it is having here in the UK, we cannot ignore the tremendous impact of climate change in other parts of the world and overlook our responsibility towards it.  We continue to look to leaders in the UK and across the world to address the climate emergency with a sense of urgency, fairness and justice. We are grateful for the vital commitment in Sharm el-Sheikh to establish a Loss and Damage facility. All are impacted by climate change.  We have recently seen unprecedented floods in Pakistan and Bangladesh and continued drought in East Africa. Industrialised countries such as Germany and high emitting states such as China have seen rivers drying up. But it is low income countries that are frequently the worst affected by climate related disasters. They simply do not have adequate resources to rebuild shattered infrastructure and livelihoods. COP27 has seen recognition of the need for compensation for loss and damage rise much higher on the global agenda. We commend States and regions, including Scotland, that have committed early funding to support those who have seen their livelihoods or houses destroyed. As the recent UN Environment Programme report has pointed out, limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees requires global emissions to be cut by 45% by 2030. Policies implemented so far suggest that we could be heading for a catastrophic 2.7 degrees of warming. God’s creation is precious and is vital for the flourishing of all life. We lament the lack of urgency and will to co-operate to address this crisis. COP27 shows that governments have yet to loosen the chains of past practice and vested interests. World leaders cannot leave this conference believing that they have done enough and must appreciate that there is still much more to do. We pray for a renewed collaboration between people and governments, and that a deeper recognition of our shared humanity might soon lead to the compassionate and just climate action that our world so urgently needs. Signed by: Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church Anthony Boateng, Vice-President of the Conference of the Methodist Church Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Dave Gregory, Convenor, Baptist Union Environment Network and Former President, Baptist Union of Great Britain Revd Graham Thompson, President of the Conference of the Methodist Church

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