Dear Friends,
At this time of year we see so much evidence of new growth & are reminded of the beauty of creation which, in the next few weeks, will feast our eyes. But, of course, we cannot ignore environmental issues which threaten that creation and which, in the lower income countries, threaten life itself. This week we are sending you some attachments that focus on climate change as it affects us, but also as it affects people in less developed parts of our world or, as Pope Francis speaks of it, ‘in our common home’.
Rutter’s ‘Go forth in Peace’ is this week’s blessing. May it bring you a blessed & peaceful week.
With our love
Creator God, this earth is miraculous and beautiful. Forgive our confusion and inaction as we confront the challenges of climate change. In the light of your truth, seen so clearly in the life and teaching of Jesus, help us to re-examine ourselves and our lifestyle choices and see clearly the implications of how we live on all that sustains life on this earth. May we follow your leading in caring for every aspect of this precious world, which you made and love.
We pray for world leaders to agree radical actions that will help protect our world from the impact of global heating for future generations.
Throughout history you have moved people to do amazing things for the sake of their neighbours. Inspire us now to work together, as your people, to change priorities in the way we live, so that we build a fair and safe world for all your creation; a world where your will is done as it is in heaven. Amen
From Pope Francis:
Time is running out to tackle the climate crisis – and the world’s poorest communities are paying the price. Pope Francis warns in his message that we are approaching a “breaking point” and that “some effects of the climate crisis are already irreversible”. The Pope points out that “we barely have time to prevent even more tragic damage”, with global temperatures likely to rise beyond the critical 1.5C level in coming years without urgent and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Francis acknowledges that the effects of the climate crisis “are borne by the most vulnerable people, whether at home or around the world”. This injustice is highlighted by the fact that the emissions of the world’s richest countries and individuals dwarf those of low-income countries. Such an injustice is evident in regions such as East Africa, where an estimated 60 million people are struggling to access food.
In Northern Kenya, for instance, the climate crisis has driven five failed rainy seasons, plunging communities deeper into poverty in a country where 80 per cent of people living in rural areas are employed in the agricultural sector.
Developed countries must commit to a rapid transition from fossil fuels that is binding and measurable. Pope Francis makes it clear that “the necessary transition towards clean energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and the abandonment of fossil fuels, is not progressing at the necessary speed.” The Pope insists that global leaders must agree to speed up the energy transition, and that agreements to do so be “efficient, obligatory and readily monitored”. In making this call, the Pope warns against an overreliance on technology in the fight against the climate crisis, cautioning that an excessive dependence on technological interventions, such as carbon capture, risks “pasting and papering over cracks”. Francis notes that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is “capable of generating countless jobs in different sectors”, while the continued use of fossil fuels means that “millions of people are losing their jobs” due to “rising sea levels, droughts and other phenomena”.
Walk lightly
Each leaf, each petal,
each grain, each person,
sings your praises,
Creator God.
Each creature on the earth,
all the mountains and great seas
show your glory,
Spirit of love.
And yet the hand of greed
has patented and plundered
your splendour,
has taken and not shared
your gift,
has lived as owner of the earth,
not guest.
And so
the ice is cracked
the rivers dry,
the valleys flooded
and the snowcaps melt.
God our Father, show us
how to step gently,
how to live simply,
how to walk lightly
with respect and love
for all that you have made.
Amen
Linda Jones/CAFOD
We often think of climate change as a distant issue that affects polar bears or future generations, but in reality it is here now, affecting us in ways that matter to all of us. How are we being affected by climate change within the UK?
Climate change is not only an environmental issue. Climate change is a poverty issue. It’s a hunger issue. It’s an issue of inequality and injustice. It’s a human issue. And that’s why we care.
What do you imagine it is like for the poorest people in the world who are already facing the consequences of climate change on a daily basis?
Pray for people in extreme poverty around the world where the pandemic and climate change have made things even more difficult: we are so interconnected as a world and the need is great.
Do you think a better future is possible eg cities full of trees and moist, clean air? What do you think it would take to get us to that point where we all live as good stewards of the land and care for each other?
Have you found that it is possible to live a different way – a greener way – during lockdown and do you intend to continue some of these more climate-friendly ways of living post-pandemic?
When it comes to recovering from the pandemic and to fixing climate change, what we most lack is a vision of a better future. Do you have a vision?
What are the things that you value most in life?