Bishop challenges government on climate change

-06/11/06

James Jones, Bishop of Liverpo


Bishop challenges government on climate change

-06/11/06

James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, challenged the government on Saturday to back its strong statements on the need to tackle climate change with hard cash.

Addressing over 20,000 people at the ëI Countí climate change rally in Trafalgar Square, London, the Bishop said he had witnessed first hand the impact of climate change on poor communities in the developing world.

He described it as ëfantasticí that Government ministers had this week ëlent their weightí to the Stern report on climate change, which warned that global warming could shrink the global economy by 20%. But he added: ìSadly ëlendingí is the word. The Government give it one day then take it back the next. For example, the Government is the biggest commissioner of new buildings. Over the next 15 years they will spend £45 billion on new school buildings. Each of these buildings should be built to the highest specification of sustainability and to the lowest possible emissions of carbon. This is the environment in which our young people should learn about the world. Let the Government put our money where their mouths are!î

Bishop James Jones continued: ìToo much is at stake. How can we claim to be empowering Africa to a new future through aid, trade and debt relief, if through our own profligacy we wreck the climate and ruin their harvests?î

The carnival-like event in London was the first of its sort for ëI Countí – an unprecedented and rapidly growing public campaign which brings together a huge range of supporters ranging from the Womenís Institute to the band Razorlight.

Ruth Weston, a 21 year-old student boarded a bus in Exeter with a group of friends at 6.30 am in order to reach Trafalgar Square for the start of the rally. ìWeíve come as a public demonstration of what we care about the most. Itís written all over Godís word that we are meant to be stewards in looking after creation. I have bought energy-saving light bulbs and I try to walk or use as much public transport as I can.î

Sixteen-year-old student, Joshua Amesbury from Chichester, said: ìClimate is an important issue which we are facing and if we donít do something about it now, the world is going to be spoilt for people in the future, and we donít want to let that happen.î

Tearfund supporter Anne Sutton, 67, a retired teacher, from Northamptonshire stated: ìI am very pleased to see so many people here. I worry that one third of the world is using most of the globeís resourcesÖ.and that we are leaving the rest of the world with less than they should have. I try to cut down on electricity at home, switching things off. We have gone from two cars to one car and we try to walk instead of going in the car.î

Johnny Borrell, lead singer of Razorlight, who performed live on stage, told the gathered thousands: ìToday is all about showing that together we make a difference, together we can send a message, together we can stop climate chaos and together we count.î

In all, thousands of ëI Countí supporters travelled from across the UK, some by bike, one Tearfund supporter by canoe from Oxford, on foot and even in bio fuel green taxis to highlight what many believe to be the greatest ever man-made threat. Surfers Against Sewage arrived wearing wetsuits and carrying surf boards. Actress Miranda Richardson and singer KT Tunstall were among those who demanded that Tony Blair take real political action in response to the millions of people worldwide already cutting their personal carbon counts.

Bishop James Jones said he was thrilled to see many Christians among the 25,000 people. ìIíve been to Africa and India with Tearfund and seen the ruined harvests and the rice fields where children drowned in the floods.

ìIn Africa thereís a saying that we have ëborrowed the present from our childrení. Thatís typical African generosity and English understatement. We have not borrowed the present – we have stolen it from them and we are stealing their future. That is not just a crime against humanity; it is an offence to God.î

Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos said: ìTony Blair must listen to the urgent demands of over 25,000 people in Trafalgar Square today and millions across the UK. Now he needs to make his governmentís actions count too, by introducing a new law to reduce carbon emissions year-on-year. He must take a lead on the global stage to keep global warming below a two degree Celsius increase. If we all come together we can stop climate chaos ñ together we are irresistible.î

Andy Atkins, Tearfundís Advocacy Director, described the ëI Countí rally as ëthrillingí, but said there remained a challenge to both Christians and churches to cut their own emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and to keep pressure on governments to tackle the issue globally.

ìThere are tens of thousands of churches of all denominations in the UK. Imagine if they all set out to cut their emissions by 3% a year, which is what we are asking of the Government. That would set an exciting example of integrity and determination that the rest of the country could follow.î


Bishop challenges government on climate change

-06/11/06

James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, challenged the government on Saturday to back its strong statements on the need to tackle climate change with hard cash.

Addressing over 20,000 people at the ëI Countí climate change rally in Trafalgar Square, London, the Bishop said he had witnessed first hand the impact of climate change on poor communities in the developing world.

He described it as ëfantasticí that Government ministers had this week ëlent their weightí to the Stern report on climate change, which warned that global warming could shrink the global economy by 20%. But he added: ìSadly ëlendingí is the word. The Government give it one day then take it back the next. For example, the Government is the biggest commissioner of new buildings. Over the next 15 years they will spend £45 billion on new school buildings. Each of these buildings should be built to the highest specification of sustainability and to the lowest possible emissions of carbon. This is the environment in which our young people should learn about the world. Let the Government put our money where their mouths are!î

Bishop James Jones continued: ìToo much is at stake. How can we claim to be empowering Africa to a new future through aid, trade and debt relief, if through our own profligacy we wreck the climate and ruin their harvests?î

The carnival-like event in London was the first of its sort for ëI Countí – an unprecedented and rapidly growing public campaign which brings together a huge range of supporters ranging from the Womenís Institute to the band Razorlight.

Ruth Weston, a 21 year-old student boarded a bus in Exeter with a group of friends at 6.30 am in order to reach Trafalgar Square for the start of the rally. ìWeíve come as a public demonstration of what we care about the most. Itís written all over Godís word that we are meant to be stewards in looking after creation. I have bought energy-saving light bulbs and I try to walk or use as much public transport as I can.î

Sixteen-year-old student, Joshua Amesbury from Chichester, said: ìClimate is an important issue which we are facing and if we donít do something about it now, the world is going to be spoilt for people in the future, and we donít want to let that happen.î

Tearfund supporter Anne Sutton, 67, a retired teacher, from Northamptonshire stated: ìI am very pleased to see so many people here. I worry that one third of the world is using most of the globeís resourcesÖ.and that we are leaving the rest of the world with less than they should have. I try to cut down on electricity at home, switching things off. We have gone from two cars to one car and we try to walk instead of going in the car.î

Johnny Borrell, lead singer of Razorlight, who performed live on stage, told the gathered thousands: ìToday is all about showing that together we make a difference, together we can send a message, together we can stop climate chaos and together we count.î

In all, thousands of ëI Countí supporters travelled from across the UK, some by bike, one Tearfund supporter by canoe from Oxford, on foot and even in bio fuel green taxis to highlight what many believe to be the greatest ever man-made threat. Surfers Against Sewage arrived wearing wetsuits and carrying surf boards. Actress Miranda Richardson and singer KT Tunstall were among those who demanded that Tony Blair take real political action in response to the millions of people worldwide already cutting their personal carbon counts.

Bishop James Jones said he was thrilled to see many Christians among the 25,000 people. ìIíve been to Africa and India with Tearfund and seen the ruined harvests and the rice fields where children drowned in the floods.

ìIn Africa thereís a saying that we have ëborrowed the present from our childrení. Thatís typical African generosity and English understatement. We have not borrowed the present – we have stolen it from them and we are stealing their future. That is not just a crime against humanity; it is an offence to God.î

Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos said: ìTony Blair must listen to the urgent demands of over 25,000 people in Trafalgar Square today and millions across the UK. Now he needs to make his governmentís actions count too, by introducing a new law to reduce carbon emissions year-on-year. He must take a lead on the global stage to keep global warming below a two degree Celsius increase. If we all come together we can stop climate chaos ñ together we are irresistible.î

Andy Atkins, Tearfundís Advocacy Director, described the ëI Countí rally as ëthrillingí, but said there remained a challenge to both Christians and churches to cut their own emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and to keep pressure on governments to tackle the issue globally.

ìThere are tens of thousands of churches of all denominations in the UK. Imagine if they all set out to cut their emissions by 3% a year, which is what we are asking of the Government. That would set an exciting example of integrity and determination that the rest of the country could follow.î