Responding on behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain, Anthea Cox, the denomination’s Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, has welcomed the publication of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill.
She declared: “We are pleased to see that this report raises many of the concerns that we expressed in our joint submission to the consultation. It particularly addresses the concerns we raised about the target to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, and suggests that this figure may be inadequate to prevent the dangerous rising of global temperatures.”
Ms Cox continued: “We’re glad to see that this has been taken into account and hope that the Government endorses the proposals for enforcing such targets and providing clear lines of accountability.”
“Climate change is something that affects us all, but some much more drastically than others and it is often the poorest communities worldwide that are most vulnerable. We are encouraged by today’s report, but it is important to remember that we all need to take responsibility for how our lifestyles affect our planet and our fellow human beings”, said the Methodist spokesperson.”
She concluded: “We are grateful that the Churches have been able to contribute to the consultation. The Methodist Church’s ongoing commitment is to support individuals, communities and organisations in working to meet the immense challenges posed by climate change.”
The Methodist Church, The United Reformed Church, The Baptist Union of Great Britain and The Religious Society of Friends made a joint submission to the consultation on the Draft Climate Change Bill.
The submission emphasised the urgent need for action and called for justice for those most likely to be adversely affected by climate change.
The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church have responded separately, though along similar lines.