Climate-concerned clergy cycled to Downing Street calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a stronger Climate Change Bill this morning and delivered over 10,000 signatures collected by relief and development agency Tearfund.
Graham Dodds, Minister of Hare Hills Lane Baptist Church, Leeds, said, `Climate change causes the poorest people to suffer and the longer we wait the more suffering there will be.'
Cassocks flow as a delegation of climate-concerned clergy cycle to No.10 Downing Street, London, this morning to call on Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a stronger Climate Change Bill. They presented 10,000 signatures collected by relief and development agency, Tearfund. Picture: Eleanor Bentall/Tearfund
The group of Christian leaders from across England delivered the 10,000 signatures by bicycle with Tearfund, as part of the Stop Climate Chaos Campaign.
The petitions, sent by Tearfund supporters from across the country, want a Climate Change Bill that is tough enough to deliver for poor people.
Ben Niblett, Tearfund’s Campaigns Manager, said, `That means a target of 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050, including the UK’s share of the international aviation and shipping industries.'
The delegation hands the petition calling for a tougher climate change bill into Downing Street. Picture: Eleanor Bentall/Tearfund
With just over a week to go until the G8 Summit in Japan, where climate change and food shortages will be discussed, the church leaders called on the Government to pave the way for other nations to get tougher on carbon cuts.
Ben Niblett, added, `These petitions represent a strong groundswell from the church in the UK that the Climate Change Bill must be tougher.
`Tearfund serves poor communities who are feeling the sharp end of climate change right now. We know the Government is listening. We’ve already won a victory to strengthen the Bill to report yearly on the UK’s emissions. But much more is needed.'
Cassocks flow as a delegation of climate-concerned clergy cycle to 10 Downing Street. Picture: Eleanor Bentall/Tearfund
Rev Michael Perry, Vicar of Queen Camel Parish in Somerset, whose church won a Green Church Award last year, added, `As Christians we need to live in harmony with creation. Climate change is going to profoundly affect our society and we need to be aware of just how profoundly it will affect us.'
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