Urgent climate change message from one of Wales’ Christian leaders
CLIMATE change is the greatest ever threat to the human race, and swift and robust action must be taken if we are to safeguard the future of our species on this planet.
That’s the urgent message of one of Wales’ Christian leaders as the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) gets under way in Glasgow. It runs until November 12.
“COP26 must be more than a talking shop if we are serious about protecting the future of humankind,” said the Rev Betiwyn James from Carmarthen, who is president of the Union of Welsh Independents.
She added: “Climate change is not a future event – it’s happening now, with severe flooding, massive fires, and rising sea levels.
“If the rise in global temperature is not limited to 1.5C or less by 2050, the consequences will be dire.
“The politicians must listen to the scientists, and to the young people who care so much about their future.
“They have to listen – and act. “There are 2.5 billion Christians worldwide, and as people who believe that this is God’s Earth, we have a special responsibility to ensure that international leaders hear our voice.
“But at the same time, we have a responsibility ourselves to change our lifestyles, while also accepting that we’ll be called upon to make financial sacrifices to pay for tougher measures introduced to cut carbon fuels.”
COP was set up by the UN to deal with climate change in 1995. There have already been 40 years of climate warnings and 25 international climate negotiations, yet still carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel continue to increase, and the UN recently issued a “code red for humanity”.
As well as Rev Beti Wyn James’s message, a cyclist from Ceredigion is cycling from Cardigan to the conference to deliver a letter of hope from the town council.
The message from the people of Cardigan is being couriered to the event by bicycle, ridden by Peter Weldon, 54, from the village of Cwm-cou. Climate activists and well wishers bearing flags and banners turned out in Cardigan on Saturday, October 23, to watch town mayor Cllr Debra Griffiths present a bilingual letter containing a message of hope from the people of Cardigan to the delegates at the international COP 26.
The letter contained the town’s hopes that world leaders and delegates will commit to measures that will keep the world on a path to limit global warming to the 1.5 C aspiration agreed in Paris in 2015.
In addition, climate campaigners will gather in Swansea this Saturday, November 6, at Castle Square in the city centre at noon.
COP26 must be more than a talking shop if we are serious about protecting the future of humankind
Rev Beti-wyn James