Bishop John: It’s time to sprint towards climate action
Saturday 23rd July 2022This week, we’ve witnessed temperatures never before reached here in the UK.
Here in our own diocese, temperatures also saw record highs, as some parishes nudged 40 degrees and firefighters battled flames in nearby communities.
But as the temperatures subside, Bishop John issues an urgent message, warning us that the threat has not gone away.
He said: “This is not going to just peak and then we’ll hear no more of it. It’s going to get gradually worse. We are warming the globe and we’re not reacting quickly enough to avoid the damage or to even begin to repair the damage that we’ve done. We’ve already been told that some of the damage is irreparable, so we’ve got to think and we’ve got to act.”
Thanking the parishes and schools that are already carrying out fantastic work to live more sustainably and campaign for environmental justice, Bishop John also urges all of us to take this latest heatwave as a real wake-up call and to step up our efforts on taking climate action.
He said: “I know that we’re jogging along, showing an interest in climate change – but jogging’s not enough. We’ve got to start sprinting at this stage to make sure we’re caring for our common home.”
Taking action
The warnings of this week and the call to take action is without doubt daunting. But amongst the stark warnings from climate experts, there is real hope. We have the science, the technology, and the understanding to make a real difference to our climate, and for now – we also have the time.
To help you get started, we’ve pulled together some helpful resources and websites to help you find out more about how to take action and why this is such an important part of our faith and our role as part of a global family.
What’s the story?
Global Caring – Why is environmental action central to our Catholic faith?
Laudato Si’ Centre – A hub for effective action on climate change run by our own diocese
Laudato Si’ Movement – Connective faith and action
Practical steps
Follow the Laudato Si’ Centre on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Take a look at our past posts to discover simple, time and cost-effective ways to take action.
Complete our travel survey! As we continue our journey to net zero, we are asking parishioners to help us understand a little more about their travel to and from church.
Make your outdoor space a haven for all God’s creatures
Cut costs and emissions with these household tips:
Energy saving devices and applicances
Energy Savings Trust – Savings and Statistics bulletin
Useful website reports and contacts
Want to get involved on a parish level?
Our environment team would love to discuss ideas and solutions to help you get started on a parish level. Just get in touch by emailing us at laudatosicentre@dioceseofsalford.org.uk.
Don’t forget to take a look at some of our parish case studies for a bit of inspiration!
Pioneering community garden shines a light on caring for our common home
Parish lives out Gospel through community garden project
Parish garden project inspires a future of sustainability
Planting the Seeds of Hope for a Post-Pandemic Parish
Date for your diary
Join us this October as we embark on our second diocesan Walk for Creation. The walk will take place on Sunday 2 October, with further details being announced shortly. Also, why not hold your own parish or school walk and reflection? You can download your own reflection pack here.
Tagged | Around the Diocese | Bishop John | CAFOD | Catholic Church | Environment | Guardians of Creation | Laudato Si' Centre | Parishes
