Today we are more aware than ever about environmental issues and our carbon footprint. We know we can all play our part by buying food in season and food that has been produced locally. We can use our cars less where possible, and walk or use public transport instead. We can boil our kettles with the amount of water we need and save water by turning off the tap whilst we are actually brushing our teeth. We can turn the thermostat down on the heating – let’s face it our bills are going up fast!
As you probably are aware the United Nations Conference of the Parties, (COP26), is taking place in Glasgow. It is a meeting of world leaders and representatives, and most experts believe it has a unique urgency, as unless action is taken the world will experience higher temperatures and more flooding, and the impact usually is with the poorest in society.
The Paris agreement in 2015 committed nations to holding global temperatures to ‘’well below” 2°C above pre industrial levels, whilst pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. These are legally binding.
Some countries naturally are doing much better than others. We are increasing the use of wind power and other renewables with hybrid and electric vehicles and buses run on hydrogen. There is a campaign to plant more trees and replace some of the meadows that have been lost. The US is now on board, after Donald Trump refused to accept there was a problem. So is China, but Australia still relies on coal fired stations.
Of course the developing world has to be helped as they, understandably, point the finger at richer countries as the source of the problem with our Industrial Revolution, as an example. They certainly have a point!
Our new church building gives us the opportunity to start again with roof and cavity insulation, state of the art heating and water saving devices. I hope that we can then apply to be an ‘Eco Church’, when Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are given out.
Meanwhile, we can all ‘do our bit’ by eating less meat and dairy produce and instead eat plant based food. Above all to think about where our food comes from and the energy we use in our daily lives.
We are sure God will bless us. This reminds me of Psalm 106, v 1 – 3 ‘Praise the Lord, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.’