TrewsNews

With diocesan synod season upon us I like to keep a watch on what our bishops say about climate change - one of the most  urgent problems of our time Burning fossil fuels generates vast amounts of air pollution causing a major health crisis in cities. Carbon pollution drives climate change that impacts people worldwide, particularly the most vulnerable. Climate stress can tip vulnerable countries into unrest and conflict which in-turn leads to refugee crises. The Christian church and mission in the affected countries can be severely curtailed. Do our bishops understand this? I hope they do. Let’s see what the Bishop of Cork Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton, had to say in his Diocesan Synod Address given in Cork on 10th June 2017. The theme of the address was, ‘Changing times’ and the bishop listed changes such as Brexit, increased terrorism, and Trump. He then addressed the ‘Global Displacement Crisis’ noting there are 65.3m displaced people, m...

A letter published in the Belfast Newsletter 3 June 2017, and the Belfast Telegraph  on 6 June 2017. Donald Trump has pulled the USA out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the worldwide reaction has been scornful and disparaging.  World leaders were swift to react. President Macron of France said that President Trump has, “committed an error for the interests of his country, his people and a mistake for the future of our planet.” Chancellor Merkel said, "We need this Paris agreement to preserve our Creation. Nothing can or will stop us from doing that." "We need this Paris agreement to preserve our Creation. Nothing can or will stop us from doing that." Church leaders equally reacted with derision. The Vatican said for Pope Francis this was a “huge slap in the face” and a “disaster for everyone”. The Church of England’s lead Bishop for the Environment, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said, “churches and other faith leaders, mus...