Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it's already shaping our lives. But what can we do about it?
We recognise as Christians that we have a role in caring for creation, but people of different faiths and beliefs share a common responsibility to care for our world. In Maidenhead in September, an interfaith screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing was organised by the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum (WAMCF) and All Saints Church Boyne Hill.
Hosted by Chris Packham, the film is a 50-minute summary of a day last November where over 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered to hear ten of the UK’s leading climate experts. The short film explains how the crisis affects areas such as health, food, the economy and security, and, most importantly, why hope remains if people act together.
Several of us from All Saints saw the film back in May. Fr Jeremy suggested to WAMCF that we show an interfaith screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing. This took place on Thursday 24th September. Having seen the film, attendees broke into small groups with people they didn’t know to discuss how they felt about the film. The dialogue was intense and far reaching, respectful and thoughtful. There was a common recognition that we’re all in this together and that everyone has a role to play. Some participants wanted to share the film with their families, friends and more widely; some felt that we needed to ensure that we influence people with the power to make national changes; others wanted to reflect further and pray for guidance; others to make changes within their own sphere of influence.
As well as bringing the climate crisis to the attention of more people, the evening showed community cohesion in action by bringing people together to discuss a topic that impacts everyone.