Churches Together in the Merseyside Region have sent a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offering their support and prayers ahead of COP28.
The annual conference, which sees global leaders meet to discuss matters involving the climate, will be taking place in the United Arab Emirates, and got underway on Thursday.
While praising work that has already been done, church leaders expressed their concern over the disproportionate effect climate change is having on the poorest people.
As well as this, they also point towards the Climate Change Committee’s assessment that the UK’s prospects of meeting its own Nationally Determined Contribution had worsened since last year.
They ask for government support in continuing to support local and regional initiatives as well as poorer and more vulnerable communities.
On the flip side, they praise work done locally with initiatives like Cool 2 on the Wirral, Liverpool City Region’s five-year-plan and the Local Nature Partnership.
The letter ends with a quote from Pope Francis’ latest letter “Laudate Deum” saying: “The most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone, but above all from major political decisions on the national and international level.”
Signatories of the letter include: The Reverend Dr Sheryl Anderson, Chair of the Liverpool Methodist District, Right Reverend Julie Conalty, Suffragan Bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chester, The Reverend Geoff Felton, Moderator of the Mersey Synod of the United Reformed Church, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Right Reverend Thomas Neylon, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Liverpool, The Reverend Phil Jump, Regional Minister, North Western Baptist Association, Major David Taylor, Divisional Commander, North West and Isle of Man Division, Salvation Army, Reverend Dr Tani Omideyi, Senior Pastor & Chair of Love and Joy Ministries UK, The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool.
You can view the full letter here.
