climate crisis – The Green Tau

First Sunday of Advent

30th November 2025

Reflection with readings below

The passage from Isaiah sounds like system change – a radical transition from an economy of warfare to one of agriculture. Looking back over recent history, we and previous generations have experienced the transition from canal to rail transport, from horse to car, from coal power stations to gas power stations, from UK based cotton mills to imported cotton, from UK built engines to imported ones, from the UK beach holidays to Mediterranean package deals. Each transition from one dominant industry or medium to another has come with feelings of fear and feelings of optimism, of job losses and job gains, of resistance and of advancement.

Would similar feelings be experienced by those who were traditionally makers of swords and spears who see their skills being devalued? And what of those in ancillary trades – the makers of shields and helmets for example? What about the bankers who financed the wars and took their cut of the spoils? What of the young men who has been taught that manliness was exemplified by bring a warrior? Conversely would there be feelings of optimism and excitement amongst those who make ploughing shares and pruning hooks, or ploughs and grape presses? Amongst those skilled in cultivating the land, in turning wheat into bread and grapes into wine? And amongst the wives and mothers?

On Thursday I attended the National Emergency Briefing where we heard from ten speakers with scientific and similarly qualified backgrounds, talking about the current and future situation vis a vis the impact on us of climate change and biodiversity loss. The morning was both sobering as we heard of the enormity of the risks we face, but equally encouraging when we also heard about the transition that could be made to a healthier, safer (but not cooler – the current increase in temperature and its impacts is already built in) future. But to get to that future will need radical transformation of the way we live, a radical change in the way the government legislates mandatory restrictions on the use and exit from fossil fuels, a radical change in the way resources are distributed – and a radical change in the way the public are informed about the risks and opportunities that lie ahead.

Change and transition can be feel scary and daunting. Has our Christian faith any insights and support to offer? Have we stories to tell that will enable people to hear and understand the truth of our current situation and the potential ways forwards?

The message that runs through all the Bible is one of hope, that destruction will not be the end of all things, that evil snd hatred will not win, that God will be there for us, that the gift of love will never be powerless. From the story of the Garden of Eden to the story of Noah’s Ark, from the Exodus from Egypt to the Exile into Babylon, despite whatever sins have been committed and mistakes made, each story reminds us that God always remains faithful. From a homeless birth to a life on the road, from the mocking of religious leaders to the misuse of power by those in authority, Jesus lived through the now all to common experiences of many of the vulnerable in our world, yet remained true to his calling. And in the strength that came from the power of his resurrection, which he shared through the Holy Spirit, we too have the strength and power to remain true to our calling to be at one with all of creation.

I think our faith tells us of the importance of loving our neighbour – whoever or whatever or where ever they are. It tells us of the importance of listening to others, hearing their pain and anger, understanding how they have experienced life thus far. It tells us of the importance of discerning the truth. It tells us of the need to be humble and generous and sacrificial. And it rejoices in all that is good. It rejoices in the joy of fellowship and friendship. It rejoices in the beauty of creation. It rejoices in the peace that comes from God.

Can we bring these gifts to the conversations about climate change, about biodiversity loss, about social injustice? Can we bring these gifts to conversations about changing our lifestyles – eating less meat and dairy, opting for active travel, insulating our homes, buying what is needful rather than wasteful? Can we bring these gifts to conversations about making a just transition from fossil to renewable energy? Can we bring these gifts about a just transition that enables everyone’s Ila needs to be met? And about how our banking and investments can shape that future? Can we bring these gifts to conversations about how we can prepare for the emergencies that lie ahead – the potential of flash floods, of heatwaves, of power outages – and how we can support each other as resilient communities? Can we bring these gifts to conversations about creating and maintaining green and blue spaces from which we can all benefit?

Yes I think we can and we should – both as individuals and as churches.

NB Franciscans International and the Lutheran World Federation produced a report this autumn about making a Just Transition.

“Just Transition is a transition towards a sustainable economic system where the wellbeing of people and the planet is central. It requires reimagining the dominant capitalist mode., which drives relentless extraction and exploitation. This system must give way to an economy rooted in ecological sustainability, social equity and collective care. Climate action must be embedded within a framework that values human dignity, community resilience and the rights of nature, rather than its commodification.

“Just Transition isa transformation and a shift that calls for systemic change…

“Just Transition is a transition towards climate actions that must be rooted in a robust ethical framework that prioritises justice, fairness and equity for all …”

Click to access COP30_Just_Transition_ENG.pdf

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!

Psalm 122

1 I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;

4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the Lord.

5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
“May they prosper who love you.

7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.

9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good.”

Romans 13:11-14

You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Grief and sorrow over our failure to care for creation

22nd November 2025

My eyes grow dim with weeping. Each day I beg your help; O Lord, I reach my pleading hands to you for mercy. Soon it will be too late! Psalm 89:9, 10a

You Lord, are the source of all good things:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation:

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives:

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Luke 18: 9-14 (The Message) Jesus told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’” Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Response

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail our loss:

Bluebells that cannot keep pace with climate change,

Ash, elm and chestnut trees felled by disease,

Frogspawn that succumbs to unseasonal cold,

Butterflies caught out by unseasonal rain.

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail our loss:

Wetlands that are no longer wet,

Curlews that have nowhere to feed,

Streams overwhelmed by fertilisers,

Rivers polluted by sewage.

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail our loss:

Glaciers receding up mountains,

Alpine plants pushed over the edge,

Mountain hares with nowhere to go,

Moorlands and tundra burnt to a cinder.

Suffering God,

Full of grief, I pour out my sorrows;

Full of mourning, I bewail our loss:

Oceans with no whales,

Savannahs with no elephants

Coral reefs with no coral,

Icecaps with no ice.

Merciful God,

Forgive us our greed and our complacency,

Our folly and selfishness.

Forgive us when we have failed to see our errors,

and have chosen to overlook our faults.

Forgive us when we have not listened to the facts,

preferring to believe our own stories.

Forgive us when we have ignored the plight of others,

caring only for number one.

Restore in us a right mind and a right spirit.

Strengthen our hands and our hearts to care for your world.

Embolden our will to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Free up our grasp on wealth and resources

that all may benefit from your bounty.

Release us from our pride and self assurance

that we can truly worship you,

our creator, redeemer and sustainer.

Amen.

The Grace

Counting on … 175

29th October 2025

Private jets -2

For climate activists there are three clear reasons for wishing to ban private jets.

On a per passenger basis they are the most polluting mode of transport
Private jets represent a most unequal form of transport. They are the domain of a small elite – whilst 80% of the world’s population have never flown. (There are about 22,000 to 23,000 private jets worldwide).
They are a wasteful and unsustainable mode of transport, carrying a small number of passengers, flying short distances, making them fuel-inefficient. (1)

As a status item, with a growing wealthy elite in not just Europe and North America but globally, there is the potential risk that private jet use and ownership will rise, increasing their impact on the environment.

“In recent years, the private aviation market has experienced unprecedented growth. Once seen as a luxury reserved for billionaires and celebrities, private jets are now becoming a practical choice for entrepreneurs, corporations, and even affluent families. The reasons behind this surge are multifaceted—ranging from convenience and privacy to safety and efficiency” !! (2)

In the UK (second most frequent private jet flyer after the USA) flights in private jets have increased fourfold between 2020 and 2022 – from 19,000 to 90,000 flights a year.

You can sign Greenpeace’s petition calling for a ban on private jets here:

https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/etsLeadGenPE20230331-utm-term-/5txbn3/2827246452/h/LtGGnZlkzDS-QRLiFqU2jVEm1XIDnrJezh3SY2Tgi7U

Counting on … day 148

22nd September 2025

Lack of political will can also worsen the impact climate change. Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health, UCL explains it thus: “The IPCC’s summary entirely avoids the phrase “natural disaster”. This reflects decades of work explaining that disasters are caused by sources of vulnerability – such as unequal and inequitable access to essential services like healthcare or poorly designed or built infrastructure like power plants – rather than by the climate or other environmental influences.

“The [2022 IPCC] report states, with high confidence, that “climate change is contributing to humanitarian crises where climate hazards interact with high vulnerability”. In other words, vulnerability must exist before a crisis can emerge. Climate change is not the root cause of disaster. The report explains that places with “poverty, governance challenges and limited access to basic services and resources, violent conflict and high levels of climate-sensitive livelihoods” are more vulnerable to climate change impacts.”

“The report explains that disaster risk and impacts can be reduced by tackling fundamental issues which cause vulnerability, no matter what the weather and climate do. It places high confidence in risk management, risk sharing, and warning strategies as key tasks for adapting to climate change.” (1)

(1) https://theconversation.com/ipcc-report-how-politics-not-climate-change-is-responsible-for-disasters-and-conflict-178071

Counting on … day 147

19th September 2025

Interestingly, lack of political will is seen as a key factor in the failure of governments to address climate change.

“Political cowardice is hindering European efforts to face up to the effects of the climate crisis, even as the continent is pummelled by a record-breaking heatwave, the EU’s green transition chief [Teresa Ribera] has warned.…A major part of the problem, she added, was that some political parties “continue to insist, quite vehemently, that climate change does not exist”, or else say that taking decisions to adapt to environmental realities is too expensive. ‘You can’t tell people that climate change is the great existential problem of our generation, and then say, “I’m sorry, we’re not going to do anything”’. (1)

Whilst here in the UK, successive governments are reluctant to enact the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee – a committee set up by Parliament and tasked with researching how the UK can successfully transition to net zero, mitigating our environmental footprint and adapting our infrastructure commensurate with the already built -in impacts of climate change. Twice now Friends of the Earth and Client Earth have challenged the adequacy of government plans in the courts and won the legal argument. (2) The government has now to issue a new climate plan which should be published October 2025. (3)

(1) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/political-cowardice-hindering-europe-climate-efforts-eu-green-chief-teresa-ribera

(2) https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/whats-uks-climate-plan-and-why-do-we-need-new-one

(3) https://friendsoftheearth.uk/latest/govt-publish-new-climate-action-plan-october

Counting on … day 143

15th September 2025

Climate inequalities don’t have to be accepted. Change is possible. Friends of the Earth have produced a report entitles the Big Climate Plan detailing what could be done in the UK to address climate inequalities. (1) And they have produced another report showing how the costs could be met by taxing those causing the climate crisis (2)

“The “polluter pays” principle is the idea that those most responsible for emissions and pollution should pay the most towards tackling them. The “polluter pays” principle is the idea that those most responsible for emissions and pollution should pay the most towards tackling them.“

(1) https://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/Fairness Report_Friends_of_the_Earth_Digital.pdf

(2) https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/taxing-polluters-pay-climate-action

Proper 19, 13th Sunday after Trinity

14th September 2025

Reflection with readings below

Jeremiah’s message was clear: God’s people needed to know how to do good not evil. For when their behaviour was evil, their fruitful land would become a barren desolation. Prophets don’t so much predict the future, as spell out the consequences of different course of behaviour, highlighting what may happen when the wrong course of action is taken – and this is seldom a message people want to hear. The calling of a prophet was – and is – not easy. No one likes being told they’ve got it wrong. Jeremiah was always outspoken in his role as a prophet – regardless of the consequence for his own safety. He ended up being put down an empty well as well as being taken against his will to Egypt.

Jeremiah’s words and actions however came from his deep closeness to God and his knowledge of God’s wisdom. This wisdom revealed to Jeremiah that when people lived in opposition to God’s will, in opposition to the ways in which the Earth – God’s creation – worked, the results would be suffering and disaster.

When we read the words of other prophets such as Isaiah (whose words are expounded in this year theme for the Season of Creation – Peace with Creation – Isaiah 32:14-18) we find the same message: when we humans do not engage with God’s wisdom, when we do not pursue justice, when we do not live in harmony with the world God has created, then suffering and disaster ensues.

For decades now, we humans have been ignoring the consequences of burning ever greater quantities of fossil fuels. We have turned a blind eye to the unjust systems that mean the poorest suffer the most. We have failed understand that the Earth can not provide a limitless supply of resources to meet our growing appetite for more and more luxuries. If Jeremiah or Isaiah were here today they would be shouting out from the rooftops, calling us to repent and transform the way we live. They would be disrupting our lives with prophetic actions. They would be challenging the systems of rule and money that perpetuate the disregard for God and planet.

This week Christian Climate Action launched a document entitled ‘Stop Crucifying Creation’ which calls on the Church to take up that same prophetic role exercised by Jeremiah and Isaiah. In response to the accelerating climate crisis and the growing inequalities between rich and poor – both within and between nations – the Church is being called upon to use its corporate position to speak about the truth of these crises, to challenge those in positions of power who are aiding the unfolding suffering and disaster – governments and corporations. The Church is also being called to renew the vision of the early church which sought to nurture loving, caring and sharing communities.

Loving, caring and sharing communities have to be places where everyone is included and valued. In today’s gospel story, the Pharisees want to draw a distinction between themselves and those others who were tax collectors and sinners. So Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep – and then of the lost coin. In each case, the one that is lost is not indistinguishable from the others: the one hundred are all sheep and all to be cared for; the ten coins are all coins to be equally valued. Jesus’s message is a reminder not to ‘other’ the person – or community – that we perceive as not being ‘PLU’s. For those of who are climate activists, we need to remember that fossil fuel directors, insurance brokers and investment bankers are just as important in God’s eyes – not because of what they do but because of who they are: children of God. Indeed as the epistle writer tells us, it is the grace of Jesus that should overflow through us with faith and love.

And it is the message of the prophets and the psalmists that God does seek out and care for those who have gone astray so that all may flourish.

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28a

At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse– a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.

“For my people are foolish,
they do not know me;

they are stupid children,
they have no understanding.

They are skilled in doing evil,
but do not know how to do good.”

I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.

I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.

I looked, and lo, there was no one at all,
and all the birds of the air had fled.

I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.

For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

Because of this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above grow black;

for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back.

Psalm 14

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” *
All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;
there is none who does any good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon us all, *
to see if there is any who is wise,
if there is one who seeks after God.

3 Every one has proved faithless;
all alike have turned bad; *
there is none who does good; no, not one.

4 Have they no knowledge, all those evildoers *
who eat up my people like bread
and do not call upon the Lord?

5 See how they tremble with fear, *
because God is in the company of the righteous.

6 Their aim is to confound the plans of the afflicted, *
but the Lord is their refuge.

7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come out of Zion! *
when the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners– of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 15:1-10

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Counting on … day 142

12th September 2025

The inequalities exposed by the climate crisis are also feeding growing health inequalities. And health inequalities increase wealth inequalities.

“A new [2023] report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal[ed] that the health impacts of climate change will be disproportionately felt by disadvantaged communities, significantly exacerbating existing health inequalities. The findings show that vulnerable groups – including people with disabilities, homeless populations, and those in deprived areas – will bear the brunt of extreme weather like heat waves and floods, which are becoming more common due to greenhouse gas emissions. This amplifies existing disparities, where those in poverty already have lower life expectancy.” (1)

The report does highlight that prompt intervention to tackle the issues of the climate crisis could simultaneously improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable. For example

* insulating homes addresses climate change by reducing carbon emissions whilst at the same time providing healthier homes because they will be both warmer and less prone to mould.

transitioning to smaller, electric vehicles – with an increase on good public transport – reduces both carbon emissions and air pollution so improving health outcomes.
if more journeys switched from cars to cycles, the improvements in health would be significant.
If more trees were planted and green spaces secured, more carbon emissions would be absorbed and more rainfall would be absorbed, whilst improving the mental and physical health of nearby residents and workers
Transitioning to a largely plant based diet, would reduce carbon emissions from livestock farming and release land for rewilding, and at the same time improve healthy eating.

https://raceequalityfoundation.org.uk/news/new-public-health-report-shows-climate-crisis-will-drastically-worsen-health-inequalities/

Counting on … day 140

10th September 2025

The inequalities around the wealth/ income and the climate crisis around that mean the poorest are more significant impacted by adverse weather conditions.

People with low incomes/ wealth cannot afford to install double glazing or home insulation so when temperatures are uncomfortably hot or cold, they cannot protect themselves. Many live in small badly designed homes that do not allow for a through flow of air during hot weather and equally may have large glass windows allowing in excessive amounts of heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Often these properties may be rented meaning that occupants have to rely on landlords to instal climate adaptions – and then still incur the – possibly unaffordable – costs through increased rents and service charges.

People with low incomes/ wealth cannot afford the upfront capital cost of installing energy – and therefore cost-saving – systems such as heat pumps and solar panels, again meaning that they are continually disadvantaged.

Counting on … day 138

8th September 2025

Inequalities vis a vis the climate crisis exist not just between richer and poorer nations, but also between different communities within individual nations. Typically poorer communities struggle more and are more frequently adversely affected by the climate crisis. Whilst richer communities are better insulated against the impact of climate change whilst at the same contributing far more to the problem.

“The wealthiest 1 per cent of people in the UK each produce 11 times the amount of carbon emissions of someone in the poorest half of the population … Their carbon footprint is 6 times that of the national average. Those in the wealthiest 10 per cent – with income after tax of at least £41,000 per year – have a carbon footprint that is more than double the national average and four times that of someone in the poorest half.” (1)

Richer people because they spend more, consuming more goods and services, will generate a larger carbon footprint. At the same time, as influencers and trend setters they encourage others to to mimic their high carbon lifestyles. One clear example of this is the explosion in the number of SUVs that now fill our streets. These began life as a utility vehicle for areas where the ground was rough and unsuitable for regular vehicles. Next they became the new toy for the rich and wealthy. Now they are the must-have for the aspiring classes. So rather than seeing a switch to smaller, less polluting electrical vehicles which would benefit air quality, reduce pollution, and assist in mitigating the affects of climate crisis, we have a increased pollution and higher carbon emissions.

(1) https://www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-releases/wealthiest-brits-have-a-carbon-footprint-11-times-that-of-someone-in-the-poorest-half-of-society/

More information on SUVs –

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c778ekg64mjo