By the Revd Hannah Higginson
Climate change and care of our planet is something that – praise God! – seems to finally be taking centre stage in society’s thinking.
Yes, we are still preoccupied with leaving Europe, getting a new Prime Minister and other important issues, but it seems that we are waking up to the realities of a changing climate and the role we have to play.
Recently, I went, along with a group of other Wokingham residents, to The Time is Now climate justice lobby in London.
It was a great occasion with around 16,000 people from all over the country gathering to show their MP, and the nation, the value of this precious world.
I am encouraged that our local Borough Council is looking to declare a Climate Emergency and commit to Wokingham Borough becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This will involve efforts to reduce congestion and encourage use of alternative transport, as well as working to protect green spaces and reduce waste.
The council has an important role to play in this, but so too we, as residents, can take steps to work towards a carbon neutral society that is cleaner and a better place to live for all.
Our actions in turn will contribute to our country achieving its target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, helping, we pray, to safeguard this precious world for the generations to come.
Be encouraged and inspired, I urge you, all is not gloomy in the state of the world, and with positive thinking, positive actions and one or two prayers, I am hopeful that we can work together to save this world which God has made.
The Revd Hannah Higginson is associate priest of All Saints Church in Wokingham, writing on behalf of Churches Together Wokingham