“We need to address climate concerns in our hearts and minds.” Bishop Ruth told clergy and church members from across the diocese at a climate crisis event organised with the charity Send a Cow to hear how farmers in Somerset and Africa are already being forced to adapt and alter their working practices to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Hosted on the farm of Bath and Wells Rural Affairs Adviser, Rob Walrond, the group heard first-hand how climate change is forcing farmers in every country, to find new ways of operating. As a local illustration, Rob showed how a new flood alleviation scheme, set up on his farm, will help mitigate the damage caused by the kind of floods, which have destroyed farmland and homes on the Somerset Levels in recent years.
Titus Sagala, Country Director of Send a Cow Kenya, joined the gathering via live link to talk about the climate crisis in rural Africa where changing rainfall patterns mean drier soil conditions.These in turn reduce the growth of crops, pasture and trees, and together with the reduced availability of water for irrigation, all threaten agricultural production.
Robs says, “The climate crisis is a worldwide thing, though different parts of the world are affected differently, we are all having to address the problem and work together to understand what more we can all do to help.”
Following a month in which we have seen devastating, extreme weather across the globe; with flash floods in Germany, wildfires in Siberia, Turkey and Greece as well as landslides in India, a meeting of organisations to support and influence change could not have been timelier.
As a diocese Bath and Wells has declared a Climate Emergency and is committed to support and influence change. Bishop Ruth said, "Responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God's creation" and she stressed the need for us to understand that "the decisions we make have an impact on everyone.”
Send a Cow have produced a series of Harvest resources for use in churches and schools.