Parishioner’s Climate Change Concern in Wales

28 February 2008

Delegates from across South Wales and Herefordshire took part in a conference held at Llantarnam Abbey, Cwmbran, to look at what the faith response should be from the Catholic community in Wales to the real and present challenges of climate change.   Mary Colwell, a parishioner from Cathedral and inspiration behind Sound of Many Waters, was the opening speaker. 

Over eighty delegates from across the Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff, including the Archbishop of Cardiff, Most Reverend Peter Smith, attended the conference which was organised by CAFOD Wales (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) and JPIC (the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Network) which featured guest speakers and workshops in the afternoon.   

Mary Colwell, a senior producer with the BBC Natural History Unit, drew on her work producing some of the landmark BBC nature programmes to highlight the damage we are doing to the planet and also gave examples of how strong leadership is needed from faith communities if the issues of climate change are to be tackled.

Mark Dowd who works for Operation Noah an ecumenical organisation set up to tackle climate change spoke about the evidence of climate change and pointed to some the possible solutions while at the same time warning against complacency. He also highlighted the fact that it is people in developing countries who will be most affected by climate change.

Both speakers and the workshops provoked a lively debate among delegates. Richard Laydon Head of CAFOD Wales said, “It was very encouraging to hear delegates talking about what action they were going to take not just in reducing their own carbon footprint but also in lobbying the Government and MPs to ensure that the forthcoming Climate Bill is robust enough.”

Pauline Lawrence Secretary of JPIC said, “I was pleased that so many delegates attended and took on board the fact that caring for the environment was central to their faith.”

Clifton CAFOD has a climate change event coming soon.   Listen to the latest CAFOD Calling to find out more.

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