Methodists marching for action on climate change

Leading Methodists will take part in the I Count rally in Londonon 4 November. The event is organised the Stop Climate Chaoscoalition and backed by Operation Noah, an ecumenical Christianmovement backed by The Methodist Church.

Vice President of the Conference Dudley Coates and Secretary forInternational Affairs Steve Hucklesby will both speak at a worshipservice at Grosvenor Chapel. Following the service there is a rallyat Grosvenor Square with speeches from politicians andenvironmentalists. A march will then take people to the massgathering in Trafalgar Square.

Dudley Coates says 'We hope as many people will join us on the day,to make their voices heard and to demonstrate that this is an issuethat affects us all. But there are many things people can do evenif they can't join the march on the 4th. Climate change is one ofthe key issues we face: none of us will be immune from its effectsand all of us have a part to play in addressing it.'

The rally is prompted by the United Nations' Climate ChangeConference from 6th November in Nairobi, Kenya. Governments willdiscuss how to meet carbon emission targets set by the Kyotoprotocol and further commitments beyond 2012. Dudley Coates says'it is important that our governments make the tough politicaldecisions necessary to move us forward. There is considerablewillingness in the private sector and in society to tackle climatechange but we in the developed countries in particular need toimpose effective limits on carbon emissions. The science tells usthat we have to be on an irreversible downward trend by 2015. Toachieve that will involve real challenges to our present lifestyles. Our grandchildren will not thank us unless we take actionnow.'