The New Campaign to change the WorldBen Niblett - 28 Mar 2017

“This is our generation’s challenge - the previous generation didn’t know about it, the next generation will be too late to affect it, so it falls to us”

On our news, it’s hard to miss stories of droughts and floods that are affecting communities all over the world. And in recent years, governments across the world have been discussing the importance and significance of our changing climate.

Whatever we hear or see, it can be hard to know how to respond to climate change. What should I think? How should I act? How can I pray?

“Love does no harm to a neighbour”

-Romans 13:10

In response to this, organisations from countries across the world have united to launch a new campaign: Renew our World. A response to climate change and its impacts on our neighbours globally.

The campaign unites a global movement of Christians calling for a just and sustainable world for everyone. Martin is a campaigner in Zambia and has seen first-hand the significance of climate change. He says:

“In Zambia, climate change is the worst form of injustice. The victims of climate change are usually the poor who themselves have less means to pollute the environment.

The Renew our World Campaign will provide a platform for the church in Zambia to pray for change, address the root causes of climate change and lobby the government to take appropriate actions in favour of the poor.”

Our vision is that through our prayers and actions, and by speaking out to governments and leaders, together we’re shaping a world that reflects God’s love. We want everyone, everywhere to enjoy fullness of life.

There are more droughts, more floods and more unreliable rain in many places, so it’s getting harder for poor communities to make a living.

The huge typhoon that hit the Philippines in 2013, the major drought now causing food shortages for 16 million people in East Africa, and 2014’s flood in my street in England were all made more likely by the changing climate.

When we burn petrol in cars or planes; when we burn coal, oil or gas for heating; when we farm cattle or cut down forests, gases are pumped into the atmosphere. These all make the world warmer - that’s what’s pushing the climate and the incomes of the poor out of balance.

We want to renew the balance. And I’m hopeful we will.

We have a great opportunity because 195 governments signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, back in 2015. They each promised to announce new national climate plans in 2018, and now is the time to hold governments to account on those promises, so that everyone can thrive.

The church has a leading role to play here. So we’ll need to speak up in many nations, and pray. That’s top of the list of what Christians contribute.

We started the campaign on 1 March with prayer: in different nations and communities - church prayer meetings, prayer walks, individual devotions and prayer - we prayed about climate change, God’s world, and our neighbours.

This is our generation’s challenge - the previous generation didn’t know about it, the next generation will be too late to affect it, so it falls to us.

So pray with us, and join us in action too by heading to the website. And if you’d like to start to pray:

Lord,

Renew our spirits and cleanse our hearts

Renew our minds and transform our lives

Renew our cities and rebuild our ruins

Renew our world, in your name we pray

Amen

About Renew Our World:  A global community of people doing justice as we follow Jesus. Tearfund is part of a group of organisations running this campaign together.

Find out more: renewourworld.net