THE Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, is hosting a summit this week to speak concerning the pollution of Welsh rivers — and says that it’s a likelihood to indicate that the Christian faith is “not only about worship inside our partitions but goes far beyond and into the guts of what matters to the people of Wales”.
The Restoring Welsh Rivers Summit, which takes place on 7 and eight November, in Cardiff, brings together greater than 90 people, including scientists, farmers, environmentalists, and water-industry representatives to debate technique of improving water quality.
Archbishop John said that river pollution had turn out to be a critical issue, particularly with regard to the water quality of the Wye and the Usk. “This summit is a strong opportunity for the Church in Wales to display that we do way more than simply lead hymns on Sundays,” he said.
“We are deeply connected to the on a regular basis lives of the people of Wales, and that provides us a right — and a responsibility — to talk on issues that affect their health, well-being, and future. Environmental issues similar to polluted waterways, flooding, soil degradation, and so forth, touches everyone on this country. As an establishment that serves and cares for society, we see it as our business to be a part of the answer. The well-being of the land and the persons are interconnected, and when the environment suffers, so too does the health and prosperity of our communities.”
The Archbishop was pleased to see how well the non-church stakeholders involved in the difficulty had responded to the involvement of the Church in Wales. He said: “I’ve been truly heartened by the positive response from so many. Environmental experts, charities, and advocacy groups have been incredibly supportive. They see the Church as a strong ally, and I think they welcome our involvement because we will reach people in places that other organisations might struggle to have interaction.”
He said that in Wales, where one third of the population live in rural areas, connection to the natural environment was key to people’s lifestyle. He explained: “When we protect the environment, we’re protecting our communities, recognising that the health of the earth and the well-being of its persons are deeply connected. In Wales, this connection is much more pronounced, as a lot of our culture and economy is tied to the land. By engaging in nature protection, we’re fulfilling our moral obligation to take care of each creation and our neighbours.”
For the Archbishop, caring concerning the environment can also be a direct response to God’s instruction in Genesis to be stewards of creation. He said: “When we engage in protecting nature, we’re honouring that sacred calling. There can also be a robust sense of justice behind this work. It is usually the poorest and most vulnerable amongst us who bear the brunt of environmental degradation, and standing up for nature is a way of standing in solidarity with those that are most affected.”
The summit has been timed to coincide with Wales Climate Week, which takes place on the eve of COP29, the annual UN climate summit, going down this yr in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 November. The meeting has been dubbed the “Finance COP”, with the foremost focus being the necessity for countries to agree a recent funding stream for poor and vulnerable countries that need support to cope with the impact of climate change and to assist them spend money on renewable energy.
The Labour Government can also be expected to announce a national climate plan, called a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which all countries are required to submit before February 2025. These plans, intended to be more ambitious every time, are what make up the Paris Agreement.
