Christians hold vigils at MP Offices ahead of COP28

In the lead up to COP28, Christians have been holding vigils outside their local MP’s office and asking their MP to meet them.

Why? We have are urging the UK government to pay the Loss and Damage funds that it owes to countries on the sharp end of climate breakdown.

Last year at COP27, world Governments agreed to create an International Loss and Damage Fund to compensate for the severe impacts of climate change on communities. The UK Government has yet to commit any funding to this. Members of CCA will be urging their MPs to ask questions in Parliament about this fund ahead of COP28.

Below are photos and details on some of the vigils that have taken place

LONDON

In London, a vigil was held outside Parliament. Those present were praying for leadership on climate and for COP28 to have greater impact for those most vulnerable to climate change. The Bishop of Kingston was part of the group and joined in the silent prayer.

LINCOLN

The vigil took place on Lincoln High Street. It brought together Quakers, Anglicans, a Methodist and individuals of different faiths.

WREXHAM

Jackie Knightly held a prayer vigil outside her MP’s office, Sarah Atherton MP, in Wrexham in advance of the upcoming COP28. She posted a copy of ‘Laudate Deum,’ Pope Francis’ most recent writings calling for political change on a national and international level to tackle the #ClimateCrisis. She also asked her MP to raise awareness of how vital a Loss And Damage fund is, to make sure that vulnerable communities in the Global South are adequately recompensed for the loss and damage they suffer from the effects of climate change.

If you are based near Wrexham and would like to join Jackie in future vigils, please let us know by contacting christianclimateaction@gmail.com

BERWICK UPON TWEED

This vigil was held outside the office of Anne Marie Trevelyan MP. This felt particularly apt as Anne Marie Trevelyan holds the office of Minister of State (Indo Pacific), a region where people are already living on the frontline of the climate emergency.

NEWBURY

Around 56 people gathered in Newbury Market Place. The vigil was made up of a variety of different groups including CCA; church groups from various different denominations; Buddhists; Friends of the Earth; XR; the local Green Party & Lib Dem members and Councillors.

The vigil included 30 minutes of reflections, poems, silence, and words of sorrow for the cries of the Earth and Creation. The local MP had been invited but was unable to attend.

BRISTOL

Bristol CCA group held a peaceful prayer and meditation vigil on College Green. About 25 people came together to pray for their local MPs ahead of COP28, and focussing on the need for a proper Loss and Damage fund. As well as sitting in prayerful silence, they had leaflets to hand out to passers-by explaining the action.

Canon Jonnie Parkin, from Bristol Cathedral, was there to be a listening ear for anyone suffering from climate anxiety.

College Green was the ideal place – bordered by City Hall (home of Bristol City Council), Bristol Cathedral, and Park Street (one of the main shopping streets in Bristol). For those who held the vigil the area represented politics, faith and commerce.

LIVERPOOL

The two members of CCA spent an hour outside Dame Angela Eagle’s office in Sherlock House, Wallasey. They spoke to passersby and prayed. They used a mixture of Christian Aid prayers, extracts from Laudate Deum and silent prayer.

And then Christian Climate Action held a prayer walk in Liverpool on 5th December, the day when COP28 focussed on Energy, Just Transition and Indigenous Peoples. The walk started at 11 am outside an HSBC pop-up bank, stopped at a number of premises in the city and ended at No1 Mann Island, office of Seadrill (oil and gas rig leasing). Outside each stop a statement was read linking the site to the Climate and Ecological Emergency, followed by prayer.