Joining with others over things we think are important to change can give us and others hope.
Margaret Mead, an American Anthropologist once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has.“
On this page there are details of international, national and local groups and organisations that you might want to link up with, such as Faith for the Climate, Christian Aid, Green Christian, Operation Noah, Hope for the future, Christian Climate Action, Sustainable Newham, Redbridge Climate Change Forum, and single issue campaigning groups. You can also hear from contemporary theologians, politicians, naturalists, scientists, and ordinary people as to why they think joining with others in our fight to prevent further destruction and devastation of the environment via global warming is important.
National Organisations
The organisations below are some of the best-known UK-based faith organisations involved in taking and supporting action to bring about change to address ou environmental crises.
Faith for the Climate is a national interfaith orgainsation that aims to encourage, inspire and equip faith communities in their work on the climate crisis. Subscribe to their newsletter here.
Christian Aid has a strong focus on climate justice, recognising that storms, droughts and floods continue to impact the most vulnerable communities around the world, who have done the least to cause the problem. It provides prayer resources, as well as suggestions for contacting your MP and specific campaigns to benefit the most vulnerable communities, such as one on the Loss and Damage Fund. If you or your church wants to think about global engagement, Christian Aid is a good place to start.
Green Christian is a community of ordinary Christians across the UK from all backgrounds and traditions, inspired by faith to work to care for creation, through prayer, living simply, public witness, campaigning and mutual encouragement. They have a prayer guide with prayers for each day, run courses and promote action including specific campaigns.
Operation Noah was set up by Green Christian. It is probably best known for its work on finance and climate, particularly the Bright Now campaign which calls upon UK Churches and faith institutions to lead the way in divesting from fossil fuels, investing in climate solutions and ensuring responsible stewardship of land to fight against climate change.
Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians supporting each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic, anthropogenic climate breakdown, inspired by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, and following the example of social justice movements of the past, in carrying out acts of public witness, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed.
Christian Climate Action Prayer Vigil outside Parliament February 2024
Hope for the Future is dedicated to training and supporting people to engage in effective and constructive conversations with their local politicians on climate and nature, enabling people to have a say in environmental decision-making.
Coming together to act
Increasingly, organisations that see the need speak up about our environmental crises are coming together to do so. This is just one example. On June 22nd 2024, over 350 organisations and 60,000 individuals came together in a mass demonstration in London demanding that the next government (not yet elected at that point) take urgent action to "Restore Nature Now."
Many people from east London and Essex were part of "Restore Nature Now," including Rachel Summers, curate in Walthamstow, and forest school and forest church practitioner, who led a workshop outside the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair where there was a service before the march to Parliament Square.
Among those present at the workshop and on the march was Clement King, aged 12.
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Read Clement's article about Restore Nature Now
The march was on Saturday 22nd June 2024. We gathered at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair and ended in Parliament Square. The aim of the march was to ‘Restore Nature Now!’ This means that we restore and rewild nature in the UK. 60,000-100,000 passionate people with 350 charities attended. This shows how imminent this issue is and how it might threaten the life on this earth.
We met up with Revd. Rachel Summers and some other Christian Climate Action people outside the church. Rachel is a pioneer curate who led us in Forest Church worship. There was an opportunity to make: a paper swift from the sky, a paper jellyfish from the sea, and clay paint from the earth. We also noticed 5 things we could see, 4 things we could hear, 3 things we could feel, 2 things we could smell, and 1 thing we could taste.
After that, we ate some lunch and birthday cake as some family birthdays were coming up. We sat on the woodland grass area outside the church, looking at the trees and listening to the birds.
On the march it was a very nice vibe where we were chanting and singing, calling for a better future. There were lots of people dressed up, including some people operating a huge puppet bird, and some people in a worm. Also there was lots of colourful homemade banners and signs and we saw the Green Rebels who dance and mime, dressed all in green from head to toe. I made a paper swift attached to a stick, but most people had slogans on banners. Some of the slogans included: ‘give bees a chance’, ‘speak up for nature’, ‘I`m a climate voter’, ‘for wildlife, for wellbeing, for everyone’, ‘this is nature defending itself’, and of course ‘Restore Nature Now!’
It felt really powerful and inspiring to walk with so many other people who want to restore nature.
We walked all the way to Parliament Square and we sat on the grass. There was a stage with some speakers and one of them was Chris Packham. We listened to some music and then we went to the Royal Parks café for a brownie and went home.
If some people were thinking of going on a similar march in the future, I would really recommend it. It is a really friendly, positive and peaceful atmosphere and it is good to feel that you were taking action for change.
Local organisations
There are local groups for some of the organisations mentioned above.
East London and Essex Christian Climate Action was formed in the autumn of 2023to enable those in East London and Essex to take meaningful action together as we face the deepening climate crisis. The group takes part in actions in central London and elsewhere, meets monthly for prayer and bi-monthly to plan. Contact: Cynthia Wenden
Colchester Green Christian is a Green Christian (see above) Local Group in which people support one another in their ecological discipleship. Contact: John Clifton
Sustainable Newham exists to provide coordination and support to people and organisations in Newham who are actively running or planning environmental or sustainability projects.
Redbridge Climate Change Forum was formed to develop thriving local network of like-minded individuals who can work together to develop new ideas, collaborate on grass roots projects and identify new ways to meet the challenge of the climate crisis together.
Why should we link up and speak up?
Read why Ruth Valerio gets involved in some of the public actions to raise awareness of our environmental crises here.
Listen to Sue Parfitt, retired Anglican priest, and well-known environmental campaigner, talk about what motivates her to take action. This is thee story of an indefatigable climate campaigner. It's a short version of a documentary by Peter Armstrong in 2022.
In this short sermon, Diocesan Environmental Officer, Rev Sandra Eldridge, talks to Geoff, an environmental campaigner, about why he campaigns.
