Young Cornish Christians demand climate justice at G7 summit

A group of young Christians from across Cornwall are urging their peers to sign an open letter to World Leaders demanding climate justice ahead of the G7 summit. Leading up to the Cornwall summit on 11-13th June, the young people are aiming to generate 1,000 signatures to gather as much public interest as they can, with intentions of reaching 5,000 names by the COP26 event in November.

The open letter, exclusively written by young people aged between 11-19, calls on the world's most powerful leaders to cut CO2 emissions to zero, end funding of fossil fuels and support the world's poorest communities that have been affected by climate change.

A UN Development Programme (UNDP) poll in January 2021, found that two-thirds of people think climate change is a 'global emergency', with 69% of young people aged 14-18 showing the greatest concern. Moreover, a Tearfund UK poll this year, concluded that 9 out of 10 christian teenagers were not only concerned about climate change, but wanted to take action to do something about it.

Georgia Allen, one of the young people involved in writing the open letter said: "This project has personally been of pivotal importance, as it has allowed myself and other young generation individuals to stand up and vocalise our disappointment towards the lack of leadership and actions from world leaders to act sincerely and effectively to halt climate change. It has also provided us with a platform from which to prompt leaders that, as a generation, we will not accept inadequate and ineffectual actions. "

The youngsters from across Cornwall are being su: ported in their campaign by churches and charities including Tearfund and CreationFest. The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Anglican Bishop in the Diocese of Truro said, "It has been a privilege listening in as this group of young Christians from Cornwall have shared their hopes and fears for creation care, and have become such a strong and faith-filled voice for change."

A 1.5 mile prayer walk during the week of the G7 is also planned by the group, to further highlight the action the World Leaders need to take in limiting the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees. At the end of the walk they will pray for churches, leaders and those impacted by climate change. Whilst the faith of the young people is inspiring them to take a stand for justice, any young person or adult, of Christian faith or none, can add their signature to the letter.

Steffan van Berk aged 14 from Carbis Bay, Cornwall- "The future looks alarming, but it is not too late to do something about it. What we do now will affect the next few thousand years. We all contribute to the problem and it is everybody's responsibility to help fix it. Young people can speak up to raise awareness and call on everyone to reduce our energy-use, recycle to limit waste, supporting renewable energies to reduce the negative impacts of using fossil fuels, and thinking of new and better ways to make electricity using natural resources such as the sun, wind and water. We need to harness natural and clean forces which will never run out."

More information on the letter and where to sign can be found at: https://wearetearfund.org/takeastand/

See the Youtube video of the young people's voice here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLh-vN01YDc