Climate Relay Passes Through District

Young people from the Sheffield District walked through Chesterfield, Sheffield & the Peak to draw attention to the devastating effects of climate change.

The District were delighted to welcome and join The Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) and Christian Aid to highlight the effects of climate change on the world's poorest communities.

The walk – called the Relay to COP26 – began in Cornwall in June and will finish at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November covering an epic 1200 miles.

As the relay passed through Derbyshire North East, Sheffield and the Peak Circuits, District Chair Gill Newton, along with other faith leaders got an opportunity to walk through Sheffield City Centre with the young people to the Cathedral where Climate Sunday was being celebrated.

The relay spent three days in the District, arriving in Chesterfield on Sunday 5th September and leaving Bamford on Tuesday 7th September to highlight how many of the world's poorest countries are facing the double threat of a global pandemic and the ongoing effects of climate change through extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.

The walkers were also joined by a purpose-built boat, the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim symbolises the idea that we are all facing the same climate storm, but we are not all in the same boat when it comes to resources to face those challenges. The Pilgrim will display messages from people around the world who are affected by the impacts of climate change.

You can follow the progress of the relay and find out more by visiting https://www.yccn.uk/

District Chair, Gill Newton said: "Climate change is having a major effect on the world and it's time we all worked together to do what we can to help others and also minimise further damage to the planet.

"During this Connexional year we are focusing on how, as a District, we can combat climate change and play our part within a much-needed master plan to help save lives and save the planet for future generations."

Watch out for further details of events and how you can work with your Circuits and Churches as we focus on climate change within our missional priorities.