Bishops of London and Liverpool call for Lent Carbon Fast

Photo Credit: Ben Stansall/
PA WIRE

05/02/08

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, and the Bishop of Liverpool and Vice President of Tearfund, James Jones, have today joined up with development agency Tearfund in calling for a cut in personal carbon use for each of the 40 days of Lent.

Together, they have launched a nationwide ‘Carbon Fast’, a forty-day journey through Lent, towards a lighter carbon footprint, with a simple energy saving action per day.

Participants are asked to begin the Carbon Fast by removing one light bulb from a prominent place in the home and live without it for 40 days, as a constant visual reminder during Lent of the need to cut energy. On the final day of the Fast, people are encouraged to replace the missing bulb with an energy-saving bulb. Over its lifetime that one bulb will save 60kg of carbon dioxide per year and up to £60.

Tearfund and the Bishops have launched the fast because of the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, and to protect poor communities around the world who are already suffering from the ravages of climate change.

Bishop Richard said:

“We all have a pivotal role to play in tackling the stark reality of climate change. A whole host of scientific studies have made clear that it is no longer possible to find excuses for doing nothing. Nor it is not enough to point the finger of blame at others and to demand that somebody should act for us. Now is the time for individual and collective action in addressing the unsustainable way in which we are exploiting the earth’s resources. Together we have a responsibility to God, to future generations and to our own wellbeing on this earth to take action.”

Bishop of Liverpool and Vice President of Tearfund, James Jones said:

“Traditionally people have given up things for Lent. This year we are inviting people to join us in a Carbon Fast. It is the poor who are already suffering the effects of climate change. To carry on regardless of their plight is to fly in the face of Christian teaching. The tragedy is that those with the power to do something about it are least affected, whilst those who are most affected are powerless to bring about change. There’s a moral imperative on those of us who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption.”

Related links

Shrinking the Footprint - three simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint
Carbon Fast from Tearfund