On the basis that:
- The world is facing a severe crisis of environmental degradation and climate change that affects our ability to sustain human civilisation in its present form,
- The main cause of the crisis is human activity,
- The crisis is inextricably linked to global injustices, inequality and extinction of many species,
- The crisis indicates a failure of human beings to follow God’s mandate to care for the world and to seek justice among its peoples,
we, the leaders of St Mark’s Church, Harrogate, want to publicly recognise a Climate and Environmental Emergency, and commit ourselves to:
- Examining our lives individually and corporately in relation to this crisis and seeking to live faithfully to God,
- Bringing forward by the end of 2023 an action plan to minimise our negative corporate impact on the environment and climate and to help restoration where possible,
- Encouraging our members to make relevant lifestyle changes appropriate to their circumstances,
- Encouraging action on this emergency in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and other spheres of activity,
- Using whatever influence we may have to bring about positive actions by local and national government, corporations and other organisations.