Repent: Weymouth priest's message as world leaders meet for Cop26
A Weymouth priest is calling for big polluters to repent and turn their backs on fossil fuels as leaders meet in Glasgow
Last updated 1st Nov 2021
'Repent,' is the message from a Weymouth priest as Glasgow's COP26 climate conference gets underway.
The message is primarily for big polluters, but Rev Alasdair Kay of All Saints Wyke Regis says we all need to turn our backs on fossil fuels.
The UN conference brings parties together from all over the world to accelerate action to stop the planet heating above manageable levels.
Rev Alasdair Kay told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"My hope and my prayer is that the key polluters turn up and the key polluters repent.
"It's an old word that we don't hear much these days but actually right across our planet we do need to repent, we need to turn away from our use of fossil fuels, we need to reduce our consumption of meat and dairy products, we need to actually work actively to look after the biosphere and not just tackle the issue of carbon emissions.
"I see this as an expression of my faith, that following Jesus calls me to repent, but I think actually here we are looking on a mass level of what repentance might mean is that we change how we live because of love.
"I've got a grandson who's six, but I'm terrified for his future. I want two things, I want him to live in peace and I want him to know the love of God, and I am frightened that he will live in peace."
Alasdair is one of many faith leaders who is travelling up to Glasgow to take part in an Earth Vigil, providing what he describes as prayer and spiritual support for the conference. He's taking part alongside Climate Christian Action, the church wing of Extinction Rebellion.
As a priest, Alasdair says he's often invited on cruises to serve as a chaplain. But, this year he passed up on that opportunity. He said:
"I sat there and I thought, that's going to mean getting on two long-haul flights, that's going to mean me getting on board a ship which is going to be belching.
"I knew I was left with a moral choice, what do I do? Do I reduce my carbon footprint, or do I carry on enjoying life?
"I think love for my grandchildren, and love for the generations to follow should make us act."
He added:
"You're only a hypocrite if you stand for something, it's when you stand for nothing, that's the easiest thing to do.
"I think that's the challenge of being a Christian and being a climate activist. It's a hard road to take because everybody watches everything you do and they want you to trip up."