News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Bishop-Nick-Holtam-and-Francois-Hollande-main_article_image.jpg
Sean Hawkey/WCC
UK News

Climate talks extended as environment bishop meets French president

World leaders are meeting in Paris for discussions aimed at combating climate change.

Organisers say the talks are taking longer than expected because of disagreements between countries.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who is chairing the talks, has now said the final version of the draft agreement will not be produced until Saturday morning, pushing back the finish time of the talks well beyond the official Friday evening deadline.

Meanwhile the Bishop of Salisbury met with Francois Hollande to present a climate justice petition signed by 1,833,973 people calling for a fair, ambitious and binding deal.

Addressing the group, which included leaders of other faiths, the President praised the assembled and campaigners from across the world.

He said: "Through the petitions, through the walks and pilgrimages, you have committed to defend life. It is necessary that all citizens engage and mobilise, like you have done.

"Your example has paved the way. I hope these pilgrimages and petitions will have as much influence as possible, while we're still negotiating the [Paris] agreement."

Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, told the President: "People of all faiths urge all parties to agree on a Paris deal applicable to all. Following the acts of terrorism in this city we want the world to act together, in care of our common home.

"For it to be ambitious, the agreement must include a long-term goal drastically cutting the world's carbon footprint and making the transition to clean energy ... It must also have a tool to review and increase countries' contributions, to review and increase ambitions as gaps arise.

"When they go home, governments must actually start to deliver a low-carbon future."

The key issues of finance for poor countries to deal with climate change, the differences in responsibility and actions of developed and developing countries, and the overall level of ambition in the agreement, are still the focus of political dispute.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam told Premier's News Hour that he thinks positive change will come from this: "I think they're within touching distance of a really good deal, it must be difficult to get an agreement between all those different parties, but there's a real willingness to do it."

"Christians have got something to contribute to this because the church is local everywhere, and we have from our relationships with other churches learnt how this impacts on poorer countries, that's where the biggest hit is taken first, but this affects all of us."

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam here:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate