Young Christians to march from Cornwall to Glasgow to campaign for Climate Justice

10/06/2021

Hundreds of young Christians are to lead a pilgrimage which spans the length of the country – from the G7 to COP26.
A poster reading "there is no planet b" is held up by a young person at a School Strike for the Climate event

Marching from Cornwall to Glasgow, the pilgrims will call on world leaders to address the Climate Emergency. 

The Young Christian Climate Network has organised a relay route where young activists will each complete a stage. Instead of a physical baton, each relay group will carry the same message of crucial action needed to reverse climate change.

The relay will move from Truro Cathedral, near to where the G7 are meeting, to Glasgow where COP26 will be begin on October 31.

World leaders will be meeting in both places and young Christians are hoping nations will take tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Truro Cathedral

The relay is expected to see a number of young people opting to do small walks or cycle rides between the stopping points. 

Rachel Mander, a young Christian and the relay co-leader, said: “We stand in solidarity with people and places that are being plunged into debt and poverty because of climate change. 

“More carbon emissions mean more disease, more food insecurity and more poverty.

“We will not let the UK government host summits on our doorstep only to hear more talk and no action.”

Volunteers are encouraged to sign-up to support walkers, cyclists, and other pilgrims as the relay passes their diocese – a full list of the route can be found below. 

Launching in Truro Cathedral, the relay will begin after a service of blessing led by Bishop Hugh Nelson.

A replica boat which displays messages from young people around the world will be placed outside Truro Cathedral following the service. 

The sails of a boat which will be placed outside Truro Cathedral by the YCCN relay group

Truro recently launched an initiative which encouraged young people to sing to world leaders, asking for them to tackle the climate emergency. 

The song known as Sing2G7 was written by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs and garnered thousands of views and participation from across the world. 

Parishioners, clergy, and bishops are supporting efforts for the world leaders to tackle the climate emergency. 
 

More information:

  • Young people and their supporters are being encouraged to get involved in any way they can. More information can be found on the YCCN Relay website
  • The Church of England has made an ambitious pledge to achieve carbon net-zero by 2030. Details of the scope were provided in autumn 2020
  • The route goes through several Church of England Dioceses on the route to Glasgow (and more up to date details are available on the YCCN website):
    • Truro Diocese 13-23 June
    • Exeter Diocese 24 June-6 July
    • Bath and Wells Diocese 7-12 July
    • Bristol Diocese 13-17 July
      • NB: The Cardiff-Bristol route will be joining at this point having left Swansea on 3 July
    • Bath and Wells Diocese 18-19 July
    • Salisbury Diocese 20-23 July 
    • Winchester Diocese 24-28 July 
    • Oxford Diocese 29 July – 2 August
    • London Diocese 3-10 August
      • NB: Some tributory routes will be joining at this point having left Canterbury Diocese and East Anglia earlier.
    • St Albans Diocese 11-13 August
    • Oxford Diocese 14-19 August
    • Coventry Diocese 20-22 August
    • Birmingham Diocese 23-28 August
    • Lichfield 29 August
    • Derby Diocese 30 August-1 September
    • Southwell and Nottingham 2-4 September
    • Derby Diocese 30 August-1 September
    • Sheffield Diocese 6-7 September
    • Derby Diocese 8 September
    • Manchester Diocese 9-14 September
    • Leeds Diocese 15-18 September 
    • York Diocese 19-24 September
    • Leeds Diocese 25-27 September
    • York Diocese 28-29 September
    • Leeds Diocese 29 September
    • Durham Diocese 30 September-3 October
    • Newcastle Diocese 4-15 October
      •  NB: The route will then leave Berwick-upon-Tweed and enter Scotland. It concludes on 31 October in Glasgow.