3rd May 2026

Patrick Watt, the CEO of Christian Aid, told UK newspaper, The Independent that the impacts of the climate crisis are already “completely changing” the nature of poverty in developing countries. Rising global temperatures and extreme weather are now hugely impacts the challenges the poorest people face around the world. Christian Aid has an 80 year history of a working with small-scale rural farmers, helping them to organise and gain access to new market opportunities. “But in the past 10 years, we have, out of necessity, changed our approach here to encompass climate adaptation," said Watt. He added, we now do "everything from encouraging people to grow climate-resilient crops, to building warehouses that can withstand floods, or introducing more sustainable water management practices.”  Data from  the World Bank and UN Development Programme, support Christian Aid's assessment that climate change has become a primary driver of poverty around the world, with nearly 80 per cent of the world’s poor – some 887 million people living in regions exposed to extreme heat, flooding and other climate hazards. Fossil fuel emissions continue to be the single biggest contributor to climate change. Watt linked the climate crisis to a debt crisis, saying that  high-income countries have slashed grant-based foreign aid resulting in a situation where “a lot of poor countries are borrowing more to pay for climate adaptation”, said Mr Watt. Such a situation is completely unsustainable given the already-unmanageable levels of debt in many of these countries. 

Loving God, you created a magnificent world full of life and diversity, with interconnected ocean currents, wind systems, tides and seasons; a world full of bounty, full of possibility and potential. You declared it to be good. For this we give you thanks, praise, honour and glory. But we ask your forgiveness for we have been poor stewards and have neglected to care for the work of your hand. In this time of climate breakdown wake us from our slumber, equip us afresh to be the justice-shaped people of God. Fill our hearts with love for all adversely impacted by extreme weather events whose homes and livelihood are lost.  Help us to have compassion for climate refugees, people caught up in climate-related conflicts.  Move among the leaders of nations that they will urgently move to curtail the expansion of fossil fuel use and champion renewable forms of energy. Loving God, may care of your creation and care of people all made in your image be the primary driver of economic policy.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Temperate rainforests once accounted for 20 percent of Britain’s land area, dominating its western regions.  Today just one percent of temperate rainforests remain. However, in 2023, The Devon Wildlife Trust in south west England took ownership of 75 acres of sheep-grazed land with support from insurance company Aviva.  The aim was to create a temperate rainforest. Huge numbers of volunteers worked through all weathers planting thousands of native trees and shrubs across one third of the site. The saplings of oak, birch, rowan, holly, alder, willow, and hazel were all sourced from local tree nurseries.  Three year on some 7,000 trees are forming a new temperate rainforest. Claire Inglis, Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve Officer, said: “I’m so proud of what we and local people have created here at Bowden Pillars. The weather hasn’t always been the kindest to us. This past winter has been one of the wettest on record and yet our volunteers have still turned up regularly, while the community planting days we organised also attracted good numbers of local people. Without their efforts we couldn’t have planted so many trees so swiftly.”  In years to come, the temperate rainforest will provide a haven for mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns and many animals including stoats and pine martens, as well as rare birds such as wood warblers, redstarts, and pied flycatchers. 

You can find out more about the Devon Wildlife trust here.

How marvellous and wonderful

you have been to children like us,

almighty, loving, merciful and eternal God.

We glorify your Holy Name.

May you be exalted among the nations.

We thank you for your great love and care.

We rejoice that you are always with us

and will never leave us.

We give you glory for your incredible sacrifice

so that we might have freedom and life.

We bless you for bringing hope

through the toughest of times,

strengthening us for your purposes.

We thank you for your inheritance of eternal life,

that we may live forever at one with you.

We will sing of your almighty power for all eternity.

Amen.