by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York
In this season we call Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we enter a time of preparation, a time of expectation and a time of waiting. And yet, with regard to the climate crisis, we can wait no more.
I have loved watching the Frozen Planet Two series, exploring the wildlife found in the coldest regions of our earth and finding out what species are doing to survive in these extreme conditions, what threats they face in the future and how quickly they might adapt.
How they make such programmes is a tribute to the skill, patience, ingenuity and dedication of all involved. It is an incredible gift to be able to share in God’s creation, whether from our armchairs or by looking to what is just on our doorsteps.
Sustainability takes different shapes all around the world. In parts of Mali, people work to protect elephant habitats. Along the coast of Thailand, mangroves are being restored. Throughout Brazil, groups are struggling to prevent deforestation. Whatever form sustainability efforts take, they ultimately have the same goal of promoting the wellbeing of both humans and nature, a balance in harmony.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth is integral to us all as human beings. Advent calls us to wake up, pay attention, and be alert to God and to what is happening in the world around us. We can each reduce, reuse and recycle more. We can no longer say that we do not know the impact of the way we are living. It is only by facing the reality that we can find the way forward.
May you find hope and harmony this Christmas
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York