'Pope Francis' and 'Martin Luther' call for reformation of economy to tackle climate change

A direct action protest was held yesterday outside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Members of Christian Climate Action held a vigil, performed street theatre and used red spray paint to call for a radical reformation of the economy to protect humankind and abundant life on earth from climate change.

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the second anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, 'Pope Francis' and 'Martin Luther' visited BEIS to remind our government of their commitments to tackle climate change under the Paris Agreement and the Climate Change Act. A litany for the earth was said while the Catholic priest Martin Newell (50) and Phil Kingston (81), dressed as Pope Francis and Martin Luther, wrote 'Radical Reformation of the Economy now' and 'Stop Climate Chaos' in red paint on the department's plaque.

The police were called, but the department decided not to press charges at this time.

Caroline Harmon, a member of Christian Climate Action, said: "We disagree with the premise of the department that climate instability can be solved as part of a strategy for economic growth. The short-term health of the economy is being prioritised above the health of the planet. Whilst we welcome some elements of the department's recently published Clean Growth Strategy, it just isn't enough to meet our Paris Agreement targets. The state of creation is desperate. We have all the information, science and technology we need to lead the world away from the cliff-edge of climate instability towards a sustainable future. Whether we have the time is debatable. We must act now."

Fr Martin Newell said: "Current government policy, as implemented by this department, is ignoring the major threat and reality of climate change. The changes needed include a move away from the persistent idolatry of never ending economic growth, on the altar of which god climate, people and the life of the planet are being sacrificed."

Phil Kingston, who is a grandfather, said: "Our action today was an act of penance as well as witness for our complicity in climate change. It was a small thing, but faith can move mountains."

The short drama sketch was made up primarily of actual quotes from Pope Francis and Martin Luther.

In Laudate Si, Pope Francis writes: 'The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology ... is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth's goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry at every limit.'

Read more about Christian Climate Action: https://christianclimateaction.wordpress.com

The Government's recent Clean Growth Strategy leaves the UK significantly off track achieving its targets according to Carbon Brief. www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-how-the-clean-growth-strategy-hopes-to-deliver-uk-climate-goals