COP30 (this year's UN climate change conference) in Brazil runs from Monday 10 - Friday 21 November 2025. We are highlighting the amazing work in climate action throughout our diocese, as well as providing reflections on the COP30 conference and its global importance.
Read, Watch, Pray
Read
Read Revd Dr Mike Perry's reflection on taking a 'mutirão' against climate change. The Revd Dr Mike Perry writes, "Mutirão is a Brazilian Portuguese word describing neighbours joining forces to harvest, build, or solve a problem for the good of all. It carries Indigenous wisdom about shared work and mutual care. As Brazil hosts the COP30 climate change talks in Belém, the heart of the Amazon, it has offered mutirão to the world as a way of responding to the climate crisis - not as a slogan but as an invitation to common action."
Read the full reflection here.
Care for Creation and Eco Church
"During COP30 this year, we are focusing on amazing climate action work throughout our diocese.
The new ‘Care for Creation & Eco Church’ course started this autumn in Weymouth & Portland and Lyme Bay deaneries, with 22 participants attending the first of four study days.
The course brings together the three strands of science, theology, and practical action.
On Saturday 18th October, the focus was on Climate & Energy, with an exploration of our God-given ‘Creation Commission’ in Genesis 1 & 2.
Dan Crooke, diocesan lead on Net Zero Carbon, gave an excellent presentation on how we can respond as churches, and Jane Brackenridge from Radipole churches Eco Team (silver award) gave an inspiring presentation on their work with Eco Church, ending with a visit to the autumnal beauty of St Ann’s churchyard.
The course, created and led by former research scientist Rev Dr Nigel Dilkes, is a joint venture with Rev Lorna Johnson, diocesan adviser on Growing Faith (Climate Action). Further details: nigedilkes@gmail.com & lorna.johnson@salisbury.anglican.org"
Local COP, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
On 1 November, over 300 people met in Sturminster Newton for the annual Dorset COP meeting, sharing how in towns, villages, farms, homes, churches, schools, and businesses have been working towards a more sustainable future. The shared belief that many small actions, added together, are significant and can inspire further change.
Hilfield Friary and Beaminster (our two Gold Eco Churches), members of the DBF, and leaders of a Wiltshire COP network, swapped practical plans and practical know-how with groups busy with protecting wildlife, river ecosystems, clean, cheap community energy generation, retrofitting buildings, sustainable community food production and clothing use.
Revd Lorna said, “It was inspiring to be among a whole community of people in Dorset, ready to welcome individuals and community and statutory partners into the real change they were demonstrating is possible on the ground.
Whether or not COP30 achieves its goals, our local work endures. To join the Global Mutirão is to resist despair and affirm that God’s Spirit still moves among us—calling neighbours and nations to labour side by side in restoring the earth."
To get involved contact lorna.johnson@salisbury.anglican.org
Watch
Watch Revd Dr Mike Perry discuss the importance of COP30 and creation care to us as Christians.
Watch Ned Remington's Q and A on the importance of COP30 and the impact Christians have globally:
Watch Revd Lorna Johnson reflect back on COP30 and discuss the next steps.
Pray
A prayer from the Archbishop of York:
Almighty God,
whose Spirit moved upon the face of the waters
and whose breath gives life to all living things:
renew the earth by your mercy,
and make us faithful stewards of your creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A prayer for COP30 from Revd Dr Mike Perry, Bishop's Advisor on Climate Action:
God of creation and mercy,
As nations gather in Belém guide leaders to choose truth over delay and courage over comfort.
Strengthen by your Spirit the will to cut emissions, protect forests, and fund adaptation and loss and damage so that communities in poverty may flourish.
Give courage to the Indigenous guardians of the Amazon.
Inspire your church to pray, to speak, and to live faithfully for the healing of the earth you love.
We pray in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all creation is bound together.
Amen.