The Archbishop of Wales, the Right Reverend Andrew John, is hosting a summit this week to talk about the pollution of Wales’ rivers – and says it’s a chance to show that the Christian faith “is not just about worshiping within our walls, it goes far beyond and at the heart of what matters to the people of Wales.”

The Restoring Welsh Rivers Summit, which takes place on 7 and 8 November in Cardiff, brings together over 90 people including scientists, farmers, environmentalists and water industry representatives to discuss ways to improve water quality.

Archbishop John said river pollution had become a critical issue, particularly with regard to water quality in the Wye and Usk. “This summit is a powerful opportunity for the Church in Wales to demonstrate that we do much more than lead hymns on Sundays,” he said.

“We are deeply connected to the everyday lives of people in Wales and that gives us the right – and responsibility – to speak out about the issues that affect their health, wellbeing and future. Environmental problems such as polluted waterways, floods, land degradation and so on affect everyone in this country. As an institution that serves and cares for society, we consider our business to be part of the solution. The well-being of the earth and people are interconnected, and when the environment suffers, so does the health and prosperity of our communities.”

The Archbishop was delighted to see how well non-Church stakeholders involved in the issue responded to the involvement of the Church in Wales. He said: “I have been really encouraged by the positive response from so many. Environmental experts, charities and advocacy groups have been incredibly supportive. They see the Church as a powerful ally and I think they welcome our involvement because we can reach people in places where other organizations might struggle to get involved.”

He said that in Wales, where a third of the population lives in rural areas, connecting with the natural environment was key to people’s way of life. He explained: “When we protect the environment, we protect our communities, recognizing that the health of the earth and the well-being of its people are deeply connected. In Wales, this connection is even more pronounced, with so much of our culture and economy tied to the land. By engaging in the protection of nature, we fulfill our moral obligation to care for both creation and our neighbors.”

For the Archbishop, caring for the environment is also a direct response to God’s instructions in Genesis to be stewards of creation. He said: “When we engage in the protection of nature, we honor that sacred calling. There is also a strong sense of justice behind this work. It is often the poorest and most vulnerable among us who bear the brunt of environmental degradation, and fighting for nature is a way of standing in solidarity with those most affected.”

The summit was timed to coincide with Wales Climate Week, which takes place on the eve of COP29, the UN’s annual climate summit, which this year takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 November. The meeting was called ‘COP Finance’, with the main focus being on the need for countries to agree on a new flow of finance for poor and vulnerable countries that need support to deal with the impacts of climate change and to help them invest in renewable energy . .

The Labor Government is also expected to announce a national climate plan, called a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which all countries are required to deliver by February 2025. These plans, intended to be more ambitious than every time, they are what make up Paris. I agree.