Methodist Climate Cyclist arrives in Copenhagen

Survey shows that 1 in 5 people are using their cars less

Ben Bradley has cycled 140 miles to the United Nations climate change summit at Copenhagen, with a group organised by Christian Aid.

Ben, Events Coordinator for the Methodist Church, has spent the last three days travelling with a team of 28 Christian Aid cyclists to bring a simple message to world leaders in Copenhagen: It’s not raining, it’s pouring – time to act on climate change.

Last month, a survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Methodist Church showed that around 1 in 5 people are using cars less in favour of other forms of transport such as cycling. It also showed that around one in 20 people are flying less.

On arriving in Copenhagen, Ben said: “We may all be tired from cycling, but in an important sense, the real journey starts here. It’s make or break time – at Copenhagen it is essential that our leaders make some hard choices and decide on real action for the future of our planet.” People can find out more about Ben’s journey by visiting his blog: www.climatecycleride.blogspot.com.

The cyclists will join a mass rally in Copenhagen today, lobbying world leaders to take bold action and make real commitments to tackle climate change. While in Copenhagen, Ben also plans to deliver a letter of solidarity from the President of the British Methodist Conference to a church representative from Bangladesh.

The Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the United Reformed Church have urged the European Union to agree cuts of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and for these cuts to be made without extensive use of carbon offsets. The three churches have produced a report and study guide called Hope in God’s Future. The booklet, available from Methodist Publishing (www.mph.org.uk), takes the reader on a journey using the changing mood of a worship service as a framework for considering climate change and our impact on the planet.

Source: Methodist News Service 12/12/2009