In recent years, the increasingly radical protests of Eco warriors have irritated, annoyed and infuriated many people. The disruption of events, art galleries and sporting activities by climate activists have grabbed the headlines.

There are some climate change deniers in the UK. Thankfully they are in the minority. Most people in the UK recognise that we face a huge challenge. We want to do what we can to stave off the worst effects of climate change for ourselves, for those who come after us, and for the world’s poorest communities who face the biggest threat.

While most of us wouldn’t describe ourselves as Eco warriors, many of us are anxious and worried about the future if there isn’t enough action now. We feel like telling environmental protesters “we care too!”

But we feel that we don’t have a voice because we don’t have the level of commitment that people like Greta Thunberg have. Because we do not have impeccable eco credentials and we not want to be seen as hypocritical, we keep quiet.

Impeccable Eco credentials require enormous changes in lifestyle which not everyone can immediately do. Eco-Friendly heating systems are desirable but very expensive. Avoiding using air travel (or paying realistic carbon offset fees) is impossible for some and a big sacrifice for others. Significant reductions in the things that we buy, the things that we eat, and the things that we do for the sake of the environment require radical changes in the way we think and live. We know what is needed but it is hard to do.

I would never describe myself as an Eco warrior. There are too many areas of my life that are not as environmentally friendly as they need to be. However, I am on a journey. I am slowly becoming more environmentally conscious and this is slowly impacting more areas of my life. I do not wish to be hypocritical and so I will not claim to be “eco”.

But I will tell people that I am trying to be more eco.  For me I cannot afford to get an electric car, but I can change my diet to be more eco-friendly.  What small or large changes are you beginning to make?

As I hear from other ordinary people who are trying to be more eco-friendly, I am encouraged to make further lifestyle changes. I do what I can as quickly as I can. Others cannot impose changes on me and I cannot impose changes on others.  But we can inspire and encourage each other through the humble sharing of the small or large changes we are beginning to make.

We certainly do need to be focused on doing all that we can as soon as we can. It can feel as if it’s all a bit too late. But as a Christian, I strongly believe that there is always hope. This is God’s world that he loves. We are called to care for it and he wants to help us.

If the next step on the Eco journey for you seems a step too far please don’t give up.  I would urge you to talk to someone who has already made that step, and also ask for grace and strength from God to take that next step for the sake of all of us.

Rev Richard Heard, Vicar of St Francis Church