The Wave soaks London's streets in prayer

London: October 24, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

National church leaders took to the streets of London last week, to prayer-walk the route of December's The Wave march for climate justice.

Steve Clifford, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, joined with Matthew Frost of Tearfund, Roger Forster of Ichthus, Dr Richard Vautrey of the Methodist Church and David Reed of the Salvation Army, to walk part of the route that thousands of campaigners will be marching at The Wave in December.

The Wave, which will be the UK's biggest ever climate change demonstration and is organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, will start with a church service at Westminster Central Hall with the Archbishop of Canterbury after which Christians of all denominations will pour out of the church and join the march and rally to campaign for climate justice. Thousands of people will join together, wearing blue, to demonstrate a wave of support for the UN climate talks due to take place the following week in Copenhagen.

'We know that climate change is already affecting people in the poorest countries of the world, who have done the least to cause it,' says Matthew Frost, Chief Executive of Tearfund.  'Around the world, local churches are supporting people to adapt to the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of potential natural disasters, and it's important that we as Christians support them in prayer and campaigning action so that we see a strong and fair climate deal in Copenhagen.'

UK churches are already gearing up to take part. 'It's vital that we as Christians recognise our responsibility to speak up for justice and unite on the big issues that we believe are on God's heart,' says Steve Clifford of the Evangelical Alliance.

'The Wave is an amazing opportunity for us to express our commitment to and identification with the world's poorest people. I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved.'

The Wave is organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, of which Tearfund is a part, and takes place on Saturday 5 December.