Biography

Mike is an ecologist working for Natural England, specialising in climate change adaptation and mitigation, doing science and applying it to policy and practice. He is a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, working with a group of international colleagues to produce a chapter on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems for the 6th Assessment Report. He has authored over 150 scientific papers, reports and book chapters and am a visiting research associate at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute.

 He is a Lay Minister in his local Anglican church and has recently been appointed to a volunteer role as President of the John Ray Initiative (connecting environment, science and Christianity).

Abstract

Mike will talk on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, both globally and in the UK. He will consider how restoring damaged ecosystems can build their resilience, help people to adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and capture carbon. He will also explore the limits to which ecosystems can help us in tackling climate change and how ecosystem-based approaches need to be part of a larger drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

Mike will reflect on the Christian imperative for better environmental stewardship, the balance between prayer and a busy working life and the spiritual benefits of spending time in nature.

Video

Slides

Mike’s slides are available in .pdf format at this link.

Andrew’s Hymn

In response to Mike’s talk Andrew wrote this hymn:

Called to be partners with God in creation, 
stewards of the biosphere, what can we do?
How can we work with the land as it’s changing, 
working more flexibly, alter our view. 

Here with a climate that’s moving, evolving, 
summers are drier, but winters more wet, 
storm, drought and flood, matched with wildfire, erosion, 
raising the question how great is our debt?

Help us to learn how to live with each species, 
neighbours to share with our planetary store.
Earth has a cycle, a sensitive balance, 
ours to care fairly, destroy or restore. 

God infuse learning, respect for creation, 
give us humility, channel your grace; 
all earth’s resources are precious, yet finite, 
help us to value all life in this place.

Andrew Pratt 12/5/2021
Words © 2021 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 11.10.11.10
Tune: STEWARDSHIP(Ruddle); EPIPHANY HYMN; SPEAN

Andrew also wrote another hymn in response to Mike’s abstract which you can read on his blog-site.