CATHOLIC schools and churches in Southampton are calling on politicians to take action on climate change before we lose the things that matter most.

Parishioners from St Joseph and St Edmund’s, St Boniface and Christ the King and St Colman will be gathering in WestQuay Shopping Centre on Tuesday to encourage people to support CAFOD’s One Climate, One World campaign.

They will be joined by pupils from St George College and Charlton House Prep, who will be bringing with them giant heart displays which feature individual pledges to change something in their lives to tackle climate change.

The University of Southampton’s Catholic Society will also join the united show, in the hope that little changes made by everyone will help save our climate for generations to come.

Catholic aid agency CAFOD launched the One Climate, One World campaign in a bid to get political leaders to secure an ambitious global deal to cut carbon emissions and to move towards sustainable energy.

The charity is arguing that climate change, which most scientists believe is being driven by human activity, is the biggest threat to tackling poverty worldwide.

Lynda Mussell, CAFOD manager for Southampton, said: “People around the world are already feeling the impact of changes in our climate.

"Some families in Peru are losing crops as glaciers melt, others in Bangladesh are facing more extreme weather, such as flooding and cyclones.

“We believe we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with people around the world and to ensure that future generations here in the UK can enjoy the things we all love – by insulating our homes, switching to a green energy supplier, or by cutting down on our driving.”

Sophie Dodgeon, from CAFOD, added: “Climate change is the single biggest threat to reducing poverty.

"The people CAFOD works with are experiencing the effects of changes in climate right now, whether it’s typhoons or floods destroying entire communities, or unpredictable seasons for farmers leaving millions hungry.

"The changing climate is also affecting the things we love at home, such as the price of our favourite foods.

“It’s great to see people across Southampton demanding action and standing in solidarity with people who are being affected by the changing climate.

"CAFOD would like to thank them for their support.”