Church bells across the country could ring out at 6pm this evening (Saturday) in a call for action on climate change.
Organisers hope hundreds of churches and cathedrals will take part in the campaign, timed to take place on the eve of international climate summit COP26, BuckinghamshireLive reports.
Environmentalist Edward Gildea, a member of St Mary's Church in Saffron Walden, Essex, came up with the idea to act as a warning of the danger from the climate emergency.
He said: "We mostly associate church bells with the call to worship, weddings and very special national celebrations. But they also have another historic function: to ring out warnings.
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"I believe the climate emergency is a time of real national crisis and I would urge all churches to ring out a warning and to remind the delegates of the urgency of the dangers we now face.”
The campaign, 'Clang for Climate', also urges people to come to their doorsteps for ten minutes armed with pots and pans to make a loud noise.
The UN summit begins on Sunday and brings together 196 world leaders, plus an estimated 20,000 delegates to commit to reducing in carbon emissions to avoid a climate emergency.
Bells traditionally have been rung to mark significant moments, from times of celebration, such as victory in war, and as a warning of impending danger like invasion.
Bishop of Norwich Revd Graham Usher, the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment, he said: “Church bells have traditionally been rung through the centuries to raise the alarm for local communities.
"The recent “code red” report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an alarm call for us all."
