Isaac Harvey, a member of URC Youth and award-winning vlogger who edits videos using his feet, has released a short film urging the United Reformed Church (URC) to divest from fossil fuels.

Isaac, 23, who attends Vine URC in Ilford and was born with limb/pelvic hypoplasia syndrome, produced the film entitled For the Love of Our Planet: Fossil Free Future. It follows a film he produced last November to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, entitled This Ability.

The film communicates the story of three church members – Isaac Harvey, Peter Musgrave and Camilla Quartey – showing the power of local action and the urgent need to respond to the climate crisis.

Vine URC made a divestment commitment last October in support of the campaign for the wider United Reformed Church to divest from fossil fuels. It was recently joined by eight more local churches which announced their divestment commitments as part of the Easter Declaration for Fossil Free Churches.

In the film, Isaac echoes the words of Greta Thunberg and the young people who have taken part in school strikes across the world: ‘As a Christian, I am full of hope for the future. But we don’t see the adults doing much…’

Peter Musgrave speaks about having witnessed the impacts of climate disruption while living in Bangladesh for several years as a Mission Partner for USPG. He highlights the risks faced by those living by rivers and coastal areas, including cyclones, rising sea levels and drought.

Three United Reformed Church Synods – Thames North, South Western and Scotland – all passed resolutions on fossil fuel divestment at their Synod meetings in March, which will now be considered at a national level at URC Mission Council next month.

The URC Synod of Yorkshire became the second URC Synod to divest from fossil fuels in March, after the National Synod of Scotland made a divestment commitment in 2015. It highlighted the major contribution of fossil fuel companies to climate change and its disproportionate impact on the world’s poorest communities.

The producer and editor of the film, Isaac Harvey, said: ‘I was inspired to make this film after the recent school strikes, since young people and those living in poverty are among those most affected by climate change. I enjoyed working on this film with Operation Noah, Commitment for Life and Vine URC, and hope to work with them again in the future, as this is only the beginning!’

James Buchanan, who works for Christian climate charity Operation Noah on the Bright Now divestment campaign, said: ‘It has been a privilege to work alongside Isaac, who has done amazing work on this powerful and moving film. We hope it will inspire many other churches to follow the lead of Vine United Reformed Church in divesting from fossil fuels, as well as investing in the clean technologies we need to ensure a brighter future for everyone.’