THE majority of people in the West Midlands want to do take personal action this Christmas to stop the climate crisis a new poll has shown.

Eight in 10 people, 83 per cent, surveyed by Christian Aid said they wanted to act this festive period to do their bit.

Coinciding with the launch of Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal to help climate-stricken South Sudan, the polling shows around half, 57 per cent, would stop using non-recyclable wrapping paper and stop giving plastic toys, 46 per cent, to tackle the climate crisis.

In a year that has seen the COP26 climate conference hosted in Glasgow, a further three in ten, 30 per cent, would be willing to give up the Christmas crackers while across the UK those aged between 18 and 34 are most likely to act, almost nine in 10 - 89 per cent.

John Sentamu, the former Archbishop of York now Baron Sentamu of Lindisfarne and Masooli and new Chair of Christian Aid, said: “Now we know that climate crisis is wreaking havoc in our global home.

"We are, therefore, glad that the British public is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of everyone. Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many, but as Christians we never lose sight of our neighbours near and far who may be suffering, especially those on the frontline of a crisis they have done little to cause.

“And although we appreciate these personal actions are not going to stop climate change on their own, they show that people are committed to taking action. What we need now is for richer nations to provide the finance needed to fund sustainable and long-term solutions to tackling climate change once and for all.”

The polling for Christian Aid also reveals that news reports, like those from South Sudan that has recently suffered its worst floods in 60 years, makes almost seven in 10 - 68 per cent of the British people more worried about the climate crisis.

According to the UN, more than 700,000 people have been affected in South Sudan by unrelenting floods from weeks of heavy rain. Homes have been swept away, farmlands devastated, and families and livestock have been forced to seek safety.

The public can help Christian Aid combat extreme hunger in South Sudan and across the globe by giving what they can to its Christmas Appeal at caid.org.uk/Christmas.