The leaders of the UK’s largest development, faith and environment groups boarded the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior on the River Medway on Monday morning.

They will be sailing towards Kingsnorth power station near Hoo, where the first coal plant for a generation is being planned.

Directors from a diverse range of organisations including Oxfam, the Women’s Institute, Tearfund and the RSPB, along with other members of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition: Friends of the Earth; WWF and Christian Aid will join the Greenpeace ship at Chatham.

When the 55-metre vessel reaches Kingsnorth, the groups, which represent a coalition with a combined membership of over foure, will each sign a declaration which states: “four million strong, we say no to dirty coal power stations, and yes to a clean green renewable energy future.”

The declaration will then be taken by a Greenpeace inflatable boat and handed over to E.ON staff at the power station.

Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition said: “Boosting renewable energy instead of continuing to use dirty coal for electricity is one of the most important ways to help prevent global warming spiralling above the 2°C danger threshold.

“Four million people strong, the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition urges our Government to invest in a British renewable energy industry which will help us achieve big cuts to the UK’s carbon emissions, generate billions of pounds of business, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and help put us in charge of our own long-lasting, safe and reliable energy supply.”

Ruth Bond of the Women’s Institute said: “The WI is on board the Rainbow Warrior today to call for green energy decisions to be made now to protect our future.

"Women across the world are being hit hardest by climate change and have a key role to play in helping their families and communities adapt.

"Now is the time to show commitment to renewable energy in the UK which will lead the way for the rest of the world to follow, providing cleaner and safer options for households in poor countries.”

The Rainbow Warrior, one of the most famous ships in the world because of her environmental campaigns, arrived in the UK on the October 18 as part of Greenpeace’s Give Coal the Boot campaign.

The vessel made ehr first trip up the Medway last Friday.

The activist group chose to come to Medway to highlight how the decision to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Hoo could have an impact on the fight against global warming around the world.

On board the vessel were about 30 people from local organisations including Medway Council, the RSPB, the Campaign To Protect Rural England and the Women's Institute. MP for North Thanet Roger Gale was also onboard. Medway MP Bob Marshall-Andrews was unable to attend.

The vessel sailed past Kingsnorth Power Station and passengers were able to get an up-close view of the jetty where coal is bought into the plant.

The journey continued towards Herne Bay to the Kentish Flats off-shore wind farm.

While onboard, scientist Dr Geoff Meaden, a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, gave a talk on how climate change will affect the Kent Coastline. He showed passengers maps of the county, highlighting areas which will be underwater if temperatures continue to rise.

Members of the RSPB also spoke about the impact global warming will have on wildlife in Kent.