Environment

Key contact: Martin Miller

"For the Church of the 21st century, good ecology is not an optional extra but a matter of justice. It is therefore central to what it means to be a Christian."
Archbishop Rowan Williams

The Diocese of Manchester affirms the Christian mission of the stewardship of creation; in particular highlighting the Church's responsibility to respond to the impending environmental catastrophe of climate change.

To that end we will:

  • promote awareness of environmental issues and resources
  • raise awareness of environmental sustainability as a key principle of international justice
  • ensure that 'sustainability' is a factor in all diocesan planning
  • ensure that the whole diocese implements measures to reduce its environmental impact: energy use, travel, water use, waste management and recycling
  • promote partnership working with appropriate statutory and other agencies on the environmental agenda
  • promote sensitive and appropriate management of church land holdings to protect and enhance biodiversity, landscapes, access, recreation and public wellbeing.

 

Shrinking the Footprint

 The 40% Church


Shrinking the Footprint is the Church of England’s national strategy to address the pressing issue of climate change.

Challenging, encouraging and supporting the whole body of the Church to shrink our environmental footprint, it aims to reduce the Church of England's carbon emissions to 40% of current levels by 2050.

The Church of England National Energy Audit is the first step. Later activities will look at:

  • biodiversity
  • waste
  • water management
  • transport.

The Shrinking the Footprint Path

All churches and church-related buildings have been asked to follow the Shrinking the Footprint Path - simple steps to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources by 2008.

Step 1. Assess your current carbon footprint and audit activity
Step 2. Use energy more efficiently
Step 3. Switch to green energy
Step 4. Generate your own renewable energy
Step 5. Offset your carbon emissions
Step 6. Review - take another look at your footprint and start again.

Download the Diocesan Environmental Policy.

Visit Shrinking the Footprint national website.

For further information, please contact Martin Miller.