Church launches climate change action plan

Published: 02 November 2009

The Church of England has launched a seven-year Church and Earth climate change action plan.

  • Church’s carbon footprint to be cut by 42% by 2020
  • 4700 sustainable schools nationwide by 2016
  • ‘Eco-twinning’ with church communities in developing world.

Today's announcement came as global faith leaders and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, gather to discuss commitments on climate change, before the world’s political leaders meet in Copenhagen in December.

The strategy, Church and Earth, includes the aim of reducing the Church’s carbon footprint by 42% by 2020. The plan puts education and young people at the heart of its strategy, with all 4700 church schools nationwide aiming to achieve ‘eco-school’ status and implementing Government policy on education for sustainable development. 

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, who leads for the Church of England on climate change and the environment, said:

“The challenge facing the human race in the 21st century is in our relation with the earth and in particular how we are going to help one another to adapt to the reality of rapid climate change. The Christian community is being recalled by this crisis to a more genuinely Biblical view of creation and our place within it.

“It is clear that the effects of climate change will be felt first by some of the most vulnerable communities in the world and those least able to bear the costs of adaptation. Neighbour-love in the 21st century embraces Pacific islanders and those who make a living in the low lying delta regions of the world as well as our children and the inhabitants of our own islands.

“The Church of England has gone beyond rhetoric in producing Church and Earth, a challenging plan for action which makes serious demands on our community, our schools and churches. This has been conceived as part of the preparation for the Copenhagen Conference. At today’s gathering in Windsor in the presence of the UN Secretary General, we shall set out our commitments which include:”

  • Carbon reduction target of 80% by 2050, with an interim target of 42% by 2020
  • Annual carbon and energy reports for all parishes and dioceses by 2016
  • All church buildings to have carbon footprints calculated and recommendations made by 2012
  • Advice for all parishes on choosing green energy tariffs by 2010
  • Tree-planting to be encouraged on church land
  • ‘Eco-twinning’ between UK and developing world parishes, faced with early effects of climate change
  • New Climate Justice Fund offering aid to churches in the developing world
  • All dioceses to target Fair Trade status before 2016.

For more information, visit www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org 


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