Climate change is a global problem, and we can do much more to combat it by working together. Exeter Diocese has links with other Anglican, wider Christian and other faith groups at local, regional, national and global levels.
South West Diocesan Regional Environment Group
The
South West Diocesan Regional Environment Group was set up in order to provide a regional response from Anglican dioceses to the demands of climate change. On 4th March 2009 representatives of the dioceses of Truro, Exeter, Bath and Wells, Salisbury, Bristol and Gloucester met to agree the following aims:
- To seek a commitment for the dioceses in the region to work together and develop clear aims for work on environment issues.
- To create a regional energy/utilities policy for the Anglican dioceses in the region, which would include water and oil, and look at other opportunities to ensure the impact of our carbon use is reduced.
- To set up a regional working party with a mandate to do significant work.
The working party agreed a
Terms of Reference in July 2010.
The Group jointly developed a motion calling for action to protect the environment in the context of 'Shrinking the Footprint', which has been debated and passed by all six Diocesan Synods. Exeter Diocesan Synod overwhelmingly passed the motion on 10th October 2009. A
letter to the Prime Minister (pdf, 56k) was sent on 4th December 2009. Gordon Brown sent a
letter in response (pdf, 347k), dated 24th February 2010.
"This Synod
i. Calls upon all Dioceses, PCC’s, Governing bodies of VA/VC schools, and all church members to (i) take steps to reduce consumption of energy derived from fossil fuels and, (ii) to purchase their electricity from any supplier which provides a Green Tariff and which undertakes to invest heavily in the production of energy from renewable sources and, (iii) to invest in renewable energy sources.
ii. Calls upon the Prime Minister to forge a new partnership between the government and the church (all denominations), with the aim of ensuring that the buildings and land in the control of the church can be the means of producing 100% green electricity and heating from such as wind, biomass and solar sources; facilitated by (i) relaxation of planning constraints and (ii) the provisions of grants and long term interest free loans."
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Church of England - Shrinking the Footprint
Shrinking the Footprint is the Church of England's national environmental campaign aimed at resourcing the Church's 44 dioceses (including the Diocese in Europe) and 16,000 churches to reduce their footprint. Good practice is already established in many churches round the country and Shrinking the Footprint is uniquely placed to share news, tips and resources.
Map of the Dioceses, with links to diocesan environmental pages.
The Church of England has adopted targets for reduction in carbon emissions of 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 on current levels. The current estimated carbon footprint is 1.1 million tCO2e. It has also adopted a target for a reduction in the wider ecological footprint of the church to a One Planet level by 2050.
Anglican Communion
The
Anglican Communion Environmental Network aims to encourage Anglicans across the globe to support sustainable environmental practices as individuals and in the life of their communities.
Exeter Diocese has links with the dioceses of Melanesia in the South Pacific, Thika in Kenya, and Cyprus and the Gulf. Each is already suffering from the impacts of climate change.
- In Melanesia, rising sea levels are poisoning agricultural land and water sources. Vegetation and animals are dying, and the people are needing to leave. The Carteret islands (right), which are part of Melanesia but not part of the diocese, are being completely evacuated.
- Malaria is already endemic in Kenya, but climate change is causing it to spread further. Changes in temperature and other weather patterns are causing the areas suitable for tea-growing to shrink.
- Water stress is a major issue in Cyprus and the Gulf, and droughts are becoming more frequent, severe and prolonged.
Working with other denominations in the UK
Exeter Diocese works with other Christian denominations at a local and national level.
Devon Churches Green Action (DCGA) is a task group which promotes awareness of ecological issues among the communities/churches of Devon and encourages people to take appropriate action to make their lifestyles more sustainable. One of DCGA's roles is to encourage local churches to develop ‘green groups’ or teams to activate wider community. A good example of this is the Cathedral’s new Environment and Social Justice group. DCGA is organising a
Green Christian Gathering at Tavistock on Saturday 20th March, for local church groups to share what they are doing.
Martyn Goss has recently set up a 'virtual'
Green Clergy Group.
Contact Martyn for more information.
Devon Churches Energy Network (DeCEN) aims to encourage churches in Devon to develop better energy efficiency and to become involved in sustainable energy initiatives and good practice.
The
Environmental Issues Network (EIN) of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) aims to raise levels of awareness on issues relating to the environment and sustainability. It also helps member churches and other organisations explore together their theological understanding of creation and its ethical implications for environmental policy and action.
Christian Ecology Link (CEL) aims to offer insights into ecology and the environment to Christian people and churches, and to offer Christian insights to the Green movement. CEL supports Christians from all backgrounds and traditions.
EIN and CEL founded
Operation Noah, the first Christian campaign focused exclusively on climate change. It's mission is to encourage Britain and Ireland's churches and governments to lead a radical transformation in both our culture and economic systems; a transformation towards simpler, liveable and supportable lifestyles that will increase happiness and well-being, while safeguarding the whole of God's creation for future generations.
Further reading:
"Hope in God’s Future: Christian Discipleship in the Context of Climate Change", a report of a joint working group on climate change and theology convened by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church:
- To buy (in A5 format, more environmentally friendly than printing the pdf)
- To download (pdf, 1114k)
Creation Challenge is the environmental network of the Methodist Church in Britain, The United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Working with the European Christian Environment Network (ECEN)
European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) is a church network promoting co-operation in caring for creation. ECEN is an instrument of the Conference of European Churches for addressing the relationship to nature and the environment from the perspective of Christian theology and Christian way of life.
Working with other faith groups
Martyn Goss attended the
Faith and Climate Change seminar at Lambeth Palace on 29th October 2009. The faith leaders and other participants released a statement, pledging to work together to raise awareness about the effects of ‘catastrophic climate change' on the world's poor and to take whatever action they can to "to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practice".
