New environment policy for London Diocese
07/06/2010
The Diocese's Synod and Council have adopted a path-breaking new policy, covering the whole range of the Church's environmental impacts, and how we are challenged to deal with them. Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of this new policy.
Solar Panels on St Silas, Pentonville
The policy acknowledges that care for God's creation is a fundamental duty. We need to become sustainable in our lives as church members and Christians; also as individuals and families in society.
We should be God's agents in his plan to redeem the whole of Creation. This a central part of our whole mission and church life.
We are responsible to communities in the developing world where degradation to the environment and the climate is already causing hardship, towards people in the future and to other living creatures with whom we share God's earth.
In particular, we must play our part in tackling climate change. The Diocese has reaffirmed its challenge to reduce our energy use and carbon footprint.
As part of the Church of England's national Shrinking the Footprint campaign, we aim to reduce our emissions by at least 20.12% by 2012, 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The Diocese has adopted the national 'Church and Earth' (pdf) long-term plan.
Work has begun to implement these objectives, through the Diocese's Climate Action Programme. This will entail investing in improvements to make our buildings more efficient, for example by installing renewable technologies such as solar panels.
Commitments are also made in relation to food, water and other natural resources, waste and recycling, wildlife and biodiversity.
Brian Cuthbertson (the Diocese's Head of Environmental Challenge) said:
"I am delighted, not just that Synod has adopted this new policy, but that it did so with united enthusiasm and unswerving vision. Now that we're really facing up to the harm we've all been doing as human beings to God's creation, at last we can start to put it right - together and with God's help. We are called to challenge how we live, in the light of what we learn both from the scriptures and from science."
Michael Bye (Director of Property) said:
"We already have a Diocesan Shrinking the Footprint Steering Group and a Head of Environmental Challenge. Now we have a clear and comprehensive policy to guide our efforts going forward."
The Diocese's Environmental Policy is available to download from the Regulations and Policies section (under Environment].
A summary of work done so far by the Diocese and parishes can be downloaded below.
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