Church of England agreed target of 2030 for net zero
Green Christian is extremely pleased to announce that the climate emergency motion with the Bristol amendment to reach net zero emissions by 2030, rather than 2045, was carried yesterday, 12 Feb 2020.
Working closely with Bristol Diocese, St Matthew’s Church, Bristol, and their neighbouring benefice of Cotham and St Paul’s were the originators of this at PCC level last summer. It then went through Deanery Synod to Bristol Diocesan Synod last autumn, and now has been passed by General Synod, with an amendment from 2045 as a target date to 2030. Green Christian member Deborah Tomkins attends St Matthew’s Church, and Bristol Diocese proposed the amendment.
Green Christian members have been writing to their Synod members and many joined the Christian Climate Action vigil outside the Synod the morning of the debate. There is also a video.
Now the hard work begins!
Next: Pray and Protest for the Climate this Lent
Previous: Way of Life gathering, 1st February 2020
Comments on "Church of England agreed target of 2030 for net zero"
Paul Strickland:
Everyone, especially church leaders, need to understand the exponential growth of our ecological problems (including Covid 19), making the cost of fixing things increase greatly as we delay - so yes! I know, for example, that the Bishop of Manchester is a mathematician, so I will approach him.
Charles Croydon:
On 31.07.20 Catherine Ross of the C of E told me she was to meet with the C of E regional Diocesan Advisory Committees for the Care of Churches groups this autumn. (The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC)) is a statutory committee which provides advice about church buildings, their contents and churchyards).I said to Catherine that I would be interested to know the DAC's views about the carbon offsetting requirement at 2030. Caroline Pomeroy (the Director of Climate Stewards) suggested a 20% off setting requirement for the Church of England at 2030 in a Churches Together in Britain and Ireland webinar on 09.06.20. In addition I am wondering if it would it be an incentive for the Bishop Council's where DAC's are slow to engage, if they saw the financial benefit of early engagement rather than the penalty of funding later carbon offsetting
Liz McKelvey:
Most encouraged to see this being passed - enormous thanks to those who have worked to do that. Naming the problem is a start.When churches start rewilding their car parks we will know the mindset is starting to turn. That could happen tomorrow .... and would send a big cultural message, as well as significantly reducing the church's carbon emissions.
Ernest Nelson:
It is great to have a challenging target but the Church now needs to create a robust plan of action to show how we can achieve it. More EcoChurch and a Lent course will not be enough! The ambitious promises of Church and Earth 2009-2016 failed to be realised. It was a great document but there was no effective plan to bring about the desired results. We cannot let this happen again. Now is the time to make it happen. Actions should speak louder than words. To quote John Spence at the Synod " it is a time to move from ambition to action - from aspiration to achievement". Is the Church of England capable of a strategic response? A significant factor will be whether the Church will be brave enough to reexamine its investment strategy and disinvest from fossil fuel stocks . Leaving an investment strategy still linked to net zero by 2050 is not acceptable. The Synod decision needs to be communicated to the Church at every level. We have set a target of a 24% year on year reduction in carbon. Where will this year's 24% come from? Suggestions please.
Add your own comment to "Church of England agreed target of 2030 for net zero"
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Leave a Reply