The Windsor Celebration of the Faith Commitments for a Living Planet

The Church of Scotland has been invited to The Windsor Celebration of the Faith Commitments for a Living Planet.

Adrian Shaw will be taking the Church of Scotland's Commitment on behalf of the Church of Scotland by the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Reverend William Hewitt.


The Church of Scotland welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Windsor Celebration of Faith Commitments for a Living Planet.

We bring to the celebration the commitment made at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2009 to respond to the challenge of climate change.

“The Church of Scotland is concerned that climate change poses a serious and immediate threat to people everywhere, particularly to the poor of the earth; and that climate change represents a failure in our stewardship of God’s creation. We accept the need to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases urgently to avoid dangerous and irreversible climate change; and to promote a more equitable and sustainable use of energy.”

To respond to this challenge the Church of Scotland is:

• Developing the project Responding to Climate Change by providing project funding for the project for three years from November 2009.

• Instructing Presbyteries to produce a plan setting out how they will measure energy consumption in their church buildings, ascertain their carbon footprint and achieve a year-on-year reduction of 5% of their carbon footprint

• Encouraging congregations to become eco-congregations and supporting the incorporation of Eco-Congregation Scotland as a charitable company.




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A new map of the world: mapping climate change

A new map of the world has been unveiled at the Science Museum in London. The map is based on a projected scenario of a 4 degree rise in world temperatures. The projection shown on the map was generated using Met Office Hadley Centre's HadCM3 model, and shows that an average rise of 4 ºC (7 ºF) will not be spread uniformly across the globe.

The map is interactive and you can inquire about specific changes in water avauilability, forest files, rise in sea levels etc. It is sobering and very thought provoking to see what might happen to our planet if the Copenhagen Summit does not reach agreement. The Guardian has also published an article on the map. Please to look at at the map. Explore the possibilities of what might happen, pray, and then, if you feel so inclined, make your voice heard. The UK government's website Act on Copenhagen has also very comprehensive links to the nature of the political debate on this issue, as well as scientific facts.




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Christianity and Climate Change Lecture

Professor Michael Northcott will give a public lecture on Christianity and climate change at New College on The Mound tomorrow the 13th of October at 5:15pm. His talk marks his recent appointment to a personal chair as professor of ethics. One of his books, "The moral climate: the Ethics of Climate Change" has been reviewed extensively. Marck Dowd on his essay on Climate and Creation published on the Operation Noah's website also makes explicit reference to Prof. Northcott's book.



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World Bank's new Climate Change Policy Document

The World Bank is inviting consultations to help shape the development of a new environmental strategy for the next 10 years. Michele de Nevers, senior manager of the World Bank's environmental department has visted the EU in Brussels seeking for synegy between both organisations to incorporate climate change into the long term economic planning of developing countries. The World Bank Group (WBG)has embarked on the preparation of a new environmental strategy to be approved by December 2010. The WBG have opened up a consultation process and are inviting interested organisations and people to contribute with comments to their planning documents. If you are interested in contributing with comments to this process please follow this link to read the strategy document concept note.



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Great Film about our Planet

Adrian Shaw's latest film recommendation. It is truly beautiful and inspiring. Great for any Eco-congregation to watch. An answer to "the Age of Stupid".