Friday 25 March 2011

The Climate Change Election Debate

Eco-congregations across the country are being asked to help send a strong message to our future politicians that Scotland cares about climate change.

The run-up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections is an ideal time to ensure that – whichever party or parties are in power after the 5th May – climate change remains a priority on the political agenda.

We need your help to make that happen.  As part of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition, Eco-Congregation Scotland is encouraging you to take part in a political debate on climate change.  The Climate Change Election Debate will take place on Wednesday 13th April from 7.30-9pm. You can take part by watching and listening to what the parties have to say about their plans for tackling climate change, and – if you want to – you can ask them any burning questions you have on this issue. But, the difference with this event is that you won’t be in the same room as the party spokespeople who’ll debate and answer your questions.  You’ll be taking part over the internet.  If you have a broadband internet connection, you can take part from the comfort of your own home as the debate will be screened live over the internet.

Now, we know that not everyone is totally confident using the internet, and not many people have taken part in a live event online.  So, to make it really easy, we’re suggesting that you could get together with other people in your eco-congregation to watch the debate in a small group.  You could get together in someone’s home or in your church hall – wherever you’ll be most comfortable and that has a broadband internet connection.  You could enjoy some tea and cakes during the debate to make it even more fun!

If you want to, you could come up with a question as a group and get the person in your congregation who’s most comfortable using the internet to email it through or to ‘post’ it on our online forum.  You can email your questions any time between now and the debate, or while the debate it taking place – or both!  Email your climate questions to info@stopclimatechaosscotland.org.

We want this event to be open to anyone, regardless of how much or how little they use the internet.  So we’re going to provide a simple step-by-step guide on how to watch the debate over the internet and how to send us your questions on the evening of Wednesday 13th April. 

If you want to organise a Climate Change Debate evening as an eco-congregation group and need any help, Christian Aid will be providing some giudance. Contact the Eco-Congregation Scotland office and we will put you in touch.

Together, we can show the political parties that this is an issue that won’t go away and that we want to see action from them if they are elected.

More information on the debate is available here:



Wednesday 16 March 2011

Stop Climate Chaos 2011 Elections

On Climate Day, Wednesday 13th April, political parties will announce and publish their climate change polices. At the same time, Stop Climate Chaos is encouraging people across the country to engage with the issue on this through an online community, where you can access blogs and other video content and take part in conversations and debate on climate change issues.

Climate Day will culminate with a live, online debate with climate change spokespeople from each of the five political parties currently represented in the Scottish Parliament. Tune in and post your questions and comments live via the online forum and Twitter.

For more information see the web site: www.stopclimatechaos.org/scottish-elections

You can follow or take part in the campaign online:

Twitter: #SCCS_Elections

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Climate-Chaos-Scotland-Elections-2011/136042149794674?sk=wall

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Calculating your car's carbon emissions

Following on from yesterday's article, this calculator will give a very rough idea of your car's carbon emissions without having to look up the rating for the car. Just enter the number of miles driven in a month and the average miles per gallon. This is the same calcualtor which is on our web site as an excel spreadsheet but working in gallons rather than litres.

Monday 14 March 2011

Carbon Footprint Calculator

As part of our module 13 on climate change we provide the calculations for working out your church's carbon footprint. We have made an online version of this which you can try out below:

Thursday 10 March 2011

Eco-Congregation Scotland volunteer finalist in Young Scottish Green List Awards

Stuart Bence
Stuart Bence from Cadzow Parish Church Hamilton has been awarded second place in this year's Young Scottish Green List Awards. Stuart is an Environmental Studies student at Stirling University and has been involved as a volunteer with Eco-Congregation, Eco-Schools and the National Trust for Scotland.
The ceremony was attended by people from many different organisations involved in sustainability and environmental issues. The awards were presented by Sarah Boyack MSP. Stuart Bence addressed the meeting on behalf of all the winners, the younges tof whom was eleven years old, and all of whom have made a considerable impact at local level.



The Finalists


Stuart Addressing the Meeting

Scotsman article:http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Young-gifted-and-green-Scotland39s.6731403.jp

Award web site:http://www.youngscottishgreenlist.org/

Video of Stuart shown at the event:

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Catholic Study Guide on the Environment

The Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh has produced a study guide on the environment including climate change issues. A copy can be downloaded free of charge here:

http://jandpstudyguides.wordpress.com/environment/