Stephen Alexander's Response to Rev. William Hewitt

This was the response of Mr. Stephen Alexander to the Right rev. William Hewitt on the ocassion of the climate change reception at the Scottish Parliament.

I must thank the Moderator of the Church of Scotland for inviting me as the representative of the United Reformed Church Scottish Synod on the Eco-Congregation Steering group to his reception at the Scottish Parliament.

To see and get a chance to meet so many representatives from different denominations but with a like mind on the subject of global warming and the need for the Christian community to take action was most encouraging.
Hearing of the experiences of other congregations in their attempts to tackle this issue gave me personally a fresh impetus to drive this issue forward in the Synod.
At our last one day Synod in September 2009 the URC passed two resolutions supporting the aims of the eco-congregation movement, namely to appoint an environmental representative and to conduct a church audit. Since then 21 churches from this Synod have responded (nearly 50% of our congregations) to the resolution at September Synod to audit their church premises with a view to finding out their carbon footprint (and the amount of money they are spending on energy use!). Church and Society committee believes that we must continue to strive to reduce the damaging effects that people have on our environment, and work with our governments at Westminster, and particularly at Holyrood, in trying to achieve this - by gradually reducing carbon emissions from our heating and energy use. Despite the failure of the Copenhagen Summit to deliver effective measures, there are effective ways each individual and each individual community, including the church community, can take to limit and reduce damaging emissions. We will be recommending at our spring Synod this year, following the example of the Iona Community and the Church of Scotland, that churches reduce their carbon footprint by 5%, year by year, until 42% emissions reduction is achieved by 2020 – in line with Scottish Government proposal.

Stephen Alexander
United Reformed Church Synod of Scotland.

Climate Change Bill Approved

The Climate Change Bill received its third stage reading today. It was approved unaminously and will become law when it receives the Royal assent. It will be followed by a delivery plan. Eco-congregation Scotland have asked the government for public engagement to be part of this and they have agreed – see amendment and extract from plan. This is an opportunity for eco –congregations. We now have to think about how we respond to get the best out of this – a big task for the coming year.

The text of the amendment and extract from the plan is as follows:

Scottish Parliament Bill Amendment
Name of Proposer: Brian Adam

Before section 61A, insert—
Public engagement
(1) The Scottish Ministers must prepare and publish a strategy (a “public engagement strategy”) setting out the steps they intend to take to—
(a) inform persons in Scotland about the targets specified by virtue of this Act;
(b) encourage them to contribute to the achievement of those targets.
(2) The public engagement strategy must, in particular, identify actions which persons in Scotland may take to contribute to the achievement of the targets referred to in subsection (1)(a).
(3) The public engagement strategy must be published no later than 31 December 2010.
(4) The Scottish Ministers—
(a) may, from time to time; and
(b) must, before the end of the period mentioned in subsection (5),
review the strategy.
(5) The period referred to in subsection (4)(b) is the period of 5 years beginning with the date on which—
(a) the strategy is first published; or
(b) the strategy was last reviewed under subsection (4).
(6) Where, following a review under subsection (4), the Scottish Ministers vary the public engagement strategy, they must, as soon as reasonably practicable after so doing, publish the strategy as so varied.
(7) A strategy published under subsection (6) must contain an assessment of the progress made towards implementing the steps set out in earlier strategies.
(8) The public engagement strategy may be published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
(9) The Scottish Ministers must lay the public engagement strategy before the Scottish Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after it is published.>

Extract from

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
CLIMATE CHANGE DELIVERY PLAN
MEETING SCOTLAND’S STATUTORY CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS
June 2009


Wider engagement and behaviour change

8.12
Delivering the scale of emissions reductions in the Delivery
Plan will require real changes from all in Scottish society:
government and the public sector, business, voluntary and
community groups and individuals. An engagement strategy is
being prepared to ensure we approach this in an effective and
co-ordinated way.

8.13
The Scottish Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours Survey
(SEABS) has offered an important insight into how people in
Scotland think and behave on green issues. However, there is
a need to deepen this understanding in order to influence
attitudes and enable change. The next steps to this will involve:
Commissioning in-depth qualitative follow up research into
key aspects of SEABS that require further investigation; this
is likely to consist of a suite of studies focusing on
understanding behaviour change.
Developing further work on enabling behaviour change,
ensuring that policy development is taken forward with a
clear understanding of attitudes and behaviours.
Making SEABS findings more widely accessible to
academic/analytical study.

8.14
Finally, it must be remembered that one of the key aims of the
Scottish Government – in bringing forward the Climate
Change (Scotland) Bill to set ambitious and challenging
targets, and in producing this Delivery Plan to show how these
targets can be delivered – is to demonstrate strong leadership
to others and to use this to influence the international
community. The engagement strategy will need to consider
how the Scottish Government will galvanise support and
action from others in the global effort to tackle climate
change.

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Eco Congregations make a difference as noted today in the Scottish Parliament

Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North made an important contribution in today's Climate Change debate highlighting the role of community engagement and particularly the role of Eco Congregations in raising awareness for the environment at community level. You can read the whole debate (which is still taking place...) at the following website. Here is an excerpt from the official record of the debate.

"Brian Adam: It is of course important that Governments take action but, as the cabinet secretary said, it is also important for all of us to take action. I am sure that he is aware of representations on community engagement from eco-congregations such as those at Bucksburn Stoneywood church, Dyce church and Sheddocksley Baptist church in my constituency. What is the Government's view on community engagement? Would it welcome an amendment to ensure that that is part and parcel of the bill?"

John Swinney: The Government would certainly consider sympathetically any amendments on community engagement. Mr Adam kindly provides me with the opportunity to pay tribute to eco-congregations, which have contributed significantly. Some months ago, Mr McNulty led a debate in Parliament on eco-congregations. In my constituency, the Auchtergaven and Moneydie parish church was rebuilt in an immensely eco-friendly fashion. That is a tremendous example of a development in the religious community to deliver an environmentally friendly and enhancing facility in the community. At stage 2, the Government would look sympathetically on the point that Mr Adam makes."


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Debate @ Scottish Parliament on Climate Change Bill

On Wednesday and Thursday 6/7 May there will be a debate in the
Scottish Parliament on the Climate Change Bill. In conjunction with Stop Climate Chaos, Eco-Congregations and the Church of Scotland are encouraging MSPs
to contribute to the debate and to stress the vital need for public involvement if the Bill is to be effective. We are particularly concerned that communities across Scotland are insufficiently aware of the critical importance of climate change, the Climate Change Bill or the need to take action to respond to climate change.

In the twenty first century climate change is already changing lives. The actions required to put the Climate Change Bill into effect are enormous. Without the active commitment and participation of people and communities across Scotland there is no likelihood that the Scottish Parliament will achieve its target of an 80% reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases by 2050. And to build commitment and participation in communities across Scotland, the Scottish Government will need to provide leadership and support. The Church of Scotland set out these points in its submission to the committee.

Many other organisations made similar comments; including Stop Climate Chaos; Unison; Energy Saving Trust; The Salvation Army; CBI; Confederation of Passenger Transport UK; and the Scottish Youth Parliament. The Stage 1 Report of the committee recognises this and calls upon the Scottish Government to act:

“The Committee recommends that Ministers bring forward proposals for an engagement strategy as part of their implementation plan for the Bill, which is discussed further in a later section of this report.”

We are asking MSPs to

• Recognise that community involvement and action on climate change are vital if the Scottish Parliament is to meet its target of an 80% reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases by 2050
• Contribute to the debate by asking the Scottish Government to explain how it will engage communities in this challenge
• Consider the need to incorporate an amendment to the Bill to achieve proper community engagement
• Let us know what you have done

ECO-CONGREGATION SCOTLAND …

• is a growing movement of over 200 congregations across Scotland
• includes representatives from nine different denominations
• currently receives financial support from the Church of Scotland and Scottish Episcopal Church.

ECO-CONGREGATIONS ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE…

…by developing a simple calculator to allow congregations to measure their own carbon footprint. We are now piloting this with churches and will make it available to all congregations in 2009.

We believe that Eco-Congregations should be at the heart of community action to cut Scotland’s carbon footprint. Supporting congregations is an effective way to help achieve the Scottish Government target of an 80% reduction in the emission of Scottish greenhouse gases by 2050.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL ECO-CONGREGATIONS…

Eco-Congregations have already demonstrated their effectiveness as a movement lobbying for environmental action. There are now eco-congregations in most parts of Scotland; MSPs will probably have one or more in their area. More details are available at the Eco-Congregation website below. There are now local networks in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perthshire and Stirling and other networks are under development.

We are urging Eco-congregations to contact MSPs about the Climate Change Bill. Ring us at the numbers below for further information, local contacts or a more detailed briefing.


Credits The picture of the Scottish Parliament windows was taken by GaryJD

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Over 500 people in Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Rally

Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday 22 of April outside the Scottish Parliament to lobby their MSPs over a strong Climate Change Bill. Over 30 MSPs came out to meet people and participate in a sharing of ideas. Demonstrators planted small men with wishes and ideas for a cleaner environment.

Ewan Aitken Secretary of the Church and Society Council was representing The Church of Scotland at the rally as well as Adrian Shaw, from Eco-Congregation Scotland.

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CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY

Stop Climate Chaos.org/Scotland is organising a CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY on Wednesday 22nd April 2009 outside the Scottish Parliament.



If you care about highlighting issues of climate change and demonstrating your concern to our MSPs please join us.

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Credits

The photograph of the rally was taken by macinate

Church of Scotland at the Scottish Parliament Climate Change Event

The Church of Scotland was invited to attend the Scotland and Climate Change Getting it Right Event organised by the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee on Friday 27 March 2009.
Adrian Shaw and Dr. Murdo Macdonald from the Church and Society Council attended the event. Adrian Shaw spoke during the afternoon session.

You can view a recording of the event at Holyrood TV.

A number of speakers were at the event and you can see their bios as well as their PowerPoint presentations following this link.

The event coincided with the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill – Climate Change (Scotland) Bill - Further Information on the Committee's Work.

There were over 120 delegates from sectors including transport, business and industry, energy, environmental NGOs, the built environment, the public sector, individual communities, science and education, health and charities.
The event was opened by Dr David Guggenheim from the 1planet1ocean conservation body in the United States and then took the form of two debates – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each of the debates was led by short presentations from climate change stakeholders.

The morning debate focused on the international impact of climate change and included speakers from Bangladesh, the Maldives and the European Environment Agency. There was also a presentation given by students who are currently part of the University of Edinburgh – Carbon Management Masters Programme. The students are from Tanzania, India, Nepal, the United States, United Kingdom and Indonesia.

The afternoon debate focused more specifically on Scotland and the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill with short presentations from Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Simon Pepper, former director of WWF Scotland, Dr Ian Burton from Canada and Professor Don Brown from the United States.

The event was broadcast live on the internet by Holyrood TV.

Credits

The photo of the Scottish Parliament was taken by Anita Gould

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