Stories needed

We would like to showcase stories form Eco Congregations in their strives to reduce their carbon footprint.

Congregations new to the mouvement, might feel that it is impossible to reduce their carbon footprint but, we know that there is plenty of evidence to show that it is possible to have a year on year reduction. please, if you have a tip on how to reeuce the carbon footprint of your church, post it up in our Church and Society Facebook group page.

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.

The Travel Plan Quick Reference Guide

Well, it has gone public... the Travel Plan for congregations has arrived.

One of the things that is worth thinking about when contemplating the reduction of the carbon footprint of your church is that it is not just your church buildings that carry an energy cost. it is also the way we as members of the congregation make choices about the way we travel. Yup it is about lifestyle.
The Travel Plan was the brain-child of Mathew Eastwood from VIPRE who with the support of the Energy Savings Trust examined the role that congregations play in the life of their communities and their potential impact in rallying grassroots support for a greener lifestyle.

The report stresses that places of worship are important to the community as a place of worship, but also as a meeting point or the "civic heart" of a community since it acts as a centre for a wide range of community-based acitivities.

However, as a meeting point, people have to travel to it and the way we travel can create congestion, and yes, you guessed it, carbon emissions. The Travel Plan Quick Guide for Faith Groups encourages people to think abot the way they travel to their place of work and encourages them to look for greener options.

The beauty of the travel plan is that each travel plan is tailor made to suit your particular community. How does it do it? By encouraging members of a congregation to observe the way people travel to church; by recording the transport facilities available to travel to church and by exploring ways where there is scope for change in travelling habits.

The plan recognises that is not possible for everyone to cycle or walk. The Travel Plan is based on the premise that there might be a possibility for changes and improvement in the way people use transport.

Here are two challenging questions
What would your congregation like to change or improve?
How will your congregation make those changes or improvements?

The Travel Plan identifies the answers to these questions and helps you implement some simple and inexpensive measures to help ensure your congregation's travel is as easy and as convenient as possible.

Incidentally, the Travel Plan has received a lot of media attention. Have a look at The Scotsman and Christian Today and The Herald.




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Biodiversity

The blog is starting a series of contributions by selected academics and environmental activists who will present their own particular viewpoints through this medium. We hope that in this way, the Eco-congregations Blog will contribute to the debate surrounding environmental issues and life style. The first of our pannelsts is Dr.Sheena Wurthmann (School of the Built and Natural Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University and SNH).

Please feel free to comment.

There is a lot in the news about climate change and carbon footprints. Reducing the use of fossil fuels and the production of greenhouse gases is a vital process but it is only part of the story. Whatever we do we depend on green plants absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis to produce oxygen and water. This “environmental service” is rarely accounted by the economists probably because it is hard to put monetary values on these processes. When it is done it becomes clear that deforestation particularly the rainforests means that globally there is less capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. This makes the models for climate change less resilient.

Where in the world do we find the best places for capturing and storing carbon? We are very familiar with the role of tropical rainforests. These ecosystems are very valuable sinks that capture carbon and store it in the biological diversity of the ecosystem but they are not the only sinks. All forests – particularly the ancient natural forests capture and store large amounts of carbon. This suggests that major efforts should be made to protect and enhance all forests and woodlands and encourage the development of diversity. Monoculture of commercial forestry only provides temporary carbon stores and is not a self-sustaining system.

Other important ecosystems are also excellent carbon stores. The peat bogs in Scotland are major systems for capturing and storing carbon. This only works if the peat land is allowed to develop a high level of diversity. This is diversity of mosses and lichens and insects. Draining and exploiting the peats releases the carbon stored and increases the problem. Raising the water table and encouraging more moss growth and peat development would be a better strategy.


The wetlands such as marshes and reed beds have similar contributions to the carbon stores. However, they have other advantage of “treating” the water as it passes through the habitats. This water treatment process is a major method of naturally dealing with diffuse pollution. Again these are habitats that are frequently modified by draining, construction and farming. These activities reduce the capacity for using carbon stores, providing natural pollution control and soft mechanism for flood management and water storage. We lose a lot when we try to manage nature.


The major area of the Planet Earth’s surface is ocean. The small green algae carry out photosynthesis and this makes for a large amount of carbon capture. Some almost sci-fi proposals to increase this are recognition of the importance of this system. More to the point in terms of improving the oceanic system is to prevent pollution in the coastal and deep oceanic areas. .For ecosystems to work well all types of organism should be represented. That means that herbivores and carnivores and predators should be functioning well. Current fishing practices suggest that humans are disrupting the large oceanic system in vital ways. Climate change is a challenge but reducing carbon footprints is only half the story. The other half is about treasuring and enhancing biodiversity locally and globally.

Credits
The picture of the marshes was taken by Herzogbr. the picture of the ocean was taken by Andrew Hux. The photograph of the fish ready for sale was taken by Mr T in DC. The picture of the peatland was taken by Colin J Campbell.



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How to measure your Church's Carbon Footprint

A fringe meeting was hosted by the Church and Society Council, the General Trustees and Eco-Congregation Scotland was hosted on the last day of the General Assembly in Edinburgh. The meeting was attended by about 150 people representing the length and breath of congregations accross Scotland. Everyone was interested in finding out the best way to calculate the carbon footprint of their church.

This increased interest was in response to the decision of the General Assembly on Friday 25th of May to instruct all presbyteries to reduce the carbon footprint of their congregations by 5% every year. This means that in a very short time, all congregations accross Scotland, will effectively be interested in becoming Eco-Congregations and looking actively for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Adrian Shaw, Climate Change Project officer has developed the following information.

Step 1. Monitor your Energy Use
How many units of electricity (kilowatt hours) did you use?
If you have gas, how many cubic metres of gas did you use?
If you use heating oil how many litres of oil?

Step 2. Work out the Footprint of your Church Buildings
When you have gathered the information from your fuel bills you need a calculator to work out your carbon footprint. Please use the carbon footprint calculator available here. The document has an embedded spreadsheet. Double clikc on it and the calculator will appear.

Step 3. Make a commitment to reduce this total by 5% every year.
It seems daunting, but, support is at hand. You might want to have a look at the following websites for further details.

There are other sources of advice.
The Energy Savings Trust offers advice and support on reducing your energy use; they may be able to audit your church and help with funding.

The General Trustees website contains details of the better heating scheme and other advice on energy management.

The Church and Society Council web pages opn climate change give you a range of reports and links on climate change.


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Church of Scotland's General Assembly supports reduction on carbon footprint.

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland supported a 5% yearly reduction of carbon footprint for all churches in Scotland. Ian Galloway, convener of the Church & Society Council presented to the General Assembly a report entitled

"Engaging with Technology, Science and the Environment Climate Change"

which presented the following motions for debate:

16. Instruct Presbyteries, in association with the Church and Society Council, to produce a plan for each congregation in their bounds, 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 using the Eco-Congregation Scotland carbon footprint module; and instruct the Church and Society Council, in consultation with the General Trustees, to report to the General Assembly of 2010 on the implementation of this instruction.
17. Welcome the proposed incorporation of Eco-Congregation Scotland as a Charitable Company and continue to support the work of eco-congregations.
18. Affirm the current commitment of the Church and Society Council to the ‘Responding to Climate Change Project’ and instruct the Church and Society Council, in partnership with other Councils, to complete the review of this project with a view to its development.

The climate change debate threw up some interesting discussion around how ambitious the church should be about targets, with 5% perhaps not being nearly enough of a reduction. The General Assembly approved the "deliverances" therefore demonstrating its committment to engage and mobilize the population at grassroot level in the fight to reduce carbon emissions.


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Climate change: Why should the church be interested?

The Presbytery of Gordon ~ Church and Society Committee is sponsoring a conference on climate change entitled MAKING A DIFFERENCE ~ YOUR CHURCH AND CLIMATE CHANGE. The event will take place on Saturday 25TH April 2009 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
In Kemnay Church Centre.

Adrian Shaw from the Church of Scotland, and the climate change project officer will talk about the need for congregations to understand their involvement as Christians in addressing and acting on issues of climate change. This will be followed by Alison Wisely from the SCARF/Energy Saving trust. Finally, Ruth Radcliffe, Chair of Kemnay Parish Church Green Group will talk about becoming an Eco-Congregation; calculating your church building's carbon footprint and what is required of a Christian community.



Adrian Shaw, Climate change project officer was involved yesterday at a climate change conference organised by the Presbytery of Dundee and the Church and Society Committee. The event took place in Meadowside St Paul’s Church Hall. There were further presentations by SCARF on the economic advantages of reducing your fuel consumption and by The Rev’d Valerie L Allen, Arbroath, Old and Abbey who spoke on the issues surrounding becoming an eco-congregation.

Over 50 people attended this event. The audience was able to review and comment on Draft version of Module 13 Managing your Carbon Footprint.

Responding to Climate Change: Congregational committment in Scotland

Involvement in the national and international debate

To support Eco-Congregations it is proposed that the Church of Scotland engages more fully in the national debate; particularly on the implementation of the Scottish Climate Change Bill and its implications for all aspects of life in Scotland. Ministers and MSPs have welcomed the growing role of the Church and we should not be shy to develop this.

The Church is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition which also includes other faith groups and environmental NGOs. The Church brings another ethical perspective to the coalition that complements the environmental and scientific expertise of groups such as WWF Scotland or RSPB. Scientists and campaigners have welcomed the growing role of the Church and, in conjunction with the SRT project, there are great opportunities to engage further with both groups.

The Conference of European Churches and World Council of Churches have identified climate change as a priority. The Church of Scotland can make a significant contribution to this international debate. The practical steps underway in Scotland and the experience we are developing means we can offer practical help and support to others and support the growing role of churches worldwide.

The first year of the project Responding to Climate Change has demonstrated the commitment and the potential that exists in the Church. Among congregations there is a concern and commitment to tackle climate change. However this is only the beginning of the work that will be needed if the Church is to fulfil its mission. It now has the opportunity to reassert its national role in leading change; in challenging and supporting congregations and communities to respond to climate change.


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Responding to Climate Change: Church of Scotland General Assembly 2009

Climate change is an ethical issue

The project Responding to Climate Change began in November 2007. Its purpose is to help the church develop an effective response to climate change, both in its own actions and in its contribution to the wider debate. The project reflects the Church’s ethical concern about climate change. This was summed up at the outset of the project by the Convener of the Church and Society Council:

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.

This ethical concern has informed the development of the project and remains its main driving force.

Key achievements

The work of the project is not confined to one council or committee. There has been progress across the Church. While it is not possible to cover all this work, the following paragraphs list some of the main achievement of the project to date.
Eco-Congregation Scotland

Central to the development of the project is the growth in the number of Eco-Congregations across Scotland. In November 2008 the 200th congregation in Scotland registered as an Eco–Congregation (Strathfillan in the Presbytery of Argyll). The movement also received warm congratulations from MSPs and government ministers in a debate held in the Scottish Parliament on 17 December 2008. Congregations across Scotland were encouraged by MSPs both to continue their work and to tackle climate change as a priority. The debate was a milestone and an affirmation of the importance of Eco-Congregations.

How big is your congregation’s carbon footprint?
With a grant from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) a pilot project was carried out to develop and test a simple carbon footprint tool for congregations. By keeping a close check on fuel bills and using a simple calculator congregations can now easily work out their carbon footprint. The pilot was highly successful and has led to a larger and more ambitious application to the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund which is described below.

Governance and finance

Eco–Congregation Scotland has developed as an informal association of congregations. This arrangement served the movement well in its early years but as the number of congregations has increased it has become clear that it is no longer adequate. For this reason the Eco-Congregation Scotland Steering Group, with the support of the Church and Society Council and the Church in Society Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church agreed that the time was now right to establish Eco-Congregation Scotland as an independent legally constituted voluntary organisation. This is major step for any organisation and involves considerable challenges for all stakeholders. At the same time it offers the opportunity for Eco-Congregations to grow and develop to play a greater role in the life of congregations, the churches and in their local communities.


The future

It is now clear that climate change will be one of the defining global challenges of the twenty first century. Climate change represents a massive failure in our stewardship of the earth and a major contribution to poverty and social dislocation. For these reasons the Church must contribute to national and international action. By demonstrating our commitment and by taking action the Church of Scotland can take a leading role across Scotland.


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Scotland can lead the World in Climate Change

2009 is a crucial year for action on climate change. The Climate Change (Scotland) Bill has the potential to lead the world. MSPs must aim to pass the most ambitious piece of climate legislation and set a precedent for other developed countries ahead of the international talks in Copenhagen in december 2009.

The UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen are widely regarded as the last opportunity to put in place a global agreement to avoid dangerous climate change.
Scotland can lead the world through the
1) Establishment of a framework to achieve at least 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
2) Include all emissions in the targets inluding those from international aviation and shipping.
3) Establish in statute annual emission reducxtions of at least 3% year-on-year from the start, not just from 2020
4) Ensure that at least 80% of the effort to reach the targets is achieved through reductions in domestic emissions (rather than the purchase of carbon credits)
5) Be explicit that sustainable development is key to the intention and delivery of the statute.

For more information, see Stop Climate Chaos website.

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Managing your carbon footprint: Climate Change Module

To respond effectively to climate change congregations need to know their carbon foot print.

We have developed a new Eco-Congregation Scotland module entitled Climate change : managing your carbon footprint. It is designed to facilitate congregations to understand, calculate and manage their carbon foot print.


We need congregations to test the module and give us feedback. Please join our OPShare document network and download the document. Just send me an email to join and then you can dowload the document from our network. Alternatively, you can contact Adrian Shaw for a copy.

Will the module help you work out the carbon footprint of your church buildings? Will it encourage you to take action to manage and reduce your carbon footprint? Download our document from the OPShare network to find out.

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