The Church of England has today launched a seven-year strategy aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.
The Church and Earth strategy was launched at a historic meeting of faith leaders from around the world and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at Windsor Palace.
The strategy falls within the Church of England’s Shrinking the Footprint campaign, launched in 2006 to cut the Church’s combined annual carbon footprint of around 330,000 tonnes CO2.
Church and Earth has been backed by the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, who heads up the Shrinking the Footprint Task Group.
He said: “The challenge facing the human race in the 21st century is in our relation with the earth and in particular how we are going to help one another to adapt to the reality of rapid climate change.
“The Christian community is being recalled by this crisis to a more genuinely biblical view of creation and our place within it.”
He warned that the effects of climate change would be felt first by some of the most vulnerable communities in the world and “those least able to bear the costs of adaptation”.
“Neighbour-love in the 21st century embraces Pacific islanders and those who make a living in the low lying delta regions of the world as well as our children and the inhabitants of our own islands,” the bishop continued.
“The Church of England has gone beyond rhetoric in producing Church and Earth, a challenging plan for action which makes serious demands on our community, our schools and churches.”
Church and Earth is one of seven climate change strategies being launched by faith representatives at the Windsor conference ahead of the UN’s climate summit in Copenhagen in December.
Under the strategy, the Church of England is aiming to reduce its carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2050, and begin compiling annual carbon and energy reports for all parishes.
It also encourages ‘eco-twinning’ between UK and developing world parishes that are already encountering the effects of climate change, and wants to establish a climate justice fund that can offer aid to churches in the developing world.
The Church and Earth strategy was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Church Commissioners and the WWF.
Oliver Smith, deputy director of programmes at WWF UK and a trustee of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, praised the Church of England for leading the way on climate change.
"At a time when the negotiations in Copenhagen are at the front of our minds, it's heartening to see that a major institution such as the Church of England is taking a lead in a way that our government and the other nations could learn from,” he said.
"The faiths have taken a moral stance, committing themselves to action whatever the outcome in Copenhagen.
“WWF-UK is proud to have been a sponsor and contributor to this plan and we look forward to working with the Church of England over the coming years as the plans are implemented."
