Church of Scotland urges cut in unnecessary car use

The report, by the Energy Savings Trust and commissioned by the Church of Scotland, urges congregations to examine the environmental impact of travel patterns and proposes a groundbreaking initiative to reduce unnecessary car use by parishioners.

It argues reducing car travel to church could result in less congestion, improved health and wellbeing for members, reduced transport costs, as well as helping the environment.

Currently, it is estimated that 27 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are transport related.

The report says places of worship play a very important role within local communities and often generate significant volumes of traffic. However, it accepts elderly members and parents with young children may have particular mobility issues, but travel plans will take into account public safety, time pressures and availability and reliability of public transport.

A pilot project was successfully undertaken at Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen which found that in a year, travel to church was responsible for over 40 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, a year, mainly from the congregation’s cars.

The Church of Scotland has been the driving force behind the Eco-Congregation Scotland movement, and the 2009 General Assembly agreed every church must achieve a five per cent year-on-year carbon footprint reduction.