London churches set to go carbon neutral

The Diocese of London has drawn up a Climate Action Plan to help minimise the cost of driving down energy and carbon in the capital as part of the Church of England’s national Shrinking the Footprint campaign.

A savings target is calculated for each participating church, and a checklist of zero-cost efficiencies is used to create tailor-made menus for each church to plan savings.

Churches can then sign up to renewable-energy supplier Good Energy or use the non profit-making company Charity Funding Solutions, which works with each parish to negotiate the best tariff for their circumstances.

The plan also looks at the residual carbon emissions of churches - those that cannot yet be avoided - and emissions associated with non-renewable energy. It then considers how churches can become carbon neutral by buying carbon allowances and withdrawing them permanently from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Brian Cuthbertson, the Diocese of London’s Head of Environmental Challenge, said,
“We shouldn’t go on leaving our carbon costs till the never-never, falling into debt with the future.

"Far better to pay these costs now. It's wrong to leave the planet in a worse state than we found it. We’re proud to work with Carbon Retirement, who use a government approved approach, to pay the cost of carbon emissions.”

Jane Burston, Director of Carbon Retirement said, “The Climate Action Plans programme is an excellent way for London churches to work towards the Church of England’s ambitious, but necessary, climate change targets.

"Churches can become carbon neutral without spending any more than they currently do, through saving energy and then using the money saved to remove carbon allowances from the European market. Carbon Retirement is pleased to be a partner in this programme.”