Environment

1. Climate crisis

• The video of ++Justin speaking on the climate
• And also this speech in India by him:
• The EWG’s call to action : https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/EWG%20call%20to%20action%20on%20the%20climate%20crisis%20Oct%202019.pdf
• Climate emergencies declared in Birmingham Diocese, Bristol Diocese and Salisbury Diocese : 
• The head of ethical investment at the Church Commissioners, Edward Mason, also talks regularly about the climate emergency, for example here at the Exxon Mobil AGM 
• The Anglican Communion Resolution 16.08: “Response to Global Climate Change” can be found here: https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/instruments-of-communion/acc/acc-16/resolutions.aspx#s8 and “recognizes the global urgency of the crisis of climate change and its impact on the well-being of all people, especially the most vulnerable in societies;”
• The Anglican Communion Resolution 17:05 (“recognises that there is a global climate emergency”) and 17:06 (climate resilience) : https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/instruments-of-communion/acc/acc-17/resolutions.aspx#a1705
• There is a list of all the councils which have declared a climate emergency here : https://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/list-of-councils/ (there are 265 on the list as of today). 
• The Methodists have declared a climate emergency https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/latest-news/all-news/methodist-church-recognises-a-climate-emergency/ and the Pope has used this language: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/pope-francis-declares-climate-emergency/.

2. The environment programme from the main Church of England website

• The map and contact details of DEOs : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/deo-map
• Introduction to the C of E environment programme : https://www.churchofengland.org/environment
• … which links you to “How you can act”: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/how-you-can-act
• … and “Why you should act” https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/why-you-should-act
• The link to the five marks of mission – attached
• More detail on the Environment Programme (including – if you keep scrolling – the national Environmental Working Group, the 3 year plan, and the work that’s been done in the past on our carbon footprint) https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/about-our-environment-programme
• Sustainable lifestyle: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/how-you-can-act/sustainable-lifestyle
• Plastic Free Lent : https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/Plastic_Free_Lent_2019.pdf
• Sustainable Schools: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/how-you-can-act/sustainable-schools
• To sign up for the quarterly newsletter : https://www.churchofengland.org/environment/environment-programme-news

3. Lent campaign

• Sign up for the #LiveLent campaign : https://www.churchofengland.org/livelent and buy your booklets here: https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/features/live-lent (although read this previous post to learn about bulk discounts)
• Buy the Lent book : https://spckpublishing.co.uk/saying-yes-to-life 

4. Buildings advice:

• NEW Energy efficiency measures, written by the DEO Energy Group : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/energy-efficiency-measures  
• Sustainable Buildings: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/how-you-can-act/sustainable-buildings
• Lighting: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/lighting
• Heating (which I’m in the midst of updating) : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/heating
• Renewable energy : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/renewable-energy
• Roofs and gutters : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/roofs
• Project sustainability: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/making-changes-your-building-and-churchyard/develop-your-ideas/project-sustainable

5. Church Heritage Record website

• map of renewables around the country : https://facultyonline.churchofengland.org/renewables
• search for individual churches : https://facultyonline.churchofengland.org/churches

6. Biodiversity

• State of Nature report 
  • Here is a one-page summary info-graphic: https://nbn.org.uk//srv/www/sodor.buildcms.co.uk/releases/20210315112730/web/app/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-England-27-09-19.pdf
  • And here is the report for England : https://nbn.org.uk//srv/www/sodor.buildcms.co.uk/releases/20210315112730/web/app/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-England-summary.pdf
  • And the full report : https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf
• Bio-diversity : https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/biodiversity
• Caring for Gods Acre resource pack : https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/resources/
• Bats in Churches project : https://www.batsandchurches.org.uk/
• Devon churches green action (scroll down for guidance notes) : http://www.dcga.org.uk/living-churchyards
• Children’s Gods Acre activity pack : https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/library/Gods_Acre_2019_worksheet.pdf
• Faiths for Forests https://faithsforforests.com/faith-toolkits/
• London Diocese
  • https://www.london.anglican.org/kb/churchyards-for-London/.
  • https://www.london.anglican.org/kb/churchyards-and-wildlife/
  • https://www.london.anglican.org/kb/wildlife-ecology-and-biodiversity/

7. Prayers and Worship 

• Sustainable Preaching, from the Diocese of Europe : http://sustainable-preaching.org/
• Greening the Lectionary, from the Area Champion for Bradford, Ruth Newton: https://www.greeningthelectionary.net/
• Prayers for World Environment Day: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-world-environment-day
• Creationtide: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change/creationtide
• Prayers for the agricultural year: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/times-and-seasons/agricultural-year
• Updated “All things Bright and Beautiful”: https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/news/2019/07/12/all-things-bright-and-beautiful/
• Christian Aid’s theology of climate change https://www.christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-08/song-of-prophets-global-theology-climate-change-november-2014.pdf

8. Parish resources

• Funding advice: https://www.parishresources.org.uk/resources-for-treasurers/funding/
• which includes a link to this useful grants directory with the new section on environment and sustainability : https://www.parishresources.org.uk//srv/www/sodor.buildcms.co.uk/releases/20210315112730/web/app/uploads/Charitable-Grants-for-Churches-Nov-2019.pdf

9. Parish Buying / Green Journey 

• Parish Buying’s Green energy basket : https://www.parishbuying.org.uk/categories/energy
• Parish Buying’s LED lighting advice and offer : https://www.parishbuying.org.uk/categories/led-lighting
• Parish Buying’s current pilot of energy audits: https://www.parishbuying.org.uk/categories/energy/energy-basket/audit
• some Diocese use Green Journey : https://greenjourney.org/

10. Faculty

• It’s useful to know that the template for the “statement of needs” for major projects includes a question, “6. How is the proposal contributing to the need for environmental sustainability? How is it reducing the carbon footprint, contributing to the Church’s commitment to  reduce to 20% by 2050?” You can find the template here https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/statements-significance-and-needs 
• Faculty guidance (e.g. List A/List B): https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/church-buildings-council/how-we-manage-our-buildings/online-faculty-system

11. Investment

• Ethical Investment Advisory Group policies: https://www.churchofengland.org/eiag/policies
• Church Commissioners approach to responsible investment: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/church-commissioners-england/how-we-invest/responsible-investment-1
• … and note the recent toughening of approach: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/church-investors-announce-tougher-line-agm-voting-policy
• CCLA fossil fuel free fund : https://brightnow.org.uk/news/ccla-fossil-free-fund/

12. Synod

• The London-Truro motion (page 5) : https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/GS%202111.pdf
• The background paper to the motion, from William Nye: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/GS%202094B.pdf 

13. Some diocesan websites / news (just a few of them!)

• The conference pack from the DEO Conference: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/30g0sid81zphy0t/AAD_2t0SMZE-EQ0kG8y-xuyNa?dl=0
• Hereford Diocese “Mission and Mortar” toolkit : https://missionandmortar.hereford.anglican.org/categories/local-mission/ 
• Diocese of London : https://www.london.anglican.org/mission/environment-and-sustainability/
• Eco Church South West, including this page on buildings and energy use: https://ecochurchsouthwest.org.uk/actions/church-buildings/
• Diocese of Leeds environment page, including links to their new policy and 5 year plan: https://www.leeds.anglican.org/environment
• Lincoln Diocese environmental policy and stories from around the diocese

14. Eco Church

• Eco Church : https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
• … including Eco Diocese : https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/denominational-awards/eco-diocese/
• The video from Hereford Diocese : https://www.hereford.anglican.org/M-CENT/eco-church/
• How to re-register on the new platform: https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

15. Partners, networks, and useful organisations to know about (well, at least some of them)

• Climate Stewards (for offsetting) https://www.climatestewards.org/
• Historic England “Energy efficiency and historic buildings” (scroll down to see the range of different guidance notes) : https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/energy-efficiency-and-historic-buildings/
• Hope for the Future (free training on lobbying) : http://www.hftf.org.uk/church-outreach
• Christian Aid campaign toolkit : https://www.christianaid.org.uk/campaigns/campaigns-toolkit
• Green Christian: https://greenchristian.org.uk/
• Faith for the Climate : https://www.faithfortheclimate.org.uk/About-Us
• Operation Noah : https://operationnoah.org/
• Anglican Alliance : https://anglicanalliance.org/
• Useful summary attached of the work of the Anglican environmental work – attached
• Free online data with some useful stats : https://trafforddatalab.shinyapps.io/climate_emergency/

16. Some useful videos:

• Katharine Hayhoe
  • “This is all just a part of a natural cycle, right?” is about why we know global heating isn’t due to other factors (sun activity, volcanoes, natural cycles).
  • “What’s the Big Deal With a Few Degrees?” is about why small increases in global temperature have very large effects.
  • “Religion has nothing to say about climate change, right?“ is about how faith and science combine to give us the answers.
  • The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it“
• Greta
  • TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate_change?language=en
  • “How dare you?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrtLsQbaok
• Our future (a good one for children, age perhaps 10 upwards) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YQIaOldDU8
• Green Health the movie, with good examples of using church grounds for mental health : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgB8s4oEXJg&feature=youtu.be

17. And finally …

Father, 

Help us to tread your earth lightly, 

as people Reconciled by God with God, 

Reconciled by God with one another 

and Reconciled by God to his wounded planet, 

Living simply that all may simply live, 

to the glory of our risen saviour and Lord, 

Jesus Christ. Amen