Environment
Practical and simple steps that have the potential to cut your carbon footprint, cut costs and reduce waste.
What can your parish do?
- Include creation regularly in worship
- Use natural symbols for teaching
- Arrange an environmental festival or trail
- Consider the environment in all decisions
- Spread the word even if you can’t take action
Reduce fuel
- Heat the people, not the building
- Switch off lights unless absolutely necessary
- Use renewable energy/solar panels
- Insulate cavities, doors and windows
- React when the weather changes, not just by set dates
Reduce and recycle waste
- Recycle paper/cans/glass/plastic/furniture
- Compost all vegetable matter e.g. old flowers, grass cuttings
- Print less, limit to 1 x A4 sheet
- Don’t print out hymns when they are already in a hymn book
- Avoid plastic disposable items: wash up instead
Consume less
- Don’t over-cater, overfill or overheat
- Attend to water leaks and dripping taps promptly
- Install a water meter
- Install a ‘smart’ energy meter
Purchase fairly
- Buy fairly traded/animal-friendly products
- Support local shops and farmers’ markets
Travel economically
- Walk or cycle whenever possible
- Use public transport where available
- Share car journeys
- Reduce your driving speed
- Take fewer journeys by air
- Plan journeys to fulfill more than one function
Work communally
- Co-operate with the Parish Council
- Involve the young and work ecumenically
- Support affordable housing/local work
- Use churches for social activity
Conserve wildlife
- Establish conservation areas/gardens
- Plant trees and hedges and dig ponds
- Erect bird and bat boxes and log-piles
Resist pollutants
- Use organic and sustainable products
- Collect and prevent litter
Invest wisely
- Support ethical policies and charities
- Use a credit bank and trading exchange
Our Diocese and Environmental Policy
Mission
To identify principles to assist the diocese ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’.
Biblical Vision
We reaffirm the biblical vision of Creation as upheld by God the Father, redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Holy Spirit. We accept the responsibility God has given us to care for, conserve, and replenish God’s earth. We recognise our interdependence with the rest of creation.
Sustainability
We wish to play our part in working for a sustainable society in a sustainable world, recognising the dignity and rights of all people, including future generations, ensuring the responsible use and recycling of natural resources, and working for economic reforms which will establish a just and fair trading system for all people throughout the world.
Commitment
We therefore encourage each church member, parish, benefice, school, chaplaincy, board, forum and committee in the diocese:
- to make such environmental concerns an integral part of their life and work
- to celebrate God’s creation in worship at Rogationtide and in other ways
- to carry out regular environmental audits
- to take such practical action as is appropriate and possible ‘to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth‘
Opportunities to get stuck-in to fighting Climate Change
- Rotary Young Environmentalist Competition for 7-17 year-olds – a competition to encourage young people to address environmental issues and explore solutions. This year’s theme is ‘Climate Change / Carbon Reduction’
Related Events
East of England Christian Aid Climate Crisis Event
Come and hear Richard Stainer talk about his visit to remote communities in Ethiopia and the climate challenges they face. Head of Christian Aid's Campaigns, Luke Harman, will then explain what we can do to make a difference in 2021.
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