Climate change
God’s Earth is crying out for our care and if we do not urgently limit greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of species we will permanently disfigure our common home preventing billions of God’s children from flourishing.
The Church in Wales recognises responsible stewardship of creation is integral to Christian discipleship and, given the urgency of the situation, commit to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to zero as quickly as practically possible, embedding care for the natural world into all aspect of Church life from worship and teaching to the sustainable management of buildings, land, and financial resources.
Climate Emergency Declaration
In April 2021, the Governing Body of the Church in Wales declared a climate emergency and committed the Church to reach net zero carbon by 2030.
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The motion, brought by the Church’s environmental group, CHASE (Church Action for Sustaining the Environment), was carried overwhelmingly.
The climate emergency challenges us to act now and show our concern for God’s creation in all our activities. As part of our response, the Representative Body of the Church has been tasked to devise an action plan for the Church, but of course, we do not have to wait for the plan to take action ourselves. Each diocese is raising awareness of the climate emergency and responding to the climate challenge.
Coverage of the Climate Emergency motion and debate at the Governing Body meeting is available on our Governing Body highlights page.
A practical path to net zero carbon for our churches
Wondering where to start on the net zero carbon journey? Recommendations that aim to help churches reduce their energy use and associated carbon emissions.
The net zero carbon framework of the Church in Wales
Progressing our net zero ambition.
This Framework, a response to the Net Zero Carbon challenge, sets out the position of the Church in Wales in tackling the threat of climate change.
Practical and scriptural approaches
- A rediscovery of our core calling to care for creation:
Our Christian Calling to Care for Creation (PDF) - Eco Church: Eco Church is a great way to plan your path to being an environmentally friendly church and is supported by all Welsh Dioceses. Eco Church has also produced some excellent new resources.:
Eco Church - An A Rocha UK Project - Very useful guidance has been prepared by Bangor Diocese about Eco Church to help local churches in Wales get involved:
Treading Lightly on Holy Ground. A short guide to Eco-Church (PDF) - This really helpful and practical Eco Church booklet compiled by St Asaph Diocese can get you started on your Eco Church journey:
Caring for each other, caring for God's creation (PDF) - The reflective Caring for Creation calendar, produced by St Davids Diocese, highlights key environmental themes through the liturgical year:
Caring for Creation through the Liturgical Year (PDF) - Also, for inspiration, check out the wonderful eco-church stories and videos from St Asaph.
https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/eco-church/eco-church-stories-and-inspiration/ - The Church of England has prepared some brilliant webinars on topics related to net zero:
Webinars on getting to net zero carbon | The Church of England - After the success of Climate Sunday, the dedicated Climate Sunday website remains active and still has some great resources:
Climate Sunday | Home | Worship | Commit | Speak Up - There are some very useful products and services that can help you save energy and money at Parish Buying:
Parish Buying - Parish Buying - Buy together Save Together
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If you have any suggestion or feedback that you would like to share regarding the Church in Wales’ Net Zero Carbon please use this feedback form to make a submission. We would welcome any suggestion.