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.
News
Separating waste for recycling and tightening food waste regulations
From 6 April 2024, non-domestic recycling law is changing in Wales.
Separate Collection of Waste Materials for Recycling: A Code of Practice for Wales (senedd.wales)
All churches and church halls will be required to sort waste for recycling more thoroughly to enable greater recycling rates and avoid the issue of potential cross-contamination.
Read our guide.
Single-use plastic ban and advice to churches
Phase 1 of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Act came into force on Monday, 30th October.
Read our guide.
Next steps
Towards net zero: Where to start?
Start with quick wins and build up to bigger and more ambitious initiatives. Bring people with you and show them the tangible gains to be realised along the way.
Read our ten point guide.
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 Energy Footprint Tool
The Energy Footprint Tool is one of the tools that we have developed to monitor our progress.
The attached instruction brief explains how to register and use the Energy Footprint Tool. The tool is easy-to-use, available to all Church in Wales churches and will assist us in reducing our impact on the climate.
Eco Church - An A Rocha UK Project
Eco Church: A Rocha 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:
A practical path to net zero carbon for our parsonages
Helpful hints and tips for energy efficiency and energy reduction in parsonages.
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) - 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 - Resources to support children and young people:
Ffrindiau'r Byd - Christian Aid offers a wealth of resources on the impacts of climate change in our world:
Climate Justice - Christian Aid
Contact
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.