Join the Net Zero Carbon journey
Churches are being encouraged to begin their journey to net zero carbon emissions and take key actions to help tackle climate change.
The Church in Wales’ Net Zero Carbon Framework is now available online and provides a comprehensive toolkit to help churches take their first steps to net zero.
The Framework was produced in response to the Governing Body’s April 2021 climate emergency declaration and the net zero carbon target by 2030. It was presented and approved unanimously at the April 2022 meeting of the Governing Body.
There are four main sections to the report: relevant background information and current situation; key findings and challenges; immediate recommendations; and key actions that different levels of the church can undertake.
It acknowledges that decarbonising the Church will be a “considerable challenge” but says doing nothing is “not an option”.
It says, “We hope that by setting out in this document, gradual and manageable steps, the net zero goal will be less daunting and more attainable. What we do know is that we are all called to care for God’s creation, to see the wonder that surrounds us, love our neighbour near and far by living in just and loving relationships with all people. We can help resolve climate injustice in the world by demonstrating our concern for the planet and our sensitivity and care for the most vulnerable in society now and in the future. This means taking immediate and ambitious climate action now.”
To start along the net zero journey, at the local level churches are encouraged to work through the recommendations contained within the action-plan tables and arrange to have an energy audit of the church building undertaken.
Further practical support can be found in the newly-updated A Practical Path to Net Zero for our Churches document that offers tailored advice suitable for: all churches; churches with medium energy use; and, those large, busy churches wishing to under more complex projects that would involve the adoption of low-carbon heating technologies.