Church And The Environment

The Church is called to be a people of hope; to live in harmony with our world; to treasure God’s creation and our brothers and sisters around the globe.” –

Bishop Graham Usher Lead Bishop for the Environment

 

Our goal is for the Church to have a neutral, or ‘net zero’ impact on the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by 2030.

This ambitious target was set by General Synod in February 2020, in response to the urgency of the climate emergency facing people and planet.

Through our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme we are working with churches to meet the challenge.

The global climate emergency is crisis for God’s creation, and a critical matter of social justice, hitting hardest on some of the world’s most vulnerable communities as well as future generations.

 

What does net zero carbon mean?

Net Zero Carbon refers to ‘carbon neutrality’ and is a critical environmental goal for the Church, as we aim to help limit dangerous global temperature rises known as climate change.

Reaching ‘net zero’ carbon emissions means no longer adding to the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, or in other words, achieving ‘carbon neutrality’. It means we need to reduce the carbon emissions produced as a result of Church life to as close to zero as possible – then balance the rest by removing them from the environment.

Practically this means first reducing the amount of energy we use from burning carbon dioxide-releasing fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas, to as close to zero as we possibly can.

We then consider options to balance or ‘offset’ any remaining unavoidable carbon emissions (up to 10%), through carbon capture or sequestration projects such as planting trees, which absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Video: What does net zero mean?

Read more:

Our commitment to being net zero carbon by 2030

Working together to care for God’s Creation

Churches are invited to join our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme, as together we reduce carbon emissions, and share hope about God’s creation.

In partnership with Faiths4Change we are equipping churches to help meet our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2030, while growing Eco Churches to help enrich our communities.

All churches can access the resources in these pages, to help progress your journey towards both net zero carbon and Eco Church.

Churches participating in our Net Zero Carbon 2030 programme gain access to additional expertise and direct support.

We take a take a dual approach, emphasising both technical solutions to reducing carbon emissions in our buildings, and prophetic engagement to promote sustainability in church life and in our wider communities.

Find out more:

• Your net zero carbon journey – support & resources for churches
• Your Eco Church journey – support & resources for churches

 

Map of churches committed to our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme:

 

Please get in touch to find out more about joining our Net Zero Carbon 2030 programme for churches – email: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

 

Key resources:

Work out your carbon footprint using the Energy Footprint Tool (EFT)

The first step towards net carbon zero is to work out your carbon footprint, and begin tracking reductions in emissions from your building. All churches are asked to do this annually by July 31, using the Church of England’s Energy Footprint Tool accessed via the Parish Returns System. We need your help to understand our footprint across the diocese, so we can progress to net zero carbon. Find out more and access a video guide about how to do this, using information from your energy bills, here: Energy Footprint Tool | The Church of England Got a question? Contact Phil Leigh, our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme Lead and Diocesan Environmental Officer: phil.leigh@liverpool.anglican.org or email: nzc@liverpool.anglican.org.uk

Net zero carbon Knowledge Platform

Our NZC2030 Knowledge Platform offers free resources, guidance and ideas to support your journey to net zero carbon and Eco Church. NZC2030 Knowledge Platform (faiths4change.org.uk)

Hosted by Faiths4Change this includes an open access NZC2030 resource padlet, which churches can contribute to with useful links – covering everything from energy efficiency and net zero planning, to worship resources and climate campaigns, and more: Net Zero Carbon 2030 Resources (padlet.com)

Progress your Eco Church journey

We encourage all churches to make progress towards your next Eco Church award in 2024 – whether you are just starting out or already have an award. Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Churches complete the online Eco Church Survey about how they are caring for God’s earth, to gain points towards Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. As part of the NZC2030 programme, Faiths4Change supports churches to register, and progress towards your next award. Find out more here Eco Church (faiths4change.org.uk). To discuss Eco Church needs contact our NZC2030 Prophetic Lead Annie Merry and team: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

Net zero Carbon & Eco Church Newsletter

Anyone with an interest in faith and the environment is invited to sign up to our Net Zero Carbon & Eco Church Newsletter. Subscribe to receive updates, stories, resources and ideas about how together we can help care for God’s creation. This is delivered by our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme team in partnership with Faiths4Change, as part of our commitment to be a net zero carbon diocese by 2030. Sign up here:

 

Our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme team is dedicated to supporting churches on the journey to net zero carbon.

In partnership with Faiths4Change, we provide resources all churches can access to help reduce your carbon emissions.

We work closely with committed churches to understand your energy use, carbon footprint, and find practical solutions for your buildings and church life.

Each church’s path to net zero is unique. Key steps include:

Understanding your carbon footprint – you can work this out and track progress annually, by entering information from your energy bills into the Energy Footprint Tool, part of the Parish Returns system.

Reducing emissions – we need to minimise reliance on burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, through measures such as switching to green energy suppliers, using eco-friendly heating systems, improving lighting efficiency, installing insulation, and even turning down thermostats by one degree – often small changes can make a big difference.

Balancing remaining emissions – any unavoidable remaining carbon emissions can potentially be balanced, by supporting reputable carbon removal schemes such as land management and tree planting. This should be no more than 10% of the church’s current carbon footprint, to align with the national church’s net zero commitment.

Churches participating in our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme are guided through a process, including:

• Your PCC making a commitment to net-zero.
• Using the Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) which is part of the Parish Returns system, to work out the carbon footprint of your church. This will give you a benchmark to measure progress against year on year, and it enables us to better understand needs across the Diocese.
• Identifying a group from your church to complete the ‘Practical pathway to net zero’ survey and checklist.
• Your PCC to develop a net-zero plan and then implement it and compare progress against your benchmark each year.
• Taking steps to become an Eco Church, and work towards your next Eco Church award.

Our focus is on building relationships with church teams, providing support and advice to help you achieve net zero carbon and Eco Church goals.

While we don’t fund individual projects, we share information about available funding opportunities and offer targeted fundraising advice.

We are engaging expert consultants to explore technical solutions, such as alternatives to gas heating, installing Solar PV and EV chargers, and improving building fabric through solutions such as insulation, double or secondary glazing.

Our insights equip churches to develop your own net zero plan, inform decision-making when commissioning expert surveys, applying for funding, and making DAC applications to carry out future church building works.

Access information on submitting DAC applications for alterations to church buildings, taking Net Zero Carbon into consideration here: Application process – Diocese of Liverpool (anglican.org). A printable flowchart to guide you through the process is here: dac-flowchart-v2.pdf (faiths4change.org.uk)

Join us!

Please get in touch to find out more about joining our Net Zero Carbon 2030 programme for churches – email: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

Need support or have questions with the technical aspects of your net zero carbon journey? Contact Phil Leigh, our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme Lead and Diocesan Environmental Officer: phil.leigh@liverpool.anglican.org

Find further advice and guidance here:

• CofE net zero carbon church landing page
• Case studies
• Webinars
• Heating
• Energy efficiency

Work out your church’s carbon footprint to help care for God’s creation 

The Church of England’s Energy Footprint Tool enables churches to work out your carbon footprint by entering information from your energy bills from the previous year.

The data collected from the tool will help your church understand its carbon footprint and will mean you may be eligible for grants to help kickstart your net zero projects.

This work is an essential part of caring for God’s Creation, by helping to combat global heating and climate change.

The easy-to-use online tool will tell your church what your carbon footprint is, based on the energy you use to heat and light your buildings.

 

What do I have to do?

Simply enter your church’s energy figures from the year before. Once you have entered all the data, you will immediately receive a report and results on your computer or smartphone.  This includes:

• The church’s carbon footprint in CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent)
• A simple assessment of your buildings’ efficiency, in graphical form

Watch a video of quick-fire questions about the Energy Footprint Tool here:

 

What do I need to get started?

You will need your utility bills for the year before: electricity, gas, oil, or whichever other fuel you use. For example, if you are completing it in 2024, you need your 2023 bills.  If you have solar panels, find information on their generation over the preceding year.

If you have a separate church hall you will need to add this building, and enter the bills for this too.  If you want to exclude an area which is permanently rented out to tenants and sub-metered, you will want this information to hand.

For most churches, we already know the floor area. If we don’t already hold this information, you will need a sensible estimate of the m2 floor area of the church, and any other associated buildings you are inputting, such as the church hall.

You will also need a sensible estimate of the number of person-hours that the church is used throughout the year.  Please remember when entering this data that a good estimate is fine – these numbers do not need to be 100% accurate, and long as they are in a relevant ball park.

The system is open until 31 July each year and you can find it on the online Parish Returns system: https://parishreturns.churchofengland.org/diocese-menu/verify-data

 

How to fill out the Energy Footprint Tool – you can watch a detailed screen by screen walk through to help you fill out the tool here:

Get in touch if you need help:

Need support or have questions with the technical aspects of your net zero carbon journey? Contact Phil Leigh, our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme Lead and Diocesan Environmental Officer: phil.leigh@liverpool.anglican.org or email: nzc@Liverpool.anglican.org

Read more:

Energy Footprint Tool | The Church of England

Eco Church is an award scheme for churches that take the environment seriously and want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth.

There are currently 115 churches across our diocese registered with the Eco Church scheme run by, with two Gold, 18 Silver and 35 Bronze awards between them.

As part of our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme, Faiths4Change are supporting churches to register with the scheme and progress to your next award.

The scheme, run by A Rocha UK, is based on a self-assessment of how the church is “caring for God’s earth in different areas of their life and work”.

Eco Church works through 5 key areas of church life:

• Worship and teaching
• Management of church buildings
• Management of church land
• Community and global engagement
• Lifestyle

Churches gain awards by first registering online and then working through these categories and to fill out an online survey – click here to view a printable version.

Registering as an Eco Church is simple. You don’t have to be doing any activity – just sign up.

Faiths4Change can support you through this and the next steps – whether you are aiming for your first Bronze award, or progressing to Silver or Gold.

As a Bronze Eco Diocese working towards our Silver award, we are keen to support all churches in the Diocese to progress to their next award.

For support contact our NZC2030 Prophetic Lead Annie Merry: email: annie@faiths4change.org.uk or nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

 

Further resources:

There are lots of useful resources available on the Eco church website and some Eco Church case studies and webinars on the Church of England website.

Visit our Net Zero Carbon 2030 shared Knowledge Platform to find out more: NZC2030 Knowledge Platform (faiths4change.org.uk)

Browse the Eco Church Land and Lifestyle section of our Knowledge Platform padlet resource: Net Zero Carbon 2030 Resources (padlet.com)

Sign up to receive stories and tips via our Net Zero Carbon and Eco Church newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iNs7sg

Watch past net zero carbon and Eco Church workshops from Faiths4Change here: Net Zero Carbon 2030 – YouTube

 

Share

Send us your Eco Church photos and stories! Email our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Programme Communications Lead: communications@liverpool.anglican.org

You can also tag us on social media we can follow and support you in your actions @livdiocese and @faiths4change #ecodiocese #dotenthings  #netzerocarbon2030

Attend our Eco Diocese events (go to www.faiths4change.org.uk/ to find the next event)

The resources below will help your church journey towards being net zero carbon by 2030, and secure your next Eco Church award.

Please get in touch if you have any technical questions – email our Net Zero Carbon Programme Lead: phil.leigh@liverpool.anglican.org or email nzc@liverpool.anglican.org

The best way to access direct support for your individual church is by joining our Net Zero Carbon Programme – contact our NZC2030 Prophetic Lead Annie Merry and team to find out more: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

 

How can I work out the carbon footprint for my church?

The Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) is the vital first step in understanding your carbon footprint – and helping us understand our carbon footprint across the diocese. Find out more and watch a video guide about how to do this using information from your energy bills, by July 31^st each year: Energy Footprint Tool | The Church of England

 

What does the Church of England say about reducing emissions in church buildings?

By 2030, the buildings of the Church of England will be bright and welcoming, consuming much less energy and emitting less carbon than they do now. And that will be good for the people who use the buildings, and good for the whole of creation. The Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030 breaks down the journey into stages.  

Read more: Reducing emissions from churches | The Church of England

The Church of England’s practical path to net zero carbon for churches includes a wealth of resources: The practical path to net zero carbon for churches | The Church of England

 

What factors do we need to consider when making a Net Zero Carbon 2030 plan for our church?

Churches are asked to fill in this form to begin to work out what your priorities are to reduce your church’s carbon footprint.

Here is the Church of England’s guidance on filling out the Pathway to Net Zero checklist and recommendations to help churches reduce their energy use and associated carbon emissions: Microsoft Word – the practical path to net zero carbon for churches FINAL numbered October 2020 (churchofengland.org)

 

Where do I start to become an Eco Church?

As part of the NZC2030 programme, Faiths4Change supports churches to register, and achieve your next award. Find out more here Eco Church (faiths4change.org.uk). To discuss Eco Church needs contact our NZC2030 Prophetic Lead Annie Merry and team: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

Eco Church awarding Body A Rocha has produced a wealth of resources: Resources – Eco Church (arocha.org.uk) Read an overview of the Eco Church programme here: Eco Church – An A Rocha UK Project

 

Do I need permission to progress with changes to our church building?

Access information on the process of submitting a faculty application to the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee), taking Net Zero Carbon into consideration, here: Application process – Diocese of Liverpool (anglican.org)

View a printable flowchart to guide you through the DAC process here dac-flowchart-v2.pdf (faiths4change.org.uk)

Where can I find practical tips and ideas to share with my church?

Our Net Zero Carbon 2030 Knowledge Platform padlet resource hosted by Faiths4Change is regularly updated with links to useful resources: Net Zero Carbon 2030 Resources (padlet.com) Please let us know if there is a resources you have found useful that you would like us to share via the padlet – email: nzc@faiths4change.org.uk

Subscribe to our Net Zero Carbon & Eco Church newsletter to receive updates, stories, resources and ideas about how together we can help care for God’s creation. Produced by our Diocese of Liverpool NZC2030 Programme team in partnership with Faiths4Change: http://eepurl.com/iNs7sg

Watch past net zero carbon and Eco Church workshops from Faiths4Change here: Net Zero Carbon 2030 – YouTube

Please let us know if there are other resources you have found useful that you would like us to share with other churches. Please let us know if there is an area you would like to find resources for to support your journey – email: nzc@Liverpool.anglican.org