There are many things we can do to live more sustainably. Doing so will help to heal our environment, reduce the heating of our planet and save lives.
On this page you will find information, resources and suggestions for action to care for the earth, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and to stop the wasteful use of earth's resources that destroys ecosystems, species and human communities.
Some ideas for action are small; others involve major changes to the way we live; and some are in between. We hope you will find some ideas here that fit with where you are on your own journey of understanding and action. You may also find useful resources on the Church of England website
The page is divided into three sections: Reducing global warming; Reducing pollution; Eco-systems and biodiversity.
1. Reducing global warming
Understanding greenhouse gases and carbon emissions
Emissions from greenhouse gases are the main reason that global temperatures are rising. Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas responsible (largely from use of gas and oil for heating, and fuel in cars and other vehicles). Another greenhouse gas, methane, contributes about 17% of greenhouse gas emissions, largely as a result of emissions from livestock especially cows.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community. This video explains what carbon footprints and what contributes to them.
However, there is some controversy about carbon footprints. They have been strongly promoted by fossil fuel companies in an effort to shift the burden of action needed to reduce carbon emissions away from fossil fuel companies to consumers. This article explains the history of the carbon footprint and how they might still be useful.
Carbon footprints vary widely across the world. Individuals in poor countries have much lower carbon footprints than those in richer countries. Rich people have much higher carbon footprints than poor people. The carbon footprint of an average person in the UK is about 9 or 10 tonnes. The World Wildlife Fund suggests 9.3 tonnes in 2023. Their figure is based on UK government data that is consumption-based and so includes emissions from imported goods and services. Other websites may give lower figures around 5 or 6 tonnes (as does the video above) but they only include emissons within UK borders so do not really represent the total carbon footprint of a person living in the UK.
If you want to understand more about carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, you may like to join a carbon literacy course, starting in the diocese in early 2024. If you are interested please contact the Diocesan Environmental Officer, Rev’d Sandra Eldridge, on seldridge@chelmsford.anglican.org.
Carbon footprint calculator
There are many different tools for calculating carbon footprints for individuals or organisations. They all have pros and cons, and may give different estimates as they use different assumptions. One commonly used Individual carbon footprint tool is the World Wildlife Fund Footprint Tool.
if you want more information about how WWF do their calculations, you can find that here.
Climate Stewards have developed a Carbon Footprint Card Game to help people understand more about the carbon footprint of different activities, and think about ways to cut their footprint.
Reducing my carbon footprint
How you reduce your carbon footprint depends on what your carbon footprint is to start with and what is contributing to it. Actions won’t be the same for everyone. Also, the larger your footprint now, the more scope there is for reduction. For the average person in the UK, roughly about a quarter of carbon emisions come from each of: travel, home, food, eveything else.
If you have questions that you can't find the answer to, the Centre for Alternative Technology provides a very helpful free information service.
There are many inspriring examples of how people and organisations have done things to reduce their carbon footprints. See below for an example of what Southend on Sea Local Council have done to one of their houses.
Useful links for learning more about how to reduce your carbon footprint
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Travel
The Energy Saving Trust and Friends of the Earth provide advice on reducing your carbon footprint due to travel.
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Home
The Energy Saving Trust provides advice on saving energy in your home.
Between 8 July 2023 – 10 March 2024 there is a free exhibition on at the Design Museum in Kensington on How to Build a Low-Carbon Home.
Southend on Sea Local Council have retrofitted one of their to show the public how it can be done! Visit their website to find out more, or watch the video above.
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Food
The United Nations provides an explanation about how food production and what we eat affects the environment, and suggests some things we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food.
2. Reducing pollution
Different sorts of pollution
Pollution can affect air, water, and soil, changing their composition and making them harmful to the health of life on earth, including human health. Common sources of air pollution are petrol and diesel vehicles, industrial activity, forest fires and household combustion appliances. Common sources of water pollution are chemicals, waste, parasites and bacteria. Common sources of soil pollution are industrial activity, agricultural chemicals and waste.
In the videos below you can hear Adoo-Kissi-Debrah talk about her daughter's death from air pollution, and Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez talking about the complexity of plastic pollution.
Useful links for learning about how to reduce plastic pollution
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Plastic pollution
The World Wildlife Fund has some tips for reducing plastic pollution.
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Air pollution
Sustrans has some suggestions for reducing air pollution.
3. Eco systems and biodiversity
Understanding the loss of eco systems and biodiversity
The world we live in is changing rapidly. A recent report from the World Wildlife Fund suggests that in the past 50 years we have lost nearly 50% of wildlife from the planet. The National Trust's 2023 State of Nature report suggests that the nature in the UK is similarly depleted. Much of this loss can be attributed to deforestation, intensification of agriculture and industrial expansion.
Care for the environment, encouraging biodiversity and reducing environmental degradation
Many of the tips elsewhere on this page for reducing carbon footprints and pollution will also help to reduce environmental degradation. To reduce environmental degradation we need to walk more lightly on this beautiful planet.
The Woodland Trust and Kew Gardens have some useful tips for encouraging biodiversity in your garden.