One of the ways we can work towards a more environmentally sustainable world is by finding out more about the issues. In the diocese we mark specific days and seasons in the church's calendar, including the Season of Creation and Black History Month.
Season of Creation and Black History Month 2023
Climate Justice is Racial Justice
This year we are organising a series of events covering September (Season of Creation) and October (Black History Month). Picking up on the Season of Creation theme "Let Justice and Peace Flow" we are exploring the relationship between climate justice and racial justice under the umbrella "Climate Justice is Racial Justice."
A flyer outlining the events is available to download on link below if you would like to share this within your local networks or print to display on church notice boards.
Flyer to download and print
Download Flyer
Events Programme Season of Creation 2023
The effects of climate change are being disproportionately felt by those who have done the least to cause it and have the least resources to deal with what they are facing. In fact, the damage falls mostly on people of colour. In three events, we will hear first-hand about the effects of climate change in different parts of the world and in a fourth event, Jeremy Williams, will draw together what we have heard, and talk about causes and consequences.
All events are on-line and from 7.30pm to 9pm. Click on the links below to register for the sessions
Jeremy Williams is a writer and campaigner, the author of "Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice", and the editor of the Christian Climate Action book "Time to Act". He grew up in a missionary family in Madagascar and Kenya, and now lives in Luton.
Events Programme Black History Month 2023
The event progrmme for Black History Month 2023 will futher explore relationship between climate justice and racial justice. For more information please email Revd Sharon Quilter.
Resources
Podcasts:
Dr Selina Stone. Fire, Fire, Fire. Black faith and the Environmental Crisis.
In this podcast Dr Stone talks about climate change and the human actions that are leading to recent climate chaos. She says: I explore some of the beliefs which can prevent us from taking our responsibility for creation care seriously. And I discuss how caring for the earth ties in to our wider concerns for social justice.
Videos:
Bishop Qampicha of Marsabit Diocese in Kenya talks to Sandra Eldridge, Chelmsford Diocese Enviromental Officer about The Effects of Climate Change in the Diocese of Marsabit.
This Al Jazeera video describes long term effects of the 2022 Pakistan floods.
These two Christian Aid Videos focus on the links between climate justice and racial justice. The first video is very short. Robert Beckford and others talk about these link. The second video is longer; a panel talk about why racial justice is at the heart of climate justice.
Books and articles:
Jeremy Williams. Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice. Icon Books Ltd. 2021. In this book, the author takes us on a short, urgent journey across the globe from Kenya to India, the USA to Australia - to understand how climate justice and racial justice overlap.
Websites:
Carbon Free 2030
In response to the climate crisis, the Church of England has committed to becoming entirely carbon neutral by 2030. This is an ambitious target and includes all church buildings, offices, church halls, Voluntary Aided church schools, and lots more besides!
Use the links below to find links to our diocesan plan, plus useful tools for parishes and clergy in assessing and reducing carbon consumption.
Parish Return: Energy Footprint Tool
In addition to the normal annual return that parishes are required to make, there is now an extra section which collects data on churches’ energy usage. This information is vital if the diocese is going to be able, both, to know the current level of carbon emissions we collectively produce through our activities, and to measure our progress over the next decade.
The return is very quick and easy to complete. All you will need is your church’s utility bills from the last year and a figure for your total floorspace (this can be found in your last Quinquennial Report).
NB: You will need to login to the Church of England parish returns website to access the tool. Your login details will probably be held by the person who does statistics and finance returrns for your parish. If you don't have a login, please email statistics@chelmsford.anglican.org to request one.
View the energy footprint tool
Carbon Offsetting Clergy Mileage
Climate Stewards are a Christian organisation who provide sustainable carbon offsetting for all carbon output that cannot be mitigated otherwise.
We are encouraging churches to offset work-based mileage accrued by clergy and church workers in the course of their duties. Climate Stewards have a calculation page where you can enter the size of your car and the amount of mileage, then it will give you a cost to offset. Even with clergy who do 500 miles a month of business mileage, the annual yearly cost to offset is under £50!
How churches can achive net zero carbon
Getting to net zero carbon emissions in ten years can sound a bit like pie in the sky. After all, most churches have oil or gas fired boilers and no insulation! However, if you are worried that this will cost a fortune, don’t worry. The aim is for us to do what we can, not what we can’t, and we need to be realistic about what we can afford, and what is good value in environmental terms.
The Church of England have produced a guide for churches on how to achieve net zero, which can be accessed here
For individual guidance, please contact the Diocesan Environmental Officer, Revd Sandra Eldridge
ECO church
A great way for churches to become more environmentally sustainable is through the Eco Church Award.
Thousands of churches have joined up to this scheme, including lots from Chelmsford Diocese. To become an Eco Church, a church needs to assess its current ecological credentials using the Eco Church questionnaire, then decide on its own action plan, to reach the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.
It provides a fun and holistic way at looking at a church’s environmental footprint, and brings people together in the search for ways to make churches environmental hubs.
If you’re on Facebook, why not also join our Greening the Church page for regular updates.
