Earth Justice: Our Commitment to Net Zero 2030

Our commitment to the environment and becoming Carbon Net Zero by 2030

In February 2020, members of the Church of England’s General Synod set new targets to reach a point where by the amount of greenhouses gasses released in to the atmosphere as a result of church life are reduced to zero or balanced by removal out of the atmosphere (otherwise known as “net zero”) by 2030.

During the Synod debate, Bishop of Salisbury, Nick Holtam said “Synod has set an ambitious target for the whole Church of England to respond to the urgency of the Climate Crisis. To reach Synod’s target of 2030 will not be easy, and requires each of us to hear this as an urgent call to action. But this is a clear statement of intent across the Church and to wider society about our determination to safeguard God’s creation. This is a social justice issue, which affects the world’s poorest soonest and most severely, and if the Church is to hold others to account, we have to get our own house in order.”

The Diocese of Liverpool is committed to meeting the challenge of protecting the environment and meeting our ambitious Net-Zero Carbon targets.

Taking care of our environment is central to safeguarding the integrity of God’s creation. As resources are depleted, the atmosphere polluted and ecosystems and habitats destroyed through human activity, the earth's ability to meet the needs of its inhabitants, including people, is compromised.

By committing to the two strands of Net-Zero carbon and Eco Church, as a diocese, we have the opportunity to work together towards a safer and more just world.

In 2019, the Diocese of Liverpool gained the bronze Eco Diocese award. This puts us amongst only 8 other dioceses who have achieved the award. We are now progressing work towards the Silver Eco Diocese award

We are committed to the 5th Mark of Mission “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

If you would like to know more, please contact the Diocesan Environmental Officer: phil.leigh@liverpool.anglican.org

How to become an Eco-Church

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 over 25 Eco Church awarded churches in the diocese of Liverpool and more than 70 churches have already registered.

An Eco Church 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:

Churches gain bronze, silver and gold awards by registering online and working through these 5 categories and filling in the survey (see printable version of survey). There are many relevant resources available on the Eco church website and also some Eco Church case studies and webinars on the national CofE website.

Register as an Eco Church online and login - it's simple and starts your journey. You don't have to be doing any activity - just sign up.

For extra support email when registering as an Eco Church, contact: annie@faiths4change.org.uk