Thanks especially to the “Shrinking the Footprint” campaign, the Church of England is now seeking to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% every year. This means that Dioceses are (at last) beginning to look critically at their energy consumption.
The much-needed insulation of parsonages and schools, introduction of ‘staff’ travel plans and carbon off-setting, church procurement of renewable sources of electricity, use of low-energy light bulbs and more efficient heating systems are all welcome steps in breaking our dependency on oil and coal, and illustrations of more sustainable lifestyles which could become real if we find enough political will.
However, will such measures be enough in environmental and theological terms? And will they become real as we need radical action urgently? Members of the Church of England are likely to need to reduce their average carbon emissions from 9.5 tonnes to 1.2 tonnes annually in the next ten years - a change of immense challenge. It is increasingly clear that our wealthier lifestyles are already being paid for by displacement and destruction in poorer communities and countries.
What is a matter of choice for us, is a matter of death elsewhere. People and places are already being decimated by Climate Change, whilst for us it may be merely inconvenient or more expensive!
In my view, ‘Shrinking the Footprint’ is necessary, but not sufficient. The campaign needs to be accompanied by a strong critique of our over-consumptive, excessively abusive and short-term disposable culture. Climate Change is one of a number of disturbing features that something is wrong with our social priorities. Control and use of the world’s water, conflict over declining resources, pollution and poverty are the results of a global economic system which even now rewards waste, and punishes cooperation. The drive for us to maximise quick profits through individualistic consumerism is a key cause of both superficial economic growth and long-term ecological disruption (as well as human alienation).
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is calling for swift action for adaptation and mitigation from governments and business. This is surely right, but not complete. We will address Climate Change for the better when our local communities re-discover the potential for sharing rather than competing.
And this goes straight to the heart of the Gospel. It is love of God through community life and through the Earth that will contribute to reversing the trends of death. The Biblical tradition continually affirms that we belong to the land and to one another, and if we try to ignore this through personal privilege we border on idolatry. If we give ultimate attention to money we are replacing an eternal loving God with finite uncaring economics. When we pretend that private gain or personal convenience are ultimate, we are replacing God with something else.
We shall really shrink our footprint, not only by reducing our need for energy, but by turning our back on a world money system which forgets the planet, marginalises the poor and ignores the divine.
Human completion lies in inclusive relationships which gives us a sense of purpose in the midst of struggle. That is a deeply Christian perspective and must undergird this essential Campaign which is ultimately a challenge of Godly proportions...
Martyn Goss
Diocesan Development officer, Council for Church & Society, Exeter Diocese.
