net zero
Continue to push for the Church to move to Net Zero as soon as possible, but to ensure that
That experience gave me a lasting commitment to the worldwide Church and to the connections between mission, poverty, sustainable development and care for creation - all relevant to General Synod. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” ~ Romans 15:7 Five years of experience I jumped into Synod from the start, asking questions, proposing amendments, and speaking in debates on safeguarding, social care, Net Zero, neurodiversity, inclusion and Church governance.
National Net Zero ambitions only become reality when local churches have the practical knowledge, resources and funding to deliver them.
She has experienced first-hand the journey of St James becoming an Eco Church, committing to Carbon Net Zero by 2030 and embracing the guidance offered in its recent Oxford Diocese energy audit.”) Registered as carbon literate by the Carbon Project & approved to present the C of E Carbon Project, Carbon Literacy course.
I support the Church of England’s commitment to work towards net zero by 2030, and the recent motion calling for protection of land for nature.
Our bold net zero goal needs to be matched by much greater support for parishes.
Practical experience for difficult decisions I am leading a major church building project which includes a move to carbon net zero.
I’m also a member of the Diocesan Net-Zero Steering Group.
We should not be moving away from this and becoming involved in areas which are not our concern - supporting net zero carbon emissions and project Spire, for example.
Supporting national and local initiatives working towards ‘net zero’ is an imperative and I will always support motions that move the church and our communities to be more proactive in this area.
Climate and creation care The desire to reach carbon Net Zero by 2030 was laudable but unachievable, and has been particularly problematic for rural churches.
Finally, I fully support the aim for carbon net zero, but at a pace that is sustainable.
We have four churches in our parish, one is currently net zero, with heated pew pads and no further heating, this was after the gas heating was decommissioned due to being unsafe.
Instead, the Church Commissioners is distributing hundreds of millions from its £11.6 billion endowment towards time-limited grants – funding an army of staff at diocesan level to implement ideologically-driven policies on net zero and racial justice – as well as more staff to help complete more grant applications.
Until 2024, I served as a Member and Trustee of its Assets Committee (£11.6bn) having been re-appointed by the Archbishops, where I took a strong interest in ethical and green issues, as well as advocating that The Church of England goes carbon net zero to safeguard God’s creation.
the Church’s response to the growing Climate Change crisis and its own net zero target;
Parish: I want to see parishes and clergy supported well, both financially and pastorally, so that they thrive in this changing world especially in areas where village and parish life is being changed by housing developments and the challenging move to net zero is necessary.
I passionately believe the Church demonstrates God’s wisdom principally by renouncing and denouncing this, as well as by tackling the symptoms, e.g. by moving to net-zero where possible, recycling, re-using and re-wilding, among others
Likewise the expensive ‘net-zero’ requirements which feel more like false-virtue than true benefit.
General Synod has voted that the CofE should aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 – although this is unlikely to be met (it was always a very challenging target), progress to Net Zero C is worthwhile.
Caring about future generations, also means caring for our planet and the environment, which they will inhabit, and I support the Church of England’s Net Zero ambitions.
Church, committed to net zero.
As a parish priest with churches engaged with Eco Church, I am passionate about the Church of England’s commitment to be carbon net zero by 2030.
• General Synod Environment Group (including working towards carbon net zero by
want to see the CofE continue to be proactive in its anti-racism work and Net Zero ambitions.
Climate Action, Creation Care, and Net Zero Infrastructure
While I support our national Net Zero carbon targets, my practical experience tells me that parishes need realistic support, not just legislative demands.
Trends develop such as sustainability, climate change, carbon reduction, net zero: new understandings are developing such as net gain and nature- positive – and so we come back to God’s creation and His charge to be good stewards of His garden!
If we are going to reach Net Zero, which I support, the financial burden cannot rest on parishes alone.
Whilst recognising the challenges of applying climate-related objectives to many of our Grade 1-listed church buildings, I have been encouraged by the drive towards net-zero, particularly where practical solutions are facilitated for parishes via, for example, the ‘Quick Wins’ grants scheme.
advocating for women in ministry, both lay and clergy, social justice, mental health initiatives and environmental and net zero opportunities
• Climate change/Net Zero
We must also work to ensure we are caring for our environment and work towards our churches being net zero, for example using the newly created Hope for all Creation resources, which urge us to see, reflect and respond.
I have particularly pressed issues affecting parish ministry: whether funding intended for low-income communities actually reaches their parishes, the balance between central posts and front-line ministry, clergy wellbeing and access to Net Zero funding.
Questions I raised about Net Zero funding for LInC parishes helped bring about changes to the small- grants scheme, and I have continued pressing for the same principle to apply to larger projects.
I believe that Synod’s bold commitment to Net Zero by 2030 is prophetic and working together on the environment has proved to be a significant missional activity, touching on our common humanity and transcending more sectarian church divides.
It is time to drop the whole scheme, and to stop apologising for our history. ‘No’ to Net Zero The General Synod has committed the Church of England overall to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
This is consuming huge sums of money across the Church of England—the National Church has a well-staffed Net Zero Programme Office, and Diocese of Oxford alone has already committed over £10m to its net zero programme—and making life more difficult and expensive for already hard-pressed Parishes, especially when they need to replace church boilers.
Even were net zero to be achieved across the Church of England—or even the whole of the UK as a nation—it would have no measurable effect on global temperatures.
Environmental stewardship will also remain high on the agenda as the Church continues its commitment towards Net Zero
churches, ensuring they can realistically achieve Net Zero targets without overwhelming parish budgets.
The ambition of Net Zero by 2030 is a Church prepared to lead by example.
A period of peace in the National Church: the last five years of safeguarding scandals, divisive initiatives (Net Zero, Project Spire, SDF) and Synodical stalemate over “Living in Love and Faith” have been exhausting, and have left a bitter legacy of distrust.
• Successfully campaigned for Pembroke College, Oxford, to commit to achieving Net Zero
• Climate Change: Ensure the Church delivers on its Net Zero commitments, increases
Examples of this are the Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and the 30k youth project.
Climate and the care of creation I remain committed to Net Zero and the wider care of creation, while wanting dioceses and parishes to have realistic, properly resourced ways of turning those commitments into practice.
I would be keen to support plans to work towards Net Zero, recognising the challenges that this can create and to engage with local rural communities to support them in implementation of these plans.
Although the Church of England won’t hit Net Zero by 2030, we’re a lot further ahead than if we’d gone for 2050!
I believe I can make a difference because… I care about the environment — During this quinqenium we will continue work towards the Church of England’s 2030 net-zero targets.
My experience will help me work for practical ways to help churches progress towards net-zero.
If I were elected to General Synod I would advocate for bold action towards our ambitious goal of Net Zero Carbon by 2030, with support for Churches to take action, and to courageously and creatively use our Churchyards and Glebe Land to foster biodiversity.
Climate Change and Net Zero
I fully support the ambitious targets that the Church of England has set for achieving net zero emissions, and will continue to press for the changes needed to accomplish our targets.
I support the Church of England’s commitment to care for creation and ambition for carbon net zero.
Net zero: I recognise the climate crisis (who doesn’t after this summer?!).
I love the drive and ambition behind the push for net zero.
Whilst advocating strongly for net zero I would still vote for these decisions to be owned by the parishes.
We need to be responsible to future generations, including moving to be carbon net zero, and to help natural environments thrive.
Nominated by Becky Waring (Archdeacon of Bristol) and Simon Taylor (Director of Ministry) As your representative I have given speeches in General Synod on subjects including net zero, creation care, racial justice, contested heritage, and LLF, and have asked questions on subjects ranging from church buildings to ND inclusion, from gluten free communion bread to retirement housing, and more.
We must not lose momentum on net zero targets, but parishes need support with making this a reality in their church buildings.
The drive to Net Zero is too heavy-handed, causes unnecessary problems in the parishes, and needs to become more flexible.
In 2022 James Tama, Bishop of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, addressed the Lambeth Council. “My islands are sinking,” he said, “but no one is listening.” It was also in 2022 that General Synod approved a road map to Net Zero by 2030.
Whether it's turning churchyards into safe spaces for local wildlife or encouraging our diocese to meet Net Zero goals, I want us to take practical action to protect the natural world around us.
I am currently the administrator for 11 rural parishes in South Warwickshire, and I am on the Coventry Diocesan Synod In General Synod, I want to speak to environmental issues such as rewilding, encouraging parochial ethical savings and investments, and the Church’s path to Net Zero by 2030 at General Synod, which falls during this next quinquennium.
I am passionate about encouraging and supporting dioceses to help churches and church buildings become net zero and sustainable with a dangerously warming planet.
We also need to work towards Net Zero and take care of the creation entrusted to us.
Eco-Church: Within the diocese, I and SJtL have been very involved with the Westminster Net Zero Forum from its earliest days, signing up to the Sustainable City Charter.
A practical, tailored net-zero approach for historic buildings
Net Zero & Climate Change.
I am supportive of our commitment to Net Zero and recognise the very real and pressing issue of climate change and our need to act.
The target of Net Zero by 2030 is unrealistic, this needs reframing as does the massive challenge of enabling our church buildings and vicarages to be carbon neutral.
Finally, while the Church’s push for net zero across its entire estate is understandable and desirable where possible, the original target date was 2050.
Ambitious Net Zero carbon tar-
I have been encouraged to see the way in which General Synod has been prophetic in its leadership of Net Zero Carbon and I have been an active member of the Leicester Diocese Net Zero Carbon Steering Committee helping to reduce energy - saving money and carbon.
Despite the Net Zero Carbon target being unrealistic, I am keen to encourage General Synod to support parishes to make significant changes to their buildings and communities and to care for all that God has made, enabling it to flourish and give Him glory.
In addition to this, as part of the lay awkward squad, I have been involved closely in additional and intensive private discussions and negotiations with churchycrats ( a word, which I invented ), parliamentarians and regulators on: Getting central Church and diocesan funds redirected towards the parish; cranking up the recruitment, retention and redeployment of clergy and thereby addressing the chronic dearth of vicars; stopping in its tracks a dangerous centralisation of Church governance and control of funding; achieving diocesan structural reform ( there are too many dioceses and their overheads are roughly twice what they should be ); helping to influence the Diocese of Salisbury in some of its decision making; attempting to save two churches in Southampton, which were threatened with closure under the Mission and Pastoral Measure; undoing the ruinous policy of trying to achieve net zero by 2030; and dismantling Project Spire, the Church Commissioners’s endeavour to pay slavery reparations of £ 100 million, whereas such funds should be redirected towards parishes.
Finally, during the last quinquennium, I asked a total of twenty-one written questions at General Synod ( the equivalent of Parliamentary Questions ) on the following subjects: The folly of closing the churches at the beginning of lockdown; the imbalance of power and resources between diocese and parish when a church is threatened with closure under the existing and proposed Mission and Pastoral Measure ( in parallel, I sat on the Reference Group for the revised Mission and Pastoral Measure ); the eye-wateringly high staffing and refurbishment costs of Lambeth Palace; the paucity of spending on training of new ordinands; the amount of time wasted by bishops in the House of Lords; the ruinous cost and lunacy of trying to achieve net zero by 2030 and the burden, which this places on parishes; the fact that so few dioceses use Total Return Accounting ( thereby increasing the financial burden on parishes of parish share ); the non-validity of the Church’s Vision and Strategy ( it was never voted for by General Synod and yet it is depriving principally rural parishes of vicars and stipendiary boots on the ground ); what percentage of the Church Commissioners’ total assets come from parochial endowments, which were seized in 1976 ( for the first time, the written answer to this question established that it is 19% ); concerns about increasing centralisation of Church governance and control of funding; how significant amounts of money are being diverted away from the parish in order to finance episcopal vanity projects; and seven questions about Project Spire and slavery reparations.
Perhaps if we invested in Solar Panels, Heat pumps and EV points for most vicarages, we could improve clergy welfare and hit our net-zero targets.
Alongside this, I believe that the Synod has a key role to play in speaking up for the needs of historic church buildings, highlighting the burdens faced by parishes, such as stretching net zero requirements and no longer being able to reclaim VAT on repairs despite an estimated £55 billion of economic and social value being provided annually within communities across the UK.
Climate change — I support the Church’s commitment to net zero by 2030, and I believe the Church must lead by example in caring for God’s creation.
I want the Church to use its land, property, and resources creatively for creation renewal, help parishes reach net zero, and support Christian environmental action.
Net Zero 2030: Securing central grants so parishes can meet environmental targets without placing an unmanageable financial strain on local congregations.
they do a fantastic but often thankless job and I have asked questions at GS about some of the mad net zero rules affecting church heating and trying to reduce the burdens of compliance and faculties, so that PCCs can focus on mission and doing church well.
Beyond Net Zero: Net Zero is a target.
In the past five years I have had a vote as General Synod made key decisions supporting the move to Carbon Net Zero and championing care of land and nature.
I have been General Synod representative on the National Environment Group, which oversees the Church of England’s environmental activities, including the Net Zero campaign.
I will press Synod to ensure that the Church meets its commitments on Net Zero and on the ethical and responsible use of land and resources.
Currently, as Chair of the CofE Net-Zero Carbon Building Services Committee, I am working with colleagues to administer national funding to achieve good outcomes in our parishes.
The last five years have seen significant progress, including strengthened safeguarding, Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples, action towards Net Zero Carbon by 2030, greater recognition of neurodiversity and support for social justice and those in need.
I would speak into the churches Net Zero plans and advocate for how we can make our buildings and practices more sustainable.
The ambition of a 'net-zero church' remains poorly defined—does it account for a priest driving miles between parishes, or the fuel parishioners spend to attend?
Careful deliberations need to continue, a few churches may need to close although careful consideration of pastoral re-organisation and strategic developments is required, as these may potentially lead to further irreversible church closures and fewer clergy. https://savetheparish.com Eco Church and caring for nature and the environment – Green investment is to be encouraged by the church, which is also aiming towards a net zero carbon footprint.
We are in the process of improving disability access for the church and have been successful in securing grants in the church’s journey towards Net Zero.
Globally we have not done enough to tackle the problem of climate change and the church can play an important role in modelling ways to move towards net- zero and to adapt to changes.
More funding support for PCCs and church schools is required if the Church is to succeed in its drive towards carbon net zero.
I have also raised questions on various matters, recently around what benefit the Net-Zero commitments are having on clergy housing.
with work on Net Zero Carbon, Racial Justice, Estates Ministry and Diocesan Finances – all of which I will support, along with submitting Questions and participating in debates.
Environmental sustainability: Our national church initiatives on climate change and moving towards net-zero must take account of local needs and practical constraints to be successful.
Having experienced the worst wildfires in recent French history within my own chaplaincy area this year, I am deeply concerned about climate change and the pace of moves towards net zero.
• Encouraging the Church to continue in its efforts to become Carbon Net Zero by 2030 will enable us
There are major items to be debated – from mission, national church governance, further work on safeguarding, inclusion, Net Zero, to name but a few.
My main concerns have included the environment/net zero (we need to do more than live on unfunded hope), safeguarding (we need real and effective independence and culture change – read the recent Ineqe report on the national church).
• Speeches on liturgy, theology and national net zero work
I welcome the ambitious target of the General Synod to work towards being carbon net zero by 2030.
This informs my opinion on the divisive issues facing Synod such as gender, race and net zero, for which there are no easy and unifying answers.
I will champion the Church’s Net Zero targets while supporting parishes to realise the missional opportunities of creation care.
I am not in favour of: Project Spire; the headlong rush to net zero and " Living in Love and Faith ".
Lament to Action, Growing Younger, Net Zero, Wellbeing, Simplification and Financial Restructuring that focusses on the health of the local church across a spectrum of traditions, prioritising our most socio-economically deprived parishes will all be part of the legislative process that those elected must engage with.
I therefore support the Synod’s drive towards net zero and the vision set out in Hope for All Creation.