WITH less than four years left for the Church in Wales to achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, a briefing paper and a presentation on three fronts have commended the achievements already recorded, recognised the challenges still posed, and proposed next steps.
In view of the forthcoming Senedd elections, the opportunity has been taken to speak about the Church’s commitment to net zero and climate change. Voices throughout the two-day meeting urged voters to shun candidates who were clearly climate-change deniers.
The Archdeacon of Anglesey, the Ven. John Harvey (Bangor), said: “We’re all aware of anti-scientific voices targeting net zero as some kind of bogeyman. It’s essential we highlight the hope — these elections are the opportunity as we hold to our commitment.”
The Dean of Newport, the Very Revd Ian Black, wanted the Church in Wales to declare publicly that the response to climate change was ever more urgent, “in the light of those who think it’s all rubbish. It is our Christian action. We vote making a prophetic statement.”
It was reported that 484 churches — 40 per cent — had registered with the A Rocha UK Eco Church scheme: a target that had been set for 2030. The director of climate change for the Representative Body (RB), Dr Julia Edwards, encouraged others to join her in spreading good practice. “Tell others and shout about it,” she said.
Canon Mark Clavier (Swansea & Brecon) gave a theological overview. The Western Christian world had created the world as it was now: “Christians have been too comfortable, not demanding enough. We have to ask, for our dependants: what is the grace we have not tasted because we have been unwilling to bear the cost?”
Alex Glanville, head of property strategy for the RB, commended the likely launch of a new £600,000 fund, with the help of Benefact Trust, which would support 12 development grants of up £5000, and 12 demonstrator grants of up to £45,000; and spoke of progress in replacing the oil-fuelled boilers in parsonages.
He also drew attention to the new Havens of Peace project, organised in collaboration with Caring for God’s Acre: a £325,000 development grant to run six pilot projects to manage more than 50 churchyards and burial grounds for the community. “Think of them as assets, not liabilities,” he said.
Cathryn Brooker (Monmouth) was in a ministry area with 20 churchyards and eight open churchyards at closed churches. “Money will run out,” she said. “We must respect churchyards. Descendants need to have access even if just to trace ancestry.”