Head of Environmental Challenge

22/09/08

The Diocese of London has demonstrated its commitment to implement the Church of England policy ‘Shrinking the footprint’ by appointing its first Head of Environmental Challenge.

On 1 September Brian Cuthbertson took up this new post. In his new responsibilities, Brian will draw on his professional, environmental and historic building knowledge, having run his own architectural practice before taking up the position of Secretary of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) in 1993. Under Brian’s leadership the DAC and Care of Churches Team have developed into a first class advice service to parishes wishing to repair, restore or alter their buildings.

Brian says:

"My mission will be to review the environmental impact of everything the organisation does, centrally and in local areas, and how to mitigate it. I am also to participate fully in the wider debate, policy formation and action programmes on all matters concerning the environment. This is an immense and daunting task, but one which I am convinced must be addressed with commitment and urgency."

Under London Challenge 2012, the Diocese will play its part in the Shrinking the footprint campaign to reduce our environmental footprint and to play a full part in the debate on ecological matters. This includes reducing our carbon footprint, from that of 2005, by at least 20.12% by 2012, and 60% by 2050.

The greatest threat facing the world today is climate change, caused by greenhouse gases. Practising love of our neighbours means that we must mitigate the effects of climate change on those least able to adapt, especially the poor and vulnerable in the world. Other environmental issues include buildings and energy use, energy supplies, pollution, refuse disposal, food and water, biodiversity. These must all be tackled together. Underlying them is world population which has quadrupled in the last century, and continues to grow; at the same time, the impact of each individual increases.

To meet our targets is a major challenge. Emissions from Church of England properties are comparable to those of a major commercial company; at the same time, 70% of our buildings are listed and part of our national heritage, therefore subject to special requirements which must be balanced with the needs of sustainability.

The Diocese has begun to work towards meeting the challenge. Parishes are being encouraged to take three simple steps:

• To replace conventional light bulbs with low energy models
• To turn down the heating by one degree
• To switch to a green energy supplier.

Information on action already being taken may be seen at www.london.anglican.org/Shrinking-the-Footprint. A programme has commenced of insulation upgrades and environmental audits of our operational housing. A number of parishes are installing solar panels, biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps. Brian Cuthbertson will be looking at what can be learnt from these installations, and how initiatives such as these can be developed, financed and implemented across the Diocese.

We are also able to announce that, with immediate effect, any new property built by the London Diocesan Fund will be net zero carbon.

As progress is made in reducing our environmental impact, further reductions will become increasingly challenging. The Church has pledged during the debates on the Climate Change Bill in Parliament to review its targets in the light of the latest scientific evidence. Even greater reductions will very probably be needed.

We must be prepared to contemplate major changes in how we think, live and work. We must consider the total environmental impact of all our actions. Brian will engage with people across the whole organisation and with key stakeholders. He will research and report to the senior staff of the Diocese during 2009 on how our resources need to be used differently to achieve a sustainable operation in harmony with creation.