The Rt Revd & Rt Hon. Dr Richard Chartres FSA KCVO
Welcome to the Diocese of London's Shrinking the Footprint micro-site.
In the 21st century in an interconnected world, practising love of neighbours means that we are committed to mitigate the effects of climate change, which will fall disproportionately on the poor and vulnerable in the world and those least able to adapt to rising temperatures and flooding.
The Church of England's Shrinking the Footprint campaign which I chair commits us to reducing our carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (compared to 2005).
As part of London Challenge 2012 we are committed to shrinking the carbon footprint of the Diocese by 20.12% by 2012. And we have pledged during the debates on the Climate Change Bill in Parliament to review our targets in the light of the latest scientific evidence.
The UK's waste could fill Trafalgar Square to the height of Nelson's column every day! It is vital that we all do more to consume less, throw away less, recycle more.
On this site you will find a range of practical information and resources designed to equip individuals and parishes to contribute towards achieving our goals.
We have great potential to make a difference together in London. Our 479 churches and 149 schools reach out to a community of 3.6 million people in 1.6 million homes across the Diocese.
There are three simple steps that could make a large difference:
Many churches have done these things already. You can download other suggestions from the information section via the links below. If you have additional practical ideas, please get in touch with the 
so that we can further improve this site.
With thanks for our partnership in the gospel
The Diocese has been taking its responsibilities towards the environment seriously since at least the 1990s. In 2006, the Diocese adopted the national Shrinking the Footprint campaign, see www.ShrinkingTheFootprint.org.
The Diocese has also adopted the national long-term plan 'Church and Earth 2009-2016'. Download 'Church and Earth' from www.shrinkingthefootprint.org/campaign.php.
The Diocese's efforts to help care for the environment form part of London Challenge 2012, which states:
"We will implement the Church of England policy on shrinking our environmental footprint and will play a full part in the debate on ecological matters." (London Challenge Commitment 5e)
For the whole of the London Challenge see www.london.anglican.org/London-Challenge.
In 2008, Brian Cuthbertson was appointed the Diocese's first Head of Environmental Challenge, tasked to develop a strategy to reduce the environmental footprint of the Diocese and churches, and to engage with people across the whole organisation and other stakeholders in implementing the strategy and achieving our objectives.
Contact Brian Cuthbertson on 020 7932 1229, or by .
This Steering Group oversees the Shrinking the Footprint campaign in the Diocese of London. Its members are:
For more information, contact Mary Nada on 020 7932 1215, or email
Diocesan Synod receives reports on the environment annually. Download the latest report below.
Diocesan Synod has received reports on:
In November 2009, Synod also passed a resolution passed by Central Barnet Deanery concerning waste and recycling.
| Diocesan Synod report |
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Diocesan Synod adopted a new policy for the environment in 2010. This sets out strategic ambitions for the Diocese, clergy and congregations, and church schools – with the spiritual and theological principles which underpin them.
The policy covers topics including:
The policy states that care for God's creation is fundamental to the Christian gospel.
| Diocesan Environmental Policy |
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Every church is urged to play a full part in the effort to mitigate our environmental footprint.
So far, more than 200 out of 479 churches have taken part in one environmental project or another, especially our Climate Action Programme – part of Route 2050. Full participation will be needed to achieve our goals.
A number of churches have their own environmental policies. Every PCC is encouraged to establish a policy, reflecting the Diocesan Environmental Policy while taking account of local circumstances and aspirations.
Each church is encouraged to designate an individual, or a group of members, as Parish Environmental Champions. Many have done so – we owe a debt to the energy and dedication of these champions. A group is even better than one individual. Their pooled time and efforts will be greater; and the challenge to care for God's creation is a duty to be shared – it's easier for a group to draw more and more people into the effort.
Download suggested terms of reference for Parish Champions below. Make sure to let us know who are your Environmental Champions.
| Parish environmental champions |
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Since 2007, figures for energy consumption have been requested as part of Parish Annual Returns. Thanks to the 30-45% of parishes who have supplied figures for electricity and gas (sometimes oil) each year.
This information is not to gather data for its own sake! It is very useful in implementing Shrinking the Footprint. Not only does it measure our progress in the effort to tackle climate change; it also promotes energy security, and helps us reduce costs to parishes and individuals.
Figures are collected each year for the two preceding years. When the year before last's figures have already been received, they show on the online form and do not need to be entered again.
Data up to 2009 has been analysed so far. In 2005, the carbon footprint for churches and church halls in the Diocese totalled 22,600 tonnes of CO2. By 2008 it had fallen 11.4%, to 20,000 tonnes. Disappointingly, in 2009 it rebounded by 9%, up to 21,800 tonnes – leaving a small net saving of 3.5% since 2005.
2010 was a very cold year, with an abnormally high demand for heat. The trend should be down again in 2011, for which a target of 19,000 tonnes of CO2 has been set, to put us back on track towards our 2012 target of 20.12% reductions.
For the first time, in 2011 the Returns form allows space to record electricity generated on site, e.g. solar panels. This will be taken account of in reporting for the years 2010 and following.
To enter Parish Annual Returns for 2011 (in respect of 2009 and 2010), log in.
Download a summary of work done so far in our environmental campaigns here.
And find out more using the links at the top right of the page.
| Work done so far |
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We believe the lessons we learn in Church should be taken home with us to our everyday lives including work, school or college, our recreation and on holiday.
The Environmental Challenge isn't just a matter for Church. And none of us should exempt ourselves.
See What we can do for downloads including tips for how to reduce our environmental impact and help tackle climate change – while still enjoying 'fullness of life'.
As pointed out in his introductory message from the Bishop of London, our actions affect others, especially the poor and vulnerable, most acutely in the developing world.
Figures from Munich Re, the world's biggest insurers, show that climate-related disasters have doubled since 1980 worldwide, while floods have multiplied three-fold in their combined frequency and severity. 2010-2011 saw unprecedented floods in Pakistan then Australia (among many other natural disasters – including earthquakes and tsunamis which are understood as natural not climate-related nor human in origin).
Why do the poor suffer most? Because they may live in more crowded conditions, with less developed infrastructures, and less resilience to cope.
Why is this our responsibility? Because the UK is still a net exporter of CO2 into other peoples' air. We generate 2% of the world's emissions from less than 1% of the population. On average, our emissions still spill over into the rest of the world, more than theirs enter our airspace.
And because the G20 nations have more political and economic influence, more choices, more capacity to help others.
Find out in these pages how we aim to reduce our emissions and live more sustainably. See especially Climate Action Programme.
Our churches support aid agencies such as ALMA (Angola London Mozambique Association) in projects assisting adaptation and building resilience to the consequences of climate change.
And when disaster strikes, wherever that may be, let's be ready to help meet the needs of those affected.
At a national Shrinking the Footprint meeting on the environment in Lambeth Palace, a former government minister, the Rt Hon Joan Ruddock MP, said:
"We used to think that climate change was a problem for our grandchildren, then we found out it was a problem for our children, now we realise it is a problem for us."
Climate change is already happening. It will become increasingly severe and threatening, every year and every day we neglect to deal with it with firmness and perseverence.
We want the voice of children and young people to be heard through our deliberations and reflected in our actions concerning the environment, especially climate change.
That is why we accord such significance to our 149 church schools, and all their pupils and students. It is their future.
Christians believe the future is also in God's hands, and we are ultimately answerable to God. Church and Earth, and our Diocesan Environmental Policy, contain reflections on how the Church of England and Diocese of London regard our responsibility towards God's creation.
