Shrinking the Footprint

Welcome to the Diocese of London’s “Shrinking the Footprint” micro-site.

The Church of England’s “Shrinking the Footprint Campaign” which I chair commits us to reducing our carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. We have already pledged during the debates on the Climate Change Bill in Parliament to review this target in the light of the latest scientific evidence. On this site you will find a range of practical information and resources designed to equip individuals and parishes to contribute towards achieving our goal.

We have great potential to make a difference together in London. Our 479 churches and 147 schools reach out to a community of 3.6 million people in 1.6 million homes across the Diocese. As part of London Challenge 2012 we are committed to shrinking the carbon footprint of the Diocese by 20.12% by 2012.

There are three simple steps that could make a large difference:

• Replace conventional light bulbs with low energy models
• Turn down the heating by one degree
• Switch to a green energy supplier

You can download other suggestions from the information section below. If you have additional practical ideas please get in touch with the Property Department so that we can update this 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 sea levels.

With thanks for our partnership in the gospel

The Rt Rev’d & Rt Hon. Richard Chartres DD FSA

What we can do

Although much of the environmental debate is centred on the global scale, there are many practical ways that individuals and organisations can contribute to the effort. This cumulative effect really can make a difference - and potentially save money too.

The three basic steps are simple to implement:

1. Replace conventional light bulbs with low-energy models
2. Turn down the boiler by one degree
3. Switch to a green energy supplier.

Advice on how to implement these three basic suggestions can be downloaded from the information section below.

Since early 2007 parishes have been asked to let us know about their energy consumption as part of their annual returns. This information allows us to work out what our current carbon footprint is and to measure the reduction year after year.

For Creed and Creation

In March 2007, the Bishop of London, with the Mayor of London and other religious leaders, launched For Creed and Creation. This book offers further simple advice to churches that want to be greener. The book is available to download from this page.

Downloads

Suggestions on how to implement the three basic steps are given in the first three of these downloads.

For Creed and Creation covers many more areas of how to make a church greener. The Diocesan Sharing God's Planet group have expanded on some of these ideas and prepared three guides on the practicalities of making environmentally-conscious changes to church buildings.

1a. Lighting in Churches
1b. BestBulb lighting quotation
2. Heating Churches
3a. Switching to a green energy supplier
3b. Green Energy application form
4. For Creed and Creation - advice for churches
5. Whose world? Study Guide
6. Reducing Water Consumption
7. Recycling and Waste Disposal
8. Generating your own Energy

Further information

Shrinking the Footprint - the Church of England’s environmental campaign
Other Church of England or Church-related Contacts and Links
A foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury to Sharing God's Planet - a Christian vision for a sustainable future
How many lightbulbs does it take to change a Christian? - a book aimed at individuals.