Eco-Congregation
Scotland
The European Christian Environmental Network is currently looking for someone who is prepared to take over as web editor. It’s not a huge task, and would suit someone with a keen environmental and Christian commitment who is keen on websites. and involves going to the ECEN Assembly each year, and possibly an occasional meeting of the steering group of ECEN. It’s unpaid but some degree of funding may be possible for travel. Anyone who is interested should contact the Eco-Congregation Scotland office and we will put them in touch.
Eco-congregations from around Edinburgh whose buildings act as venues met recently with the Edinburgh Festivals Green Venue Initiative.
The Edinburgh Festivals Green Venue Initiative is an ambitious pilot programme promoting sustainable venue management as part of a wider Edinburgh Festivals environmental strategy. The festivals are supporting venues to help shape a future that is sustainable, that respects and enhances the environment and that puts Edinburgh firmly on the road towards becoming the world’s greenest Festival city.
Congregations who act as venues are being encouraged to see their letting as part of their ministry rather than purely a commercial venture. When an audience is welcomed into the church building they are part of the community, and encouraging them to recycle and behave sustainably, even in small ways, counts as a community engagement activity in the Eco-Congregation Award.
For further information see www.efgreen.co.uk.
This is advance notice that our Annual Gathering will be held on Saturday 21st of April in bridge of Allan. The keynote speaker will be Stewart Stevenson MSP, minister for environment and climate change.
We have prepared an advance notice flyer with full details which can be downloaded here.
There are more workshops still to organise so any congregations interested in presenting anything they have been involved in should contact the office.
members will be sent official notification of the AGM (held as part of the gathering) in due course.
We would like to welcome Holy Trinity Church Melrose as a new Eco-Congregation member!
Read about Durban Climate Change Conference, Earth Hour 2012 and get handy eco-driving tips in the wonderful Eco Newsletter from Old & Abbey Church in Arbroath. Please click on the following link: Winter Newsletter from Old & Abbey Church 2011-12
The Scottish Government has launched a new campaign to encourage people to work together to reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions and live more environmentally friendly lifestyles. The campaign uses a television advert to encourage people to visit a new web site www.greenerscotland.org. This contains information themed around the ten key behaviour changes the government are concentrating on along with a very clever tool called My Greener Plan that assesses visitors’ current environmental behaviour and suggests small changes which would make a difference. People can opt to register for the service and receive updates and further suggestions.
Here is the TV ad:
This campaign fits in very well with the work of Eco-Congregation Scotland because we are using the same ten key behaviour changes as a framework for our work with church congregations and members.
We encourage people to visit the web site and use the information and My Greener Plan. The intention is that the amount of information available and links to other organisations will continue to grow.
The Ten Key Behaviour Changes
These were identified by the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Behaviour Research Programme.
Home Energy
1. Installing a more efficient energy system or generating your own.
2. Keeping the heat in.
3. Better heating management.
4. Saving electricity
Transport
5. Becoming less reliant on the car.
6. Driving more efficiently
7. Using alternatives to flying where practical
Food
8. Avoiding food waste
9. Eating a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables, locally in season where we live
10. Reducing and Reusing
Stop Climate Change Scotland needs your help for just one hour to urge Scottish Ministers to increase funding for cycling and walking instead of funding expensive road-building programmes that will increase Scotland’s carbon footprint. See information poster: Get on yer bike 11th of January!
Scotland has shown global leadership by setting the most ambitious emissions reduction targets in the world. But our Climate Change Act can only set a good example if we actually achieve what we’ve committed to do – and that’s under threat, as the Scottish Government has failed to fund its own plans to reduce emissions.
For more information and to let us know you’re planning to come, please email Gail Wilson, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Co-ordinator – gail
stopclimatechaosscotland
org (gailstopclimatechaosscotlandorg) .
Find the event on Facebook at: http://on.fb.me/tVPIKq
Read more on the Eco-Congregation Blog
Go Green!
For a personalised action plan of how you can go greener, create your Greener Plan today - Click Here.
For a personalised action plan of how you can go greener, create your Greener Plan today - Click Here.