Tag Archives: Net Zero

Join us towards Net Zero with HeatHack

By News

Net Zero: Introduction to HeatHack
Improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort in community spaces
Tuesday 16th August 2022
7.00pm – 8.00pm
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/introduction-to-heathack/

DO YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A NET ZERO FUTURE MEANS FOR YOUR CHURCH OR COMMUNITY BUILDING?

Join us to hear from HeatHack, partnering with The Surefoot Effect for a new programme funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering recruiting small groups from community buildings including churches to start from September. The remit includes heat loss mitigations, changes in how the building is used, and local generation – and includes the kind of planning plus a community engagement event that helps in accessing grants. HeatHack previously helped solve heating problems and inefficiencies in Edinburgh churches. 

You can read more about the programme here:

HeatHack – Improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort in community spaces

HeatHack director Jean Carletta explains: “Thanks to the Royal Academy of Engineering, we have a new programme of facilitated group sessions that community building operators can use to understand what a Net Zero future holds for their own premises.”

“It will help you understand energy efficiency and thermal comfort in what are often very difficult buildings. It will also help you think about what your local community needs from your buildings, whether that means changes, and how to make change happen. We want to help you devise a plan for the future and equip you with the knowledge and confidence to instruct heating engineers and architects with briefs that will get you where you want to be.”

Each group will link with a volunteer engineer to take them through some simple technical concepts and exercises on heat transfer, health and safety and managing complex projects. Engineers Without Borders UK are helping to recruit engineers, but you may know one in your own area to support this work.  Join us on Tuesday to hear more by registering here:

https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/event/introduction-to-heathack/

Climate Fringe Festival launch

Join us this September at the Climate Fringe Festival! You can find Climate, Community and Justice events all across Scotland on our events map: https://climatefringe.org/cff

The festival aims to bring communities together, generate conversation about Climate Justice, and raise awareness of the need to move towards a green, fair, zero carbon society. Over 50 events have already signed up, including repair workshops, festivals, climate justice talks, live music, and more. Are you planning an event in September? Add it to our calendar and get involved here: climatefringe.org/cff-organise-event/ 

We are adding more amazing events each week so keep an eye on the Climate Fringe, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Eco-Congregation Scotland is keen to encourage all eco-congregations to please consider holding a Climate Conversation, local activity or event in your own church and community during the Climate Fringe Festival and will be in touch directly to offer ideas and support.

This period also includes Scotland’s Climate Week from 26th September, organised by the Scottish Government to help raise awareness of the global climate emergency and celebrate organisations taking action against climate change.

Our next confirmed events, activities and training are being updated to share online. Please get in touch to share what you are doing locally:

https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/upcomingevents

Climate Justice resources

Today we spotlight our partner Christian Aid and their wide range of materials available for churches looking to learn more about climate justice. Whether you’re looking for an all-age arts project or a discussion guide for making a church action plan, you’ll find something to suit on the Climate Justice Church Resources page, or check out video resources on Christian Aid’s YouTube channel. 

Electric vehicles – plus summer action for nature

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Join our electric vehicles workshop today

Embracing greener travel 

Embracing Greener Travel: Electric Vehicles
Workshop with Home Energy Scotland
Wednesday 28 July 2021
2.00pm – 3.00pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z8tjemcOTB6db5QMDwYNKA

Eco-Congregation Scotland is delighted to link again with Home Energy Scotland in this free interactive workshop on electric vehicles, the next in our “Embracing Greener Travel” events. There’s still time to join this afternoon’s workshop!

Electric vehicles (EVs) are part of the here and now. Both the Scottish and UK Governments are working towards meeting emissions targets and Home Energy Scotland invites you to learn more about living with an EV. This interactive workshop will cover the contribution EVs make to combatting climate change and aims to deal with the concerns you may have about ownership.

Home Energy Scotland is the free and impartial advice service managed by the Energy Saving Trust and funded by the Scottish Government, helping us save money and improve the environment by looking at how we use energy and water – and how we get about.

Please register to join the electric vehicles workshop at 2pm today:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z8tjemcOTB6db5QMDwYNKA

#LetsDoNetZero

#TogetherForOurPlanet

World Nature Conservation Day

Summer action for nature

On World Nature Conservation Day, we are delighted to share the Tree Prayer from volunteer Barry Watson of Castlemilk Parish Church, with visuals from Eco-Chaplain Rev David Coleman.

Every year on 28 July, World Nature Conservation Day encourages awareness of the need to preserve the environment and natural resources to keep the world healthy.  The theme this year is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”. 

Climate change and nature loss are the greatest global threats, with nearly 25% of wildlife lost in Scotland. There is hope – looking after nature is good for us, the planet and wildlife. Nature Scot has 14 steps to Make Space For Nature this summer.

Our Faith Action for Nature resources also encourage churches to engage with nature and manage their grounds for wildlife. Each seasonal pack has worship material, family activities and practical actions to care for nature.

Our Summer theme is foraging. We look at what animals eat, celebrate the world of foods around us and have practical tips on planting for wildlife. Please download a pdf or browse the Summer resources online. Activities for church grounds or nature reserves are still limited due to coronavirus restrictions, so please use with reference to Scottish Government guidance as we progress through the summer.

The project was a partnership between Eco-Congregation Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church, with resources created by Earthbound Ventures in consultation with A Rocha. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our next confirmed events, activities and training are online and updated regularly. Please register for the Zoom meeting links at:

https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/upcomingevents

SAVE THE DATE

Coming soon on Thursday 19 August, the launch of our ecumenical Creation Time materials, prepared by Eco-Chaplain Rev David Coleman and volunteers in partnership with the Joint Public Issues Team.

100 Days to COP26

By CoP26, News, , ,

UN climate talks start 31 October

Call for all churches to act

With only 100 days now counting down until the COP26 United Nations climate conference begins in Glasgow, Eco-Congregation Scotland is joining renewed calls for all churches to commit to action before talks begin.

Please read our latest briefing on what COP26 is and all the different ways you can get involved with your own church. We will be sharing much more in coming weeks.

Over 1,500 churches across the UK are already taking part in the Climate Sunday initiative, with hundreds more planning to do so, demonstrating growing climate action by local congregations.

A key milestone before COP26 is a major Nations’ Climate Sunday Service with Glasgow Churches Together from Glasgow Cathedral, streamed live online on Sunday 5 September 2021 at 4pm, to share church commitments across the nations of the UK and pray for bold action with courageous leadership at COP26 in the city this November.

Climate Sunday is an initiative of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), with backing from a range of denominations and Christian charities. We are encouraging churches to take action in the run-up to COP26:

Worship
Hold a climate-focused service, to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action. Explore the Climate Sunday website and our own resources for inspiration to suit all church traditions and styles of worship. Please register your service so we can count you in!

Commit
Make a commitment as a local church community to taking long term action to reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions. Use Climate Stewards‘ new 360°carbon calculator for churches and register as an eco-congregation – or work towards an Eco-Congregation Scotland Award.

Speak up
Use your voice to tell the UK Government that you want a cleaner, greener, fairer future at the heart of plans to rebuild the economy – with finance to support poorer countries affected most by climate change. Read and sign ‘The Time Is Now’ declaration both as a church and as individuals.

Eco-Congregation Scotland is also proud to be a partner of the new Climate Scotland campaign in the run-up to COP26, with 30 other organisations including Christian Aid Scotland, SCIAF, Tearfund Scotland and Justice and Peace Scotland.

Our climate and natural world are in crisis. It’s threatening our communities, our food, resources, and our beautiful places.

Decisions by world leaders at COP26 could get us on track to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It’s a real chance to create a better future for our communities here in Scotland and around the world.

There is hope. But we also need our leaders in Scotland plus those attending COP26 to know just how much we care, with thousands of voices being heard. Please share why action on climate and nature is important to you. It takes just a few minutes to add your own voice at: climatescotland.org

With 100 days to go until COP26, the Scottish Government also announced today its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlining Scotland’s contribution to preventing warming of more than 1.5 degrees. We will continue to support and encourage efforts in all our communities towards making Scotland a Net Zero Nation – and link Together For Our Planet across the UK in this special year of climate action. 

#LetsDoNetZero

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Our next confirmed events, activities and training are online and being updated regularly, including:

Breathe: Fresh Air for All
Let’s talk about the climate emergency
Monday 26 July 2021, 7.30pm

Embracing Greener Travel: Electric Vehicles
Workshop with Home Energy Scotland
Wednesday 28 July 2021, 2.00pm

Please register for the Zoom meeting links at:
https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/upcomingevents/

Register for free and begin your church’s journey as an eco-congregation. 

Please consider church membership to become more active in the charity and support our Network activities – join online.

Please donate if you can, to help support our work and encourage growing interest across Scotland’s churches.

If you or others in your church would like to receive this newsletter regularly, please subscribe.

COP26 venue Scottish Events Campus header photograph courtesy of Glasgow Convention Bureau.

Our office is currently closed due to the coronavirus situation and staff are working from home. Please contact Eco-Congregation Scotland manager Stephen Curran at: 
0141 423 4671, 07554 905275, manager@ecocongregationscotland.org

Church of Scotland sets 2030 net zero target

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Christian environmental and development groups welcome General Assembly decision

Christian environmental and development charities Christian Aid, Eco-Congregation Scotland and Operation Noah joyfully welcome the decision of the Church of Scotland to set a 2030 net zero target.

At the Church of Scotland 2020 General Assembly on Saturday, the Church’s Faith Impact Forum brought a proposal to the General Assembly ‘for the Church to transition both locally and nationally to net zero carbon emissions by 2030’.

General Assembly Commissioners voted to support an amendment from Rev Jenny Adams, Minister of Duffus, Spynie and Hopeman Parish Church.

The amended motion passed by General Assembly reads: ‘Instruct the Faith Impact Forum to work with others to develop a strategy for the Church to transition both locally and nationally to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, reporting an outline strategy to General Assembly 2021.’

We are delighted that one of our key partner Churches has committed to transitioning to net zero in the next 10 years.

              Mary Sweetland, Chair of Eco-Congregation Scotland

The decision to set a 2030 net zero target is especially significant as Glasgow prepares to host the UN climate talks, COP26, in November 2021.

In her speech to the General Assembly, Rev Jenny Adams said: ‘This is a climate emergency and the next 10 years are crucial. I hope that by working with others within and beyond the Church, we will be able to get going on this difficult but vital transition, for the sake of all creation.’

Commissioners at the General Assembly also voted in favour of a motion on fossil fuel divestment proposed by Seonaid Knox. This motion called on the Church’s Faith Impact Forum to ‘report to the 2021 General Assembly on the ethical, scientific and theological arguments for and against urgent disinvestment from oil and gas companies’.

The Church of England voted to set a 2030 net zero target earlier this year. Many local authorities have also made this pledge, including the City Councils of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Christian Aid, Eco-Congregation Scotland and Operation Noah applauded the decision to set a 2030 net zero target. They said that the Church of Scotland now needs to end its investments in fossil fuel companies in order to demonstrate climate leadership ahead of the crucial COP26 climate summit.

Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: ‘The communities with which Christian Aid works, in many of the poorest parts of the world, are calling for urgent leadership on climate change, and this decision from the Church of Scotland demonstrates that leadership. We welcome it warmly, and look forward to working in partnership with the Church of Scotland to help realise these ambitious new goals. One of the steps that the Church could take in the short-term is to commit to end its investments in fossil fuel companies, and we hope that is part of the plans brought forward in 2021.’

Mary Sweetland, Chair of Eco-Congregation Scotland, said: ‘We are delighted that one of our key partner Churches has committed to transitioning to net zero in the next 10 years.’

James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Manager at Operation Noah, said: ‘It is wonderful news that the Church of Scotland has set a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2030. In order to demonstrate leadership on the climate crisis ahead of the UN climate talks in Glasgow next year, it is vital that the Church of Scotland supports a just and green recovery from Covid-19 by divesting from fossil fuel companies and investing in the clean technologies of the future.’

Notes:

1. Operation Noah is a Christian charity working with the Church to inspire action on the climate crisis. It works with all Christian denominations. http://operationnoah.org/

2. Christian Aid holds a vision of a better world, free from poverty and climate change. For over ten years, Christian Aid Scotland has been campaigning for the UK and Scottish Governments to take climate change seriously for the benefit of those who are impacted first and worst by its effects. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/

3. Eco-Congregation Scotland is a movement of Scottish church congregations, of all denominations and none, committed to addressing environmental issues through their life and mission. https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/

4. The Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council recommended that the Investors’ Trust divest from fossil fuels ‘as a matter of urgency’ in December 2019. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18122752.renewed-call-kirk-sell-shares-oil-gas/

5. The Church of England set a 2030 net zero carbon target in February 2020. https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/general-synod-sets-2030-net-zero-carbon-target