environment e- newsletter 1 - anglican diocese of southwark · a recent paper summarizes research...
TRANSCRIPT
Enviro-news
JUNE 2008
Don’t forget that if you have any items that you would like to see included,
particularly good practice, please send them to me, Barry Goodwin at
Reports, Debates and Articles
The Carnegie Trust produces some excellent reports and papers on the meaning
of Civil Society. A recent paper summarizes research conducted by the New
Economics Foundation that was undertaken to inform the Inquiry's work in
exploring the relationships between civil society, social justice and climate
change.
http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/files/Civil%20society%20and%20climate%
20change.pdf
Sustainable London
A recent report from Siemens on London’s infrastructure is equally worth reading.
Noting that over half of the world’s population lives in urban centres and that the
number is likely to grow to nearly 60 percent by 2025. It points out that cities are
responsible for some 80 percent and, therefore, a disproportionate share of the
world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It goes on to describe a future scenario for
London concluding that:
‘Overall, greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, transport and energy supplies
can be reduced by around 44 percent by 2025, compared to 1990 – enabling
London to meet its Kyoto target (-12 percent by 2012), the EU goal (-20 percent by
2020) as well as the national reduction target set by the UK government (-30
percent by 2025). Beyond that, a combination of additional regulatory changes,
lifestyle change brought about by other means, and future technological
innovation could also help the city bring its goal of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions by 60 percent by 2025 into reach’.
Not unexpectedly the biggest saving potential lies in buildings, which generate
some two-thirds of London’s entire CO2 emissions. By the year 2025, savings of
around 10 Mt of CO2 could be achieved in London’s buildings alone.
The study also shows: Nearly 75 percent of these technological changes are
controlled by consumers – whether individuals or businesses. Therefore, cities at all
levels need to address not only what they can do to directly reduce CO2 emissions
but also how they can promote greater adoption of these technologies by
consumers. Depending on the technology, this can be achieved through changes
in regulation, taxes, subsidies, access to capital and provision of reliable
information, as well as marketing and campaigning to raise public awareness and
encourage consumers to make choices that are both economically and
environmentally sound. Cities can also help bring together the various stakeholders
who need to cooperate in order to make change happen.
http://www.siemens.co.uk/pool/news_press/news_archive/june_2008/siemens_rele
ases_study_on_sustainable_infrastructure_in_london.pdf (press release)
http://www.siemens.co.uk/pool/news_press/news_archive/june_2008/sustainableu
rbaninfrastructure-studylondon.pdf (full report)
The Sustainable Development Commission has published a report entitled
’Health, Place and Nature – How Outdoor Environments Influence Health and
Wellbeing: a Knowledge Base’. It examines how aspects of the built and natural
environment contribute to health and wellbeing and highlights how some of the
UK’s biggest health challenges – such as mental illness and obesity-related
diseases are related to the outdoor environment in which we live.
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8294416
Rural Issues
Alan Spedding from the Arthur Rank Centre at Stoneleigh produces excellent
briefing sheets on a whole range of rural issues which can be accessed at
http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/publications_and_resources/rusource_briefing
s/index.html. Recent briefings have summarised a wealth of data contained in the
Defra report: ‘Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2007’ (full of statistics and not a
bedtime read but if you are interested then the full report can be downloaded
from http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/auk/default.asp )
so here’s some food for thought: Food inflation reached 6% in December 2007. The
price of butter and eggs rose by 30% and bread and milk rose by about 15%. The
agri-food sector accounted for 6.9% of the total economy. 20% of total
consumers’ expenditure was on food, drink and catering. Farmgate share of a
basket of food staples was 36%, hardly changed since 2006. The agri-food sector
provided a total of just over 3.6 million jobs, 14% of all employees in Great Britain.
Self sufficiency in food continues to decline. It is 74% for indigenous type food.
In brief
An excellent lecture on food and land use, even though world events have
moved on, can be found at:
http://globalpublicmedia.com/richard_heinbergs_museletter_what_will_we_
eat_as_the_oil_runs_out
‘The nuclear option is the only green option’ is the current online debate
between Sir David King, and Dr Brenda Boardman. Read the debate,
contribute, and vote – all at:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/oxford_debates/trinity_2008_the_nuclear_option/
an interesting article from Jo Abbess on the College for Climate Change
website www.changecollege.org.uk/html/carbon_chaos_economic_stagnation.html
News from Eco-congregation
The Eco-congregation Summer Newsletter is now available online and
downloadable from http://www.ew.ecocongregation.org/newsletter
The new website has additional Resources for each module area, which are
detailed under 'Free Resources' from the menu bar at the top and there's also a
blog: http://www.ew.ecocongregation.org/blog
They have also just made their 100th award since the inception of the Eco-
congregation programme in 2000 to St Thomas' Church in Salisbury.
St Thomas' Church has woven issues of environmental care and responsibility into
three main areas of the life of the church:
'spiritual': through regular services on the theme of creation care, using
organic communion wine, and locally sourced bread; ensuring that prayers
for the earth are made during services; regular inclusion of a 'green' theme
in the Sunday School teaching.
practical: using low-energy light bulbs, using electricity from renewables
(through a 'green electricity' supplier), fitting thermostatic radiator valves in
their offices, shrubs and perennials planted by active gardening group to
provide a green lung for the city and to attract wildlife.
mission: active in sharing their concern for creation care with other church
groups locally, working with organisations e.g. local council and Stop
Climate Chaos coalition.
Other things that Eco-congregation Award winners have been doing under
the same headings are:
'spiritual‘ - use chapel garden for worship e.g. used willow arch as tomb for
Easter day service, creative use of natural materials, and environmental
themes in services e.g. compost bin used in confession(!),regularly use hymns
which refer to care for creation, or rewriting words to make hymns more
relevant to today's issues, writing eco-covenants for members to commit to
writing eco-creeds to incorporate environmental responsibilities under God
many churches use materials for small groups about environmental issues as
a way of beginning to raise the issues amongst members.
practical: zoned heating systems, hippos given out to members ,undertaken
a transport to church audit, encouraged car sharing for meetings etc.,
provide gardening support to local school for their school allotment
many churches make it easy for people to recycle goods not covered by
council schemes (e.g. batteries, cartridges, mobile phones) often raising
money for charity in the process, offer vegetarian/vegan option for
church/community meals to encourage people to reduce their meat
eating.
mission: BBQ in local farm shop to help raise awareness about quality local
produce, lobbying council about plastic recycling, free low energy light
bulbs given away during services, working with local schools/colleges to
address environmental issues together, adopted green space to care for in
the local community, planting trees locally, many churches now have 'green
fairs' to promote the work of local environmental groups to people in the
community, many churches have used the Al Gore film 'An Inconvenient
Truth' to reach out to their local communities and inform about climate
change.
Urgent Campaign Action – Halt the government’s backtracking
Many of you will have got this from a variety of organisations and it is important.
This takes you to the is the Christian Aid link
The Climate Change Bill is at a critical stage. MPs debated late into the night
yesterday as it finally reached the House of Commons. The government has
signalled its intention to drop the amendment won by our campaigners, that
makes it compulsory for UK businesses to report their annual carbon emissions. The
next few weeks are crucial. We must make sure that Hilary Benn, the Environment
Secretary, puts mandatory reporting for companies back into the Bill.
Please send this urgent email (preferably from your personal account) to Hilary
Benn, forward the link to your friends, and share this information through your
networks and even on your Facebook page.
There’s no time to lose!
Green Guardian Awards 2008
Please see attached poster and think about nominating somebody – sorry doesn’t
apply at the moment in the parts of the Diocese which get the ‘New Shopper’ or
other free newspapers.
Try this …….
Problems reading this
email?
Millions of Google Earth users
around the world can now see
how climate change could
affect the planet and its people
over the next century.
Climate Change in Our World
predicts global temperatures over
the next 100 years along with case
studies of how people's lives are
already being affected by changing
weather patterns.
A training course…………
Climate Change: Engaging Diverse Communities Course
Thursday 10th July 2008
London
How to communicate environmental issues to audiences from different
socio-economic and educational backgrounds, ethnicity, faith, and age.
'Ro Randall and Shilpa Shah are a "must-see" combination' Anne Milller,
Climate Chaos Coalition
'Extremely useful and interactive. Great!' Aruna Sharma, MENTER (BME
network for voluntary orgs)
'A grass-roots experience that you won't get from the usual type of training
courses available. It gave me the tools and the confidence I needed to
start planning my own communication to engage with different sectors of
the community'. Victoria Kelso, Cambridge City Council
Click here for full course details
For bookings and information please contact:
Talk Action
Tel: 0207 234 3629
Email: [email protected]
Supported by www.environmentjob.co.uk
Last but not least…..and please circulate widely
‘The future of energy supplies’
a dialogue with
Malcolm Wicks MP Minister of State for Energy,
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Affairs
Monday July 7th
2008
6.00 pm for refreshments, 6.30pm start
The Chapel at Methodist Central Hall Westminster Storey’s Gate
London SW1H 9NH
(opposite Westminster Abbey)
Nearest tube stations: Westminster, St James Park
LCEN aims to:
Provide a focal point for environmental issues
Influence leaders in London
Inform members
Bring together experiences and views
Share best practice
Link London with the national picture
Coordinate church action
Provide support and encouragement
ALL ARE WELCOME!
For more information and to help in catering please RSVP to: Revd Barry Goodwin email: [email protected] Tel: 020 8256 9637 Post: St Matthew’s House
100 George Street Croydon
CR0 1PJ