Join Us on the Pathway to Net Zero News in Brief

Frommanna the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells July 2021 Join us on the pathway to Net Zero

n the run up to COP26, the Somerset are doing all they can to UN Environment Conference care for this wonderful planet God that takes place in Glasgow in has provided us with.” November 2021, churches are From the first of July you can being encouraged to consider simply commit to pray on the first Ihow they can take steps to care for of each month. Or register with Eco our planet. Church to see how sustainable your David Maggs, the Environment church is and commit to improve. Champion for the Church of The Church of England has a England in Somerset says, “In 2020 person, there are still many ways to Practical Pathway to Net Zero tool our new environmental strategy get involved. which is a good starting point for was approved. The Covid pandemic “Already this year over 300 churches trying to move towards forestalled a major launch of the people from across Somerset have ‘net zero’, a position where there strategy, but as things start to taken part in Wilder Churches, a is a balance between the carbon return to normal we hope we can joint initiative with the Somerset emitted into the atmosphere, and start to help people consider how Wildlife Trust as well as Churches the carbon removed from it. they and their church can help care Count on Nature Week and we For more ideas and inspiration for creation. While we recognise really hope we can continue to keep an eye on www.bathwells.org. many churches are still not open build momentum and ensure uk/environment or get in touch ■ and not everyone is able to meet in that church communities across News in brief Relay to COP26 In the run up to the COP26 climate School lightbulbs change talks in Glasgow in November, 10 church schools in Bath and COP26, the Young Christian Climate Wells are undertaking major Network (YCCN) are walking from the works to upgrade their lighting G7 venue, Carbis Bay in Cornwall, to system as part of a commitment Glasgow to raise awareness of the to reducing their carbon urgent need for action not words in Churches Count for Nature footprint. In the first year alone caring for God’s creation. In June St Edward's, Chiltern Polden it’s estimated the move will save The relay will see them pass through was one of our churches which the schools a combined 45.93 our area in July, stopping at Wellington took part in the Churches Count for kilowatts and around £18,963. (8th), Taunton (9th), Bridgwater (10th), Nature. Co-organiser, Anita Hayne Stephen Bamford, Headteacher Axbridge (11th), Wrington (12th), said, “We heard about it at the of Kilmersdon School, one Keynsham (17th) and Bath (18th). Wilder Churches event with the of the schools involved, said: Find out how you can support them or Somerset Wildlife Trust and as we “It demonstrates that as a get involved at www.yccn.uk ■ have just got our Bronze Eco Church school and as a diocese, we award, we wanted to get involved. are determined to reduce our We found 120 different species of carbon footprint and help the plants and animals and made some environment and community in great community connections. We every way we can.”■ started small but will do it again next year"■ God's gift to humankind By Trevor Willmott, Assistant Bishop he leaves of the trees whose lives are deeply will be for the healing of affected by issues of mental the nations. Rev. 22.2 health and social deprivation A few days spent had approached the RHS to interaction is giving them a hope T and purpose in life in ways that recently in the Lakes gave us a explore the possibility of creating much anticipated opportunity a working garden to be grown nothing else had been able to to visit the new RHS garden, and maintained by the various achieve. Bridgewater, near Manchester. communities involved. The result The Revelation speaks of a world Created in the ruins of the much is stunning both visually and transformed and made new by overgrown walled garden of a long mentally. God; the very stuff of the earth, gone great house, the garden is the To aid the development the trees and water, bringing new life result of a co-operation between partners decided to allocate some to what was tired and old. The the RHS and the City Council. of their limited financial resources Scriptures remind us that the earth While the Paradise Garden towards the appointment of a full is God’s gift to humankind to be with its pools and flowing water time occupational therapeutic tended and cherished; to be used reminded me of the river of gardener. Talking with her and for the good of all. life in the Revelation, it was reading the display boards around But let the last word be that of the therapeutic garden which the garden we discovered that for the therapeutic gardener “we can captured my imagination. A many not only was this their first care for others; we can care for the number of charities working in experience of gardening but more earth. All we need is a vision and inner Manchester with people importantly the physical work and the will.” With my blessing, +Trevor, Time to step up Dr Peter Brotherton is Lead Director for Climate Change at Natural England, the government’s agency for the natural environment.

hat has climate protecting and nurturing our change got to do biodiversity and by speaking up. with the Church? If the church doesn’t speak about W Climate change the environment, at a time when will be felt most by the countries children are more conscious than who have done the least to cause ever that their future options it. That’s a Christian issue. We are are disappearing as a result of failing as stewards of God’s creation environmental change, we will and must step up and play our Dr Peter Brotherton become irrelevant. part to support biodiversity and Is biodiversity loss affecting us Can individuals make a challenge climate change. now? difference? How are climate change and Nature isn’t providing us with what It can seem an overwhelming biodiversity linked? we need in the UK already. Our air problem, but lots of little bits of Climate change is making the isn’t as clean as it should be. Our action will matter. What we do as ecosystems we rely on to become homes flood more that they should. congregations and as individuals less able to deliver what we need In some areas our soil is being collectively adds up to a lot. from them, making climate change depleted and blowing away. Anything we can do to reduce how worse. 15% of climate change What can we do? bad climate change gets has to be a emissions are from land use change We can make a difference by good thing. Read the full interview driven by human consumption. at bathandwells.org.uk ■