ISR is a diverse organisation, engaged in a wide range of social, economic, environmental and other activities. Some are described here.

Diocesan Environment Policy

David Maggs

TAKING STEPS FOR GOD’S EARTH

An environmental policy for the Diocese of Bristol (Considered at the 28th March meeting of Bishop's Council)

The Challenge

The industrialised countries of the world have a dominant view of progress that is measured solely by material wealth. This encourages ever greater consumption of material goods and is tightly coupled to world views that treat the earth as an object to be used and abused at will. Climate change may be the most serious issue ever faced by human communities and it has arisen from the burning of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution. All forms of life across the planet are threatened and the poorest nations are set to suffer most. If remedial action is possible it will require radical changes at every level of life, from the behaviour of each individual through to international treaties.

The Biblical Vision

We affirm these key elements of our faith:

• We have been created by God as part of one great, inter-dependent living system
• We recognise a special responsibility to care for the earth and to seek the best possible harmony with other creatures of the earth
• We are inspired by the biblical vision of peace which includes the fulfilment of our individual potential, a just social order and a concern for the well-being of creation
• We are empowered by Christ who through his death and resurrection reconciled all things in creation to himself, so making peace.

Aims

This Diocese recognises that we have disregarded the long-term consequences of our actions.We need to renew our connection with the beauty and fragility of the environment.We understand that the vision of building communities of wholeness needs to be challenged to include a right relationship with the natural world. This Diocese is committed to seriously addressing the challenges that that presents through the broad range of policies outlined in this paper.

The Policy Framework

Each part of the Diocese needs to address these issues through a written policy, agreed actions and a summary of progress in their annual reports. The Diocese requires diocesan bodies and encourages parishes to include the following in their own policies:

• Reducing carbon emissions - both by church buildings and activities and through the lifestyles of individual church members
• Purchasing sensitively - including the reduction of both consumption and waste
• Developing awareness and celebrating positive action
• Incorporating environmental concerns into worship
• Sustaining the natural environment - including biodiversity and the imaginative use of sites with environmental and other potential
• Seeking the highest achievable environmental standards in all new and refurbished buildings
• Supporting demands for social justice both locally and globally
• Making socially responsible investments
• Building Partnerships that support environmental and sustainable actions
• Encouraging individuals to make environmental concerns an integral part of their life and work

All actions need to have targets, be challenging and be measurable.

Resources for this policy

• A three year action plan by the Diocese with an annual review of the impact of the policy
• A set of policy frameworks for parishes and others to produce their own lists of challenging and measurable targets
• A dedicated part of the diocesan interactive website where people can tell their stories, thus encouraging others by showing the policy in action
• Access to other resources and support, including trained advisers
• Seeking the commitment of a volunteer to give a minimum of one day per week to work with others, including the Diocesan Environmental Officer
• Seeking funding to resource the support of this necessary work in the Diocese

Core Commitments

• As a diocese, and as part of our commitment to the Church of England’s initiative “Shrinking the Footprint”, to reduce carbon emissions by a minimum of 10% in each three year period.
• To locate and provide resources to develop awareness and support action by the church as a corporate body and by its individual members.

Environment

Faith involvement in tackling environmental concerns such as global warming and carbon footprints naturally fit with the notion of stewardship and responsibility for God's creation. ISR is taking a central role in helping develop the Church's stance on environmental issues. This section will eventually contain links to articles of interest, reports, thoughts and reflections on this crucial matter.