CAPTION: The Exeter Diocesan Synod voted in favour of a number of Net Zero Carbon declarations
Diocese of Exeter Declares a Climate Emergency
The Diocese of Exeter has declared a climate emergency following a vote at its March Diocesan Synod.
The motion to make a declaration of climate emergency and agree to sign the Devon Climate Declaration was approved by the overwhelming majority of the clergy, lay people and bishops who make up the Church of England in Devon’s legislative body.
Sophie Phillips, Net Zero Carbon Officer for the diocese, told delegates “It is important that we speak out and say that this matters to us.
“The declaration is part of our strategy for tackling climate change.”
Churches are encouraged to complete the Energy Footprint Tool and book an energy audit
Significantly, the vote took place on Earth Hour Day 2023, when people around the world were encouraged to switch off their lights for an hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.
Presenting the Net Zero report to the synod, The Archdeacon of Plymouth, the Ven. Nick Shutt, said signing the Devon Climate Declaration would “bring a Christian voice to the table on climate change and allow the Church to work with the many Devon organisations who have already signed it.
He also said that addressing climate change should be doubly important for Christians because the Anglican fifth mark of mission is to “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
The synod also voted to adopt the Diocese of Exeter Net Zero Carbon vision statement for 2030.
The statement says “As Christians, we believe that God calls us to safeguard the integrity of creation and to renew the life of the Earth and its peoples. The Diocese of Exeter recognises that the global climate emergency is not only a crisis for God’s creation but is causing fundamental injustices across the globe. With the national Church of England, we commit ourselves to work with all available resources towards Net Zero Carbon by 2030. To this end, we will draw up and implement a feasible programme of action with a clear time frame, based on the Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030.We will review our action plan regularly and report publicly on progress.”
Each parish is a separate charity so church buildings are not covered by the Diocese Net Zero Carbon by 2030 goal.
A motion to adopt a target to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030 in relation to Diocesan offices, diocesan staff transport and clergy housing was also approved.
The final motion to be approved was for the Diocese of Exeter to align with the national Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon Routemap.
The Archdeacon of Plymouth, the Ven. Nick Shutt, who presented the Net Zero report to the synod, made it clear that the Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance (EDBF) can only control carbon reduction measures within its own buildings and clergy housing.
The motions approved do not relate to churches, church schools or Exeter Cathedral, because they are separate entities which will make their own independent decisions about carbon reduction targets.
Sophie Phillips, the diocesan Net Zero Carbon Officer, who compiled the report, said churches could take action to reduce their carbon emissions by completing the CofE Energy Footprint Tool, booking a diocesan energy audit, and looking at work-related travel.
