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Caring for the Planet - a Mark of Mission

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This year, the Church of Ireland passed a motion at General Synod the effects of which have rippled across Ireland and beyond. It was a motion to divest from all fossil fuels.
Synod decided overwhelmingly that ending investments in fossil fuel extraction companies by 2022 was necessary because climate change is leading to disaster both for people and for investments. It is a significant change that affects €16m of funds.
Climate change, caused largely by pollution from burning fossil fuels, is beginning to impact at home. We had a very wet winter last year followed by a record-breaking summer heatwave. Furthermore, around the world, the poorest are suffering from storms, heat, drought, and floods that in some countries fuel conflict and refugee crises.
Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is also a serious problem. Thousands of people in the British Isles suffer from health issues and even early death from dirty air.
The RCB had already, wisely, excluded investments in coal and tar san…
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Church of Ireland seminar on Climate Change and the Environment

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Yesterday was the seminar on 'Helping parishes respond to climate change' organised by the Church of Ireland. It was very good to see this happen in Belfast and the was a lot of interest from attendees on how churches can do more on climate.

I was one of the speakers and it was great to have a full room in the Council Chamber in Church House in Belfast, beside the beautiful cathedral.

I have reproduced the slides and the text of the talk below.


A Biblical Perspective on the Environment [Slide 1] I have been asked to set the scene and provide a Biblical Perspective on the environment. But to be honest, I do not know why I was asked, for I am not a theologian nor I am not a clergy person.

But I think the reason might be this - several years I was impacted by what the Bible has to say on about creation, how we treat it, and how the church has responded to the crisis unfolding before us.

And we are facing a crisis. Be it climate change, pollution, or loss of biodiversity. As the …
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Archbishop Richard Clarke, 'We are guardians of the earth'

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During synod season I always read on the speeches of the various bishops in the diocesan synod presidential addresses. Today I was pleased to read that the Bishop of Armagh, The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, spoke about the health of the planet. It was a good speech that focused on various aspects of health – mental health, political health and the health of the environment.

Here are some of the best quotes,
"It will be our children and grandchildren who will pay a terrible price if we do not act as responsible guardians of the health of the earth on which we have been placed." This is one of the best quotes I have ever heard our archbishop on the state of the creation.

He goes on,
"We are nearing the point where the wasteful pollution and unnecessary heating of this planet is about to find a tipping point from which there can be no return. We have been placed on this earth by God to protect its health and wholeness. We are the guardians of its health, not the despoiler…
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Helping parishes respond to climate change and the environment

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Helping parishes respond to climate change and the environment Are you interested in how your parish can help the environment? The Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission is holding a climate change and environment seminar at Church of Ireland House, Donegall Street, Belfast.  Stephen Trew, one of the speakers at the event said: “The Church has a key role in tackling climate change. We can speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and develop sustainable lifestyles and mission. This seminar will explain how your church can do more.” When: Wednesday 14 November at 10.00 am, concluding with a light lunch at 1.00 pm  Speakers Stephen Trew (environmental campaigner) – A Biblical Perspective on the EnvironmentDavid Thomas (Christian Aid Belfast) – Impact of Climate Change on the Developing WorldDavid Ritchie (Chief Officer, Representative Church Body) – Practical Action in Parish LifeAttendance is free but booking is essential.  Please email seminar@ireland.anglican.org
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Grantham Institute - Superb research on energy and climate

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Here is another very useful resource for anyone interested in energy and climate change.

The London School of Economic is regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the world and is the best for economics. The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment is highly regarded for its work on the economic impact of global warming.

At a lecture in July 2018 Jeremy Grantham, the co-founder of the institute, gave a lecture on the Mythical peril of divestment from fossil fuels. He carried out a study to gauge the impact of divestment from the fossil fuel sector and found there was no negative impact at all. Furthermore, with significant pressure to reduce emissions and usage of fossil fuels he suggests now is the time to get out of coal, oil, and gas.


He concludes,
Investors with long-term horizons should avoid oil and chemical stocks on investment grounds.  It is time to divest from fossil fuels.
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Ieefa.org - Excellent divestment resource

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I'm going to recommend some divestment resources. The first is Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis - ieefa.org

I hope readers of this blog find some inspiration and will pursue divestment within their own church, university pension fund or local council. Over the years I have read a lot on divestment and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis ieefa.org is one of the best sources of information and Tom Sanzillo, their Director of Finance, is very quotable.

Recently the ieefa.org released a report —“The Financial Case for Fossil Fuel Divestment”— that gives an up-to-date and robust reasoning for divestment. The article IEEFA update: Divestment 101 provides a useful summary of the report and this graph which shows the poor performance of fossil fuels over the last 5 years.


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Lead bishop for the environment

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THE WORLD is on fire. Wildfires have raged from Athens to the Arctic. Heatwaves have broken records in Africa, Japan, North America and Europe. Sadly, the wildfires and heat have led to lives lost and property destroyed.
In Ireland, we suffered a very wet winter, and the wettest decade in 300 years. This has been followed by the worst drought in 40 years. Armagh broke its 175-year-old temperature record on 27th June with the heat reaching 30.4 celsius.

Climate change is hitting hard and farmers and vulnerable people are struggling. The Church of Ireland offered prayers for the farming community, but is that it?

Ireland has one of the worst environmental records in Europe (Irish Times 1st August), so where is the call from the House of Bishops for governments, both north and south, to accelerate the response to climate change, reduce pollution and prevent environmental degradation?

As Bishop N.T. Wright said, “God is the Creator God, he doesn’t want to say, ‘Okay, creation was very go…
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