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A  report  by the International Energy Authority (IEA) states that air pollution from fossil fuels has become a major health crises and is responsible for 6.5 million deaths worldwide each year. The report states that the problem of air pollution is growing and the health impacts risk intensifying in the decades to come if nothing is done. In 2015 the Head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan has said that, “Air pollution is one of the most important health risk factors globally, comparable to tobacco smoking”. She was commenting on a report from the Lancet, the world’s foremost medical journal, that highlighted the risks of air pollution from fossil fuels. The Irish government's Environmental Protection Agency states that air pollution is directly linked to 1,200 premature deaths per year mainly around large cities and towns as a result of traffic emissions. The Church of Ireland seeks to be a responsible investor that integrates environmental, s...

Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough can lead a revolution in the Church of Ireland, and it might be inspired by the Pope. The revolution I am talking about is to do with mission. The signals are that the archbishop has been thinking long and hard about mission and Christians’ responsibility to care for creation. He likes to use the term 'theological ecology', for it sums up what creation care is all about: humankind’s relationship to God and to the world. Most recently he spoke at the Arklow Festival of Faith on June 2nd 2016 where his theme was ' Care for Creation '. For me several comments stand out from his speech, We as humans have been spectacularly unable to regulate our relationship with creation. This speech draws inspiration from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si’ on the environment and human ecology. The Pope’s intervention in the climate change debate last year is regarded as a key moment running up to the succes...

I was delighted to see that Archbishop Clarke gave a lecture on 25 May 2016 on the theme of refugees. His lecture was entitled ‘The Stranger at the Gate’ and focused on our response to the refugee crisis and displaced people across the world. The Archbishop addressed the size of the crisis and how we need to respond, but he did not mention anything about the underlying causes. Some useful statistics from the UN  were mentioned in the speech, The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that, worldwide, there are almost 60 million forcibly displaced people; over 45 million men, women and children are being helped or protected by the UN High Commission for Refugees, and over half of all refugees are under 18 years old. And, as we survey the European aspects of the refugee crisis, we need first to accept that nearly 90% of all known refugees are being cared for, not here in Europe, but in the developing world, those countries that can least afford any influx of impoverish...

Last week Exxon held its Annual General Meeting at which shareholder resolutions on Climate Change were defeated. Exxon has refused to approve resolutions on climate change since engagement first began in 1996. At the meeting the CEO of Exxon, Rex Tillerson said, The world is going to have to continue using fossil fuels, whether they like it or not ... just saying ‘turn the taps off’ is not acceptable to humanity, This intransigence did not go down well with many of Exxon's shareholders, 38% of whom voted for change. The interesting thing is to compare the quote above with the RCB's policy on climate change .  Here is an extract, fossil fuels will continue to contribute a major component of this energy mix for the foreseeable future and remain one of the most cost efficient methods of energy production. Whilst not as blunt as the CEO of Exxon, the similarity is striking.

It is certainly good to see the Church of Ireland Representative Church Body (RCB) respond to the issue of climate change. The article ' From Fossils to Forestry: RCB invests in the future ' originally appeared in the Church of Ireland Gazette, 9th May 2016. It indicates that the ethics of fossil fuel investments are at the top of the Investment Committee agenda, which is good to see. The quotes in blue are from the RCB article on which I have commented to further the debate.  The article begins, Climate change is an extremely important, complex and topical issue.  Stating that climate change is ‘complex’ sets the mood. It sets the scene that the RCB aims to steer through the rising seas and storms of climate change and chart the best course having weighed all the options. But opening an article in this way is a distraction, for climate change happening. There is no complexity to that fact. The UN states that global warming is unequivocal and it is caused by ...

I wish to express my thanks to the Gazette for the excellent coverage of the General Synod in Dún Laoghaire (20th May issue). Well done to all concerned. Recently, after our evening Café Church, I was talking to some young people about General Synod. They wanted to know if the hierarchy of the Church of Ireland actually listen to ordinary people. I was able to share my experience from the last two years. I assured them that the Executive of the Representative Church Body (RCB) actually do listen during debate and can respond when a strong moral argument is presented. The moral argument to divest from fossil fuel companies was presented at last year's General Synod. Afterwards, two dioceses passed motions calling on the RCB to divest from all fossil fuels within five years. The debates on the motions stressed the severe impact that greenhouse gas pollution and climate change are having on the world's poor. The RCB listened and responded. They divested from coal, incre...

The following article appeared in the Church of Ireland Gazette, 6th May 2016 From Fossils to Forestry: RCB invests in the future By Sarah Dunne Climate change is an extremely important, complex and topical issue. As the world faces the prospect of population growth to nine billion people by 2050, key issues of sustainability and environmental conservation are being proactively considered by the Representative Church Body (RCB) with respect to the investments it holds on behalf of the Church of Ireland. A particular focus has been given in the past year to developing and implementing a policy in relation to climate change. The Paris summit (COP21) has generated increased momentum around the need to act on climate change and to ensure that global warming does not exceed 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an additional aim to cap this at 1.5°C. The Church of Ireland investment strategy is committed to the support of a transition to a lowcarbon economy through a comprehensi...

I love the Church of Ireland.  It is my spiritual home. The Lord Jesus found me when I was a spiritually wandering teenager, saved me and brought me into a loving church. I was married and had my children baptised there.  The Rev Adrian McCartney taught us about the Holy Spirit and our faith began to burn. Events like Summer Madness and New Wine added spiritual fuel and we were set on fire. I had a burning desire to reach the lost and point them towards the Saviour – Jesus Christ. The Anglican Church stretches far and wide. I've seen vibrant village churches in remote parts of Paraguay and Argentina. On this island, Church of Ireland parishes are woven like a tapestry across the land and into the fabric of society. Our mission to people is to explain the gospel, make disciples, and to help those in need. Our mission to society is to further the Kingdom of God. Each parish and each person has a responsibility to act on mission. To do the stuff. To go to where people ar...

I would like to speak about the RCB policy on climate change on page 102 of the Book of Reports. I believe the RCB needs to go back to the drawing board and re-write this policy with the aim of full divestment from fossil fuels by 2020. There are four reasons why this needs rewritten. 1. The policy is indistinct Last December when 195 Countries agreed in Paris to act on climate change, the RCB wrote this policy which begins, "Climate Change and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment are extremely complex." This is a policy that sits on the fence. ( Policy ) 2.  The policy is in error In the second paragraph it states that fossil fuels will, “for the foreseeable future, remain one of the most cost efficient methods of energy production" This is incorrect. Bloomberg reported recently that the cost of wind energy is now cheaper than energy from new coal or gas power stations. The cost of solar power fell by 50% in just 5 years. We need an investmen...

The Representative Church Body – Report 2016 APPENDIX E RCB POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment are extremely complex; as responsible investors the RCB is committed to take account of them in the management of its investment portfolios. The Investment Committee has reviewed its investments in this sector at an individual stock level and in terms of overall exposure as well as its investments and commitments to renewable and/or sustainable energy. The RCB is supportive of public policy to support a diverse energy mix and a transition to a low carbon economy, however, the fact is that fossil fuels will continue to contribute a major component of this energy mix for the foreseeable future and remain one of the most cost efficient methods of energy production. As Christians and responsible investors, the RCB seeks to mitigate and lower the Climate Change impact within our portfolios. The Investment Committee has reviewed t...

A letter published in the Chrurch of Ireland Gazette, 20 November 2015: On 30th November, world leaders will meet for one of the most crucial conferences ever – the UN Paris Climate Change Conference, ‘Paris 2015’, also known as the 21st Conference of Parties or ‘COP21’. The aim of the conference is to reach international agreement to keep global warming below 2°C. This is a good opportunity to reflect on why climate change is looming as a moral issue and to ask what actions we, the Church of Ireland, have taken. Throughout 2015, Christian leaders have spoken out about the moral challenge of climate change. Pope Francis, in his encyclical, said climate change “represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day”. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “We are now – like never before – in a position to choose charity over greed, and frugality over wastefulness in order to affirm our moral commitment to our neighbour and our respect toward the ear...

The Archbishop of Armagh, Richard Clarke, and Archbishop of Dublin have spoken out on climate change by releasing a joint letter with other faith leaders in Ireland which was published in the Irish Times and Belfast Telegraph on 25th September. "The collective sacred texts of all faiths speak of caring for the Earth. We, as representatives of diverse faiths on the island of Ireland, call for a new dialogue at all levels of society on the threat of climate change to the Earth, our common home, and to our aspirations for a just society. Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing our human family. Current impacts are already too much for poor countries to bear. In rich and poor countries alike, women and men living in poverty are most vulnerable to the impacts of increasingly unpredictable weather and more intense storms, floods and drought. The opportunity to limit further warming to relatively safer levels and avoid even more devastating impacts will so...

Bishop Patrick Rooke spoke passionately about his concerns over climate change at the Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocesan synod on 25 September 2015.  Bishop Patrick said, During the [Church of England] debate at the July Synod in York, climate change was described as ‘the big issue’, and as a spiritual problem to which there is a moral imperative to act. ‘Synod was told; ‘there is no Planet B’. I intend therefore to set up a group to look at this whole area and to present us with a Diocesan Charter for honouring creation."  It is good to see a Church of Ireland Bishop speak out and take action about one of the most important issue of our day.

The Church of Ireland invests in an oil giant, the Eni group, that has announced that it is to begin drilling for fossil fuels in the Arctic. The Guardian reported on 30 September 2015 that, "Italian oil giant Eni has vowed to press ahead with oil production in the Arctic by the end of the year, undeterred by Shell’s decision to abandon its quest for Arctic oil. As environmentalists celebrated Shell’s retreat from the Chukchi Sea this week, Eni is meanwhile making final preparations to a $5.5bn (£3.6bn) project in the Norwegian Arctic . The Goliat project is set to become the world’s northernmost offshore oil field to come on stream, eventually pumping 100,000 barrels of oil per day from reserves believed to hold around 175m barrels of oil and 8bn cubic metres of gas." Investments for Church of Ireland are managed by the Representative Church Body (RCB). There are two main investment funds, the General Funds/Reserves and the Specific Trusts.  The investments page of...

The Diocese of Connor also passed a motion at its synod calling on the Representative Church Body to divest from fossil fuels. The following is an extract from an  article on the Connor website about the synod. "A Motion on Climate Change – Disinvestment by RCB prompted some debate. The motion, proposed eloquently by the Rev Canon John Budd urged the RCB to: increase investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency companies ensure there are no investments in coal companies (except those investing in carbon capture) and tar sand companies within the next year examine the possibility of disinvestment from oil companies within three years from now examine the possibility of disinvestment from natural gas companies after five years call on parishes and individuals to encourage government and political parties to act responsibly on climate change. Canon Budd said: “We will soon be taking part in Harvest Services, thanking God and making us aware of our debt to him, but al...

Explanatory note “Human-induced climate change, mainly a result of burning fossil fuels, is occurring fast and will confront humanity with its greatest ever challenge. The earth is on a pathway to global warming well beyond the 2°C internationally agreed as the maximum possible if we are to avoid cataclysmic climate change”. (The Bright Now Report) Scientists estimate that to avoid a 2°C temperature rise the maximum amount of carbon that can be produced by burning coal, oil and gas is one fifth of current reserves. This means that 4/5ths of existing fossil fuels must stay in the ground if we are too avoid catastrophic climate change. Care for creation is part of our calling as Christians, as 1 Cor 10:26 says, "the earth is the Lord's". Climate change will hit poorer nations the hardest. Proverbs 31:9 says, "Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Churches can speak up with a prophetic voice by removing investments from foss...

Church of Ireland Gazette, 10 July 2015. Letter to the editor, I thank God for Ron Elsdon. About 20 years ago he visited our midweek Bible study and spoke passionately about global warming; I have vivid memories of images of melting glaciers. So I was delighted to read his article, ‘An immense pile of filth’, Gazette 3 July 2015, in which he wrote again with passion about the need for every parish and parishioner to respond to the moral problem of climate change. In particular, he highlighted the Environmental Charter passed at General Synod in May. On 25 June 2015 the Down and Dromore synod voted to pass unanimously a motion on climate change that endorsed the Environmental Charter. It is a call to action for Christians and churches within the Church of Ireland. I hope other diocesan synods may vote on similar motions soon. For convenience the text of the motion is online at http://bit.ly/CoIDivest . Another interesting article in the same edition of the Gazette is by Chr...

Church of Ireland Gazette - 29th May 2015. I WAS very encouraged by my first Church of Ireland General Synod and will explain why, as I share some first impressions. When I walked through the entrance to the Armagh City Hotel conference centre, the first thing that struck me was the variety of clerical dress and hairstyles. Had I arrived at a Father Ted convention by mistake? I batted that image from my mind and took in the variety of exhibition displays and saw a few familiar clerical faces. The place was buzzing. I found a seat in the main hall and soaked up the atmosphere. First up was the Presidential Address by the Most Revd Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. I had not seen the Archbishop in the flesh before and he is a real gentleman. The address started well, emphasising the importance of Church communities having good inter-relationships – very timely. Then he threw in some statistics, the most interesting being that only 15% of those ...

This speech was given at the Church of Ireland Synod debate on t he  Report of the Representative Body . I would like to draw your attention to the revised policy statement on Socially Responsible Investment on page 89 which was approved by the RB in March 2015 and published in General Synod 2015 Book of Reports .  I welcome the focus on Environmental, Social and Governance issues.  But I believe it does not go far enough. At the bottom of p89 the policy states,  "The RCB actively seeks to avoid investment in business which would be inconsistence with the ethos and mission of a Christian organisation." The question is, is it ethical to invest in fossil fuels?   In each of the last three years, of the ten largest equity holdings in the RB General investments fund, five of them where in fossil fuel companies. Should the Church of Ireland continue to invest in energy companies that contribute to the growing threat of climate change?   This ...

The last couple of days have again been spent relaxing with special friends. Yesterday we went out with the four other mission partner teachers we worked with during our 8 years here. We'd a delicious Brazilian churrasqueria barbeque dinner, where the waiters just keep bringing more and more meat until you can't move. Today we had breakfast with Diana, who looked after Elijah and Hannah from they were babies, and now is married with her own 1 month old son. Lunch with some Paraguayan friends from school and dinner with Linn - which we just adored. Another great day. Tomorrow morning we're up at 5 am (!!) for the 8.30 flight to Montevideo, Madrid, and Dublin.