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Church and Society Council

 Church of Scotland emblem

RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The Church of Scotland is concerned that climate change poses a serious and immediate threat to people everywhere, particularly to the poor of the earth; and that climate change represents a failure in our stewardship of God's creation. We accept the need to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases urgently to avoid dangerous and irreversible climate change; and to promote a more equitable and sustainable use of energy.

You can find out more about the council's involvement in the following issues on this page:

Climate Change Project
Resources about Climate Change
Responses to Government Consultations
Carbon Offsetting
Take Action: Climate Change March in Glasgow
Take Action: Climate Challenge Fund
Take Action: Christian Aid Campaign
Stop Climate Chaos
Links to more information
The Eco-Congregation Programme

Climate Change Project

picture of island "When our land is submerging slowly but visibly, any ideological debate on ecological issues are only a luxury of the privileged communities"
Rev Tafue Molu Lusama, Pacific Eklasia Kelisiano, Tuvalu

The General Assembly discussed climate change in May 2007 and agreed urgent action was needed to respond to climate change.

Three councils (Church and Society, World Mission and Mission and Discipleship) have joined together to establish a project: Responding to Climate Change. Adrian Shaw has been appointed Project Officer and will be working in the Church and Society Team to help councils respond to climate change and to support congregations around Scotland take action through the Eco-Congregation programme.

To contact Adrian :
Email us
 ashaw@cofscotland.org.uk

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Resources about Climate Change
Climate Change at the General Assembly 2008:
Debates and deliverances

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'Responding to Climate Change': What are the issues and how can I reduce my carbon footprint?

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'The Scottish Climate Change Bill': What does the government want and how can I have my say?

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'Bali Conference Briefing Paper': Summary of the United Nations Climate Change conference

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'Energy and Transport': Report to the 2008 General Assembly

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'Energy for a Changing Climate': Report to the 2007 General Assembly

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For more information about energy and fuels go to our Society, religion and technology page.

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Responses to Government Consultations

 Download the Council's responses to Scottish Government's consultations
Proposals for a Scottish Climate Change bill.

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Scotland’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework.

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Carbon Offsetting

 As concern about climate change continues to grow so a number of responses have emerged to help address the challenge. Carbon offsetting is a technique that allows consumers to continue to buy goods and services that have a substantial 'carbon price tag' while seeking to reduce or mitigate the impact. The concept is controversial and has been subject to some criticism. This briefing paper looks at some of the issues and makes recommendations on the use of offsetting.
Download the 'Carbon Offsetting' briefing paper:

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Take Action: Climate Change March in Glasgow
picture of poster for march Click on the link below to go to our events page and find details and a poster about:
Climate change march in Glasgow - 6 December

Take Action: Climate Challenge Fund
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The Climate Challenge Fund has been introduced by the Scottish Government. Grants are available to empower communities to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and make a real difference to the local and national environment. For more information and how to apply go to: www.infoscotland.com

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Take Action: Christian Aid Campaign
picture of Christian Aid logo Follow this link to find out how take action:
Christian Aid Scotland

Stop Climate Chaos

The Church of Scotland has signed up to the 'Stop Climate Chaos' campaign. It shares the campaign's aim to build irresistible public pressure on the UK Government to act at home and abroad to prevent global warming from exceeding the widely-accepted danger threshold of 2 degrees centigrade.

Mike Robinson, chairman of Stop Climate Change Scotland said, 'We are delighted to welcome the Church of Scotland as a member of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition. The support of the Kirk means that we now have more than 1.5million members in Scotland, and the breadth of that support demonstrates clearly that climate change is something that must be tackled by each and everyone one of us. The time for action is now.'
stop climate chaos logo Click on this link to find out more from the Stop Climate Chaos website www.stopclimatechaos.org

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Further information

For further information about climate change follow these links:
Amber Links
BBC
Carbon Calculator
Energy Saving Trust
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Learning and Teaching Scotland
Met Office
Operation Noah
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The Eco-Congregation Programme

 This programme provides advice and assistance to congregations working on environmental issues.
The initiative aims to help local churches to link their Christian service with caring for God's creation and the wider world. It's co-ordinated jointly by Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Church and Society Council on behalf of the Scottish churches. It is part of a wider scheme involving churches all over Britain and Ireland.
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Contact details

To find out more about the Eco-congregation Programme and how to involve your church visit their website at www.ecocongregation.org/scotland

Please note this link will take you out of the Church of Scotland website and open a new browser window.

You can also contact the programme via email here:
Email us
 scotland@ecocongregation.org

Or write to :
Church and Society Council
Church of Scotland
121 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4YN

Telephone: 0131 225 5722
 

In this section
Introduction
Welcome to the Church and Society Council pages

Parliamentary affairs
The Church's work with the UK and Scottish parliaments

Peace, international, Europe and migration
Current world issues and the council's responses and action

Equalities and human rights
Details on the range of current issues and the council's responses and action

Health and social issues
Debating the issues which affect the lives of the people of Scotland and worldwide

Society, religion and technology
The Church's engagement with science and technology, economics and industry, and environmental concerns

Responding to climate change
How the church is reacting to the global challenge of climate change

Education issues
Engagement with issues of religious and moral concern in schools and colleges

Schools
Resources for school assemblies and news for schools and their chaplains

News and events
The latest updates from the council

Resources
A range of information and resources to download

Have your say
Send in comments and feedback to the council's working groups

Summary of issues
A guide to key issues raised in reports to the General Assembly since 1980

Contact us
How to get in touch with the council and our staff

 

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