Thousands of British churches turn ‘green’

More than 5,500 churches, including fifteen of the UK's most famous Anglican cathedrals, have turned to renewable power to tackle climate change.

Church of England, Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Salvation Army places of worship have made the switch to 100% renewable electricity, and faith leaders are urging more to follow .

“CLIMATE CHANGE IS HURTING THE POOR”

Church leaders warned that “climate change is an enormous injustice and is hurting the poor first and worst”.

“Switching to responsible sources of electricity may seem like a small thing on its own, but when joined together it can make a real difference”, they added.

Knowing that the average annual church electricity bill is around £1000, it is estimated that British churches have diverted more than five million pounds from fossil fuels to clean energy providers.

The Church of England's procurement group Parish Buying has made possible that the cathedrals run on 100% renewable electricity, turning its bulk electricity basket to 100% renewable.

Meanwhile, other churches have made the move through the Big Church Switch campaign run by Christian charities Christian Aid and Tearfund and the Church of England's Environment Programme.

“CHURCHES ARE PART OF A GLOBAL NETWORK”

Christian Aid explained that “often the renewable energy tariff is cheaper than the fossil fuel-dominated one they were on before”.

“Climate change is one of the great moral challenges of our time and so it's fantastic to see churches doing their bit to ensure they reduce their impact on the environment”, Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury and the Church of England's lead bishop on the environment, said.

With this decision, churches “are also giving a boost to clean energy, which is essential to reduce harmful carbon emissions”, he pointed out.

Former archbishop of Canterbury and chairman of Christian Aid Dr Rowan Williams said the Church of England had agreed to sell its shares in fossil fuel companies, to meet the aims of the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change.

“Churches are part of a global network and so are often very aware of the plight of our brothers and sisters suffering from droughts, floods and extreme weather around the world”, he concluded.