Click here for the latest news on climate change from Christian Aid.
Christian Aid Scotland and Eco-Congregation Scotland work in partnership to help churches see how their treatment of the environment has an effect on the lives of people in developing countries.
Eco-Congregation Scotland is an ecumenical charity helping church congregations link environmental issues to their Christian faith, and encouraging them to take practical action in their church and community. We address climate change by encouraging energy management and sustainable living and support churches to do this through local networks, conferences, written material and hands on support.
Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of the 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Christian Aid campaigns to change the rules and systems that keep people poor, speaking out on issues such as Tax Justice, trade justice, climate change, and Third World debt. Christian Aid has fought poverty for more than 65 years.
Christian Aid and Eco-Congregation Scotland are working together because we are both concerned about the effect climate change is having on the poorest people in the world. We believe that climate change is a justice issue with the poorest countries in our world affected by the countries that have the most.
Christian Aid say:
- Scientists predict that at the current rate of carbon emissions tens of millions more people will go hungry in the next couple of decades as agricultural yields diminish across the globe.
- And if nothing is done to stem a rise of 2°C in global average temperatures by 2050, 250 million more people will be forced to leave their homes.
- Around 30 million more people will go hungry as agricultural yields go into recession across the globe.
- One to three billion people will suffer acute water shortages, while nearly a fifth of Bangladesh will be submerged as sea levels rise.
Practical actions taken by Eco-Congregations include:
- Monitoring the carbon footprints of their church buildings.
- Insulation of church buildings.
- Installation of more efficient heating systems.
- Installation of micro-renewable power sources like solar panels.
- Recycling and reuse projects.
- Encouraging walking and cycling to church instead of using a car.
- Engaging with the local community through environmental events like litter picking.
Our two organisations run complimentary programmes to address these issues. Christian Aid carries out work in developing countries to adapt to the effects of climate change and campaigns for governments to take action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Eco-Congregation Scotland helps local churches take practical action to reduce their impact on the environment. The two activities are equally important and by combining our efforts we are reaching people who have an interest in helping people in developing countries, but don’t know too much about climate change.
We have run a series of joint roadshows and are both members of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and work together to ensure that the concerns of the churches are included in their campaigns.
For further information please contact us.
Christian Aid have produced the following resources which may be of interest to congregations:
- Funding a Fairer Future (with the Green Light campaign and ShareAction): a resource on responsible investments and pensions
- Fast for the Climate – Eco-Congregation Scotland and Christian Aid both support the initiative to spend the first day of each month fasting and reflecting or praying on the need for climate justice
- One Million Ways – Carbon-saving ideas for a greener future