Climate Change  

In May 2009, the General Assembly passed a deliverance requiring all congregations to measure the carbon footprint of all their buildings and thereafter to reduce it by 5% year on year.  This is a big ask and so a conference was held on 23rd January 2010 in Riverside Church in Dumbarton to find out how this might be possible.  It was well attended with some 80 representatives from the churches in Presbytery.

Adrian Shaw, the Church of Scotland's Climate Change Officer outlined the overall issue of climate change, the projected rise in temperature and the likely consequences for the world.  Lillian Delaney of the Wise Group, the West of Scotland arm of the Energy Saving Trust, then spoke of things what we can all do at an individual level to help reduce carbon emissions.  Rev Roddy Hamilton of Clydebank: Abbotsford Church, spoke of the theological imperative of caring for this world.  He outlined what his congregation had done and gave suggestions that might help other churches tackle the issue.

To find more information (and the grid for measuring your carbon footprint), go to the Church of Scotland's website at www.churchofscotland.org.uk .  For further information about saving energy contact the Energy Saving Trust  on 0800 512012 or visit their website  www.energysavingtrust.org.uk