Environment Sunday on 4th June and World Environment Day on 5th June mark the start of a month of opportunities to get involved with activities to help protect the planet.
Churches are encouraged to: Make a commitment as a local church community to taking long-term action to reduce your carbon emissions. Join with other churches and wider society by calling for the UK government to take much bolder action on climate change.
Here we share ten practical actions churches and Christians can take towards helping safeguard God's creation, and supporting our mission to being a Net Zero Carbon diocese by 2030.
1. Hold a climate-themed service during June
Download a Sample Climate Sermon from our diocese’s Net Zero Carbon 2030 Shared Knowledge Platform hosted by Faiths4Change, here. You can also draw on this example climate-focused service from Green Anglicans. Access Christian Aid’s Climate Justice Faith Resources via their website.
2. Join the campaign to help Beat Plastic Pollution
218 million people are at risk of more frequent and severe floods because of plastic pollution, particularly those living in poverty, according to research released last week by Tearfund.
Download the United Nation’s World Environment Day resources for Individuals and Faith & Community groups, including the Beat Plastic Pollution Practical Guide. Access Tearfund’s Rubbish Campaign resources for churches and schools, including films, a church talk and children’s activities and sign the petition to demand an end to plastic pollution.
3. Sign up for our summer Net Zero Carbon 2030 workshops hosted by Faiths4Change
These online sessions are offered free to all churches as part of our commitment to be a Net-Carbon Zero diocese by 2030:
- Youth Engagement (Eco Church Worship & teaching) Wednesday 28th June 6.15pm-7.15pm. Hear from youth workers and youth leaders from across Merseyside working with young people to engage them in church life, develop a relationship with God while looking after creation. Come and be inspired by creative ideas to bridge the generation gap. Sign up here.
- Land Management (Eco Church) Wednesday 19th July 6.15pm-7.15pm. Learn how to manage your church land to create a thriving area of biodiversity, whatever the size. Hear inspiration and advice from professional experts and church members, plus tips for creating a land management plan towards the Eco-Church awards. Sign up here.
4. Take the Veg Pledge!
This year, Young Christian Climate Network are asking everyone to eat greener by going vegetarian for one week from June 5-11, or during a festival if you are attending one over the summer. Find out more about why, and access resources via the Young Christian Climate Network website today.
5. Check if your church has completed the Energy Footprint Tool
This needs to be returned before the end of July to enable us to gather baseline data about the carbon footprint across the diocese. Anyone tasked with filling this out for your church can attend a free drop-in advice clinic with our Environmental Officer Phil Leigh on Wednesday 14th June.
Read more here and sign up for Phil's drop-in advice clinics via Eventbrite.
6. Join in some outdoors fun with Great Big Green Week events
The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. From festivals to football matches, litter picks to letter writing - there is something for everyone at the Great Big Green Week.
Faiths4Change are hosting 5 days of events including a Summer Fayre & Plant sale, and Climate Cafe at St Michael in the City, a Feed your Creativity session at Roots in the City, Open Gardens at Roots in the City and the Secret Garden Stoneycroft, culminating in a Big Garden Feast at Roots in the City on 15th June. Find out more at the Faiths4Change website and sign up for events here.
7. Spend some time in nature
Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. Take a look at some ideas for spending time in nature to help improve your mental health, provided by Mind.
Here are Five Fun Activities About Taking Care of God’s World to do outdoors with children.
8. Join in the Love Your Burial Ground week
Join in with this dedicated week to celebrate your burial ground from 3rd to 11th June, with Churches Count on Nature and conservation charity Caring for God’s Acre.
9. Calculate your own household's carbon footprint
ActNow is the United Nations’ campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. Every one of us can help limit global warming and take care of our planet. By making choices that have less harmful effects on the environment, we can be part of the solution and influence change. Download the app to log your actions and contribute to the global count.
10. Pray
Please pray for all in our diocese as together we continue our journey towards Net Zero Carbon 2030. Please pray also for those in the global south currently most affected by climate change. You can find prayers for World Environment Day provided by the Church of England and by Christian Aid for justice for those facing climate loss and damage.