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Friends of the Earth head urges churches to end fossil fuel addiction


Andy Atkins

Andy Atkins

Churches must play a leading role in urging action on climate change, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said when he delivered the 2012 Operation Noah Annual Lecture on 21 November. Speaking to an audience of around 60 at Friends House in Euston, on the theme 'Overcoming fossil fuel addiction - the next moral revolution?', he challenged the churches to help build a low-carbon future. "UK churches were at the forefront of historic campaigns to end the injustices of slavery and child labour" he pointed out "and they must now show leadership in ending one of the biggest threats humanity currently faces - our addiction to fossil fuels".

Atkins called on churches to decarbonise their own estates, welcoming moves by eco-congregations to install solar panels and reduce energy consumption. He suggested that church money could be used as a force for promoting a greener economy. "What about churches withdrawing investment from fossil fuel companies and putting it into green companies" he said. He pointed out that Shell and BP make up the fourth and sixth largest investments of the Church of England. Atkins also called on churches to continue stressing links between poverty and climate change, making clear why climate action is a moral imperative. The son of a clergyman - who has worked for CAFOD, Progressio and Tearfund in his past - he urged church leaders and other leaders in civic society to act where the government has failed, particularly in relation to the new Energy Bill.

With the Energy Bill, Parliament will soon be passing legislation that will determine how our electricity is produced and regulated. Over 90% of the country's electricity is currently produced from fossil fuels and Atkins suggested that we need to see real ambition to change this if the UK is to achieve its legally-binding commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions. He encouraged churches to add their support to the inclusion of a green electricity target in the new Energy Bill. This would also send a clear signal to investors to develop clean British energy from our wind, sun and sea. The bill as currently drafted would allow high levels of carbon emissions from power stations until 2045, although the government's independent Committee on Climate Change advises that the UK must almost completely decarbonise the power sector by 2030.

The Methodists, Baptist, United Reformed Churches and Quakers have been working together to challenge the Energy Bill in its current form. Operation Noah is also encouraging a unified call for ambition to create a renewables-based power sector by 2030. They are calling on the government to commit in the Energy Bill to provide the support necessary to create a power sector that relies on at least 60% renewable energy by 2030, with a clear target to decarbonise the power sector by 2030.

Atkins called for the UK government to stop subsidising the fossil fuels industries and nuclear power. "Let's be more ambitious for renewables" he said. "With UK energy policy standing at the crossroads there has never been a more important time to act" reflected Atkins; "churches must join with us in calling for the Energy Bill, which will shortly be going before Parliament, to include targets to get us off our fossil fuel dependency and help build a safer, cleaner future for us all".

See: www.quaker.org.uk/speak-out


The discussion on Energy continues tonight (22nd November) with a launch at Heythrop College of a book warning of the pitfalls of nuclear power, written by Columban eco-theologian Sean McDonagh. A panel discussion chaired by John Vidal, the Guardian's Environment Editor, will include Bruce Kent, a Vice-President of Pax Christi and of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).

The opening prayer will be led by ICN editor Josephine Siedlecka.

www.columbans.co.uk/news/book-launch-fukushima-the-death-knell-for-nuclear-energy/

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