Scottish Christian.com

Home > News > Scottish Christian News Monitor

Assembly to hear that 'energy use is a moral issue'

The Kirk's General Assembly will hear plans to challenge all individual church members to make significant lifestyle changes to reduce their use of energy and their consumption of the Earth’s resources. (Deliverance section 20)

The Kirk’s Church and Society Council will be unveiling their paper Energy for a Changing Climate which, among other recommendations, will recognise the urgency with which major changes are needed to avert the worst consequences of climate change. (Deliverance section 15)

In addition to this, the Council will be looking to make changes to the five-year property reviews carried out in congregations. Presbyteries could be instructed to include an environmental energy assessment as one of the criteria that they use when considering the condition of local church property. (Deliverance section 22)

The General Assembly will be told that "A hundred years ago, few would have dreamt of the benefits brought about by having abundant cheap energy, available at the turn of a tap, the flick of a switch and the squeeze of a nozzle. Plentiful energy has transformed our lives and become integral to our society, but it has also brought major environmental and social costs, most especially in climate change". (Section 3.1.1)

The Church and Society Council is of the view that climate change is as much a social issue as an environmental one, whose outcomes bring profound suffering, disruption and injustice. The poorest countries and people suffer earliest and most. They are generally in hotter regions, more vulnerable to climatic effect and heavily dependent on agriculture. (Section 3.1.3)

The paper identifies transport as the fastest growing sector of energy use, calling for a radical reduction in both car use and air travel. The Council goes on to criticise the government for increasing the amounts spent on roads and airport building, and for abolishing the fuel duty escalator – the mechanism through which the relative price of petrol is steadily and relentlessly increased over time. (Section 5.1.9)

The Church and Society Council’s paper carries out a thorough examination of electricity generation in the UK, eventually deciding against supporting either the construction of new fossil fuel power stations or the expansion of the nuclear energy sector. The Assembly will hear a strong appeal in support of the further development of renewable energy resources, including tidal, wind and solar energy.

The Council recognises that a substantial expansion of the offshore and onshore wind energy sector could not be achieved without a visual impact on much of Scotland’s landscape. However, "arguably to be reminded daily of where our energy comes from is a good thing." (Section 5.3.2)

Given that the visual impact of wind energy generation will fall most heavily on certain locations, it seems only fair that the wider society which enjoys the benefit should provide some recompense for those who are in the vicinity of the installation. Recompense might be financial in cheaper fuel or lower council taxes, or in the provision of some local amenity like a hospital. (Section 5.3.5)

The paper Energy for a Changing Climate highlights the need for urgent action on the part of government, community and individual. Each and every person is encouraged to:

- Exercise your influence on the market in your choice of energy supplier, in the products you buy as a consumer, in your investments or pension.

- Participate as a shareholder in company AGMs.

- Get involved in the planning process for local energy developments; become informed and play a pro-active role in shaping the developments.

- Use their democratic right to influence government. Get involved locally and nationally by asking questions, lobbying, and using your vote.

- Take action to reduce your energy consumption here and now, at home and where you work.

Congregations are urged to switch to green energy tariffs as well as looking at becoming generators of energy through small scale renewable projects. The paper specifically cites Westray Church in Orkney, which is now self-sufficient in renewable energy. (Sections 7.3 and 7.4)

Full story at the Church of Scotland.