Our Energy Where it comes from How it’s changing Government policy Where does fracking fit? Inspiration and challenge - Action

UK Electricity Generation 2015-16

Total Energy Use

Government Policy Climate Change Act 2008. UK Low Carbon Transition Plan 2009 Green Deal 2013 Paris UN Climate Agreement 2015 Fifth Carbon Budget (2028-2032) Committee on Climate Change

Government Policy Current policy in the UK: is not enough to deliver the existing carbon budgets that Parliament has set. would at best deliver around half of the emissions reductions required to 2030, with nothing to address the other half.

Government Policy Heating and hot water for UK buildings make up 40% of our energy consumption and 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. It will be necessary to largely eliminate these emissions by around 2050 to meet the targets in the Climate Change Act and to maintain the UK contribution to international action under the Paris Agreement. Progress to date has stalled. The Government needs a credible new strategy

Nick Hurd: “Now looking ahead to our emissions reduction plan” Government Policy DECC BEIS 2016 Nick Hurd: “Now looking ahead to our emissions reduction plan”

Other policies Hope

“Ecological Conversion” Timed to influence Paris. Acknowledged in debate in UK parliament and by Amber Rudd (energy sec) to be an important intervention – creating momentum

“There is an urgent need to develop policies so that in the next few years the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, e.g. substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy” Laudato Si’ 26

Fracking Pros Cons Energy security Less CO2 than coal Most homes heated by gas Closely monitored, so low risk Safe for public health Gas sold on world markets Fugitive Emissions – methane Flaring Move to a low carbon economy Regulation hasn’t prevented past disasters Hazardous to public health

Season of Creation 1st September – 4th October Message for World Day of Prayer for Creation “Let us repent of the harm we are doing to our common home” Finish on notes of inspiration and challenge So let me propose a complement to the two traditional sets of seven: may the works of mercy also include care for our common home. As a spiritual work of mercy, care for our common home calls for a “grateful contemplation of God’s world” (Laudato Si’, 214) which “allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us” (ibid., 85). As a corporal work of mercy, care for our common home requires “simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness” and “makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world” (ibid., 230-31).

avoiding the use of plastic and paper,

reducing water consumption

separating refuse Collecting and recycling: does your local council operate in the most efficient way? If not lobby them to do so!

cooking only what can reasonably be consumed;

showing care for other living beings,

using public transport or car- sharing, and cycling

planting trees,

turning off unnecessary lights,

Switch off appliances; Do not leave them on standby

Or any number of other practices” (Laudato Si’, 211) What are these? We suggest---

Actions Switch Energy Supplier A low carbon lifestyle Campaigns BrightNow – disinvest MP – hold government to account 16 dioceses on green elec – including Liverpool and Lancaster

Actions We need to develop a Vision and Strategy for Low carbon households; Low carbon parishes; Low carbon Dioceses; Low carbon Church. How can we develop (based on Laudato Si’ and as a response to the Paris agreement) a vision and strategy leading to low carbon households within low carbon parishes within low carbon deaneries within low carbon diocese within a low carbon Catholic Church of England & Wales?

A vision: Every parish celebrates World Day of Prayer for Creation A challenge:

A vision: Within 1 year, our Dioceses and every Parish has registered to become a Live Simply Parish. Within 3 years; 75% of parishes have achieved the Live Simply Award. Within 5 years: every Parish has achieved the Live Simply Award. A challenge:

A vision: That the Catholic Church in England and Wales becomes the acknowledged leader and example in advocating and adopting a much simpler lifestyle; That every Catholic will wake up to the urgency of climate change; Hope this is strong enough. I removed by Martin Luther King, I have a dream….

A vision: That every Catholic will adopt a lifestyle which is carbon neutral; That throughout the Catholic Church, today’s model of production and consumption and throwaway culture is rejected completely.

A single question can keep our eyes fixed on the goal: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (Laudato Si’, 160) A single question can keep our eyes fixed on the goal: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (Laudato Si’, 160). What Francis calls “inter-generational justice”