Methodists’ New Year’s Resolution

Methodists’ New Year’s Resolution - to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent within a year·
Call to be ‘earth keepers’ rather than ‘earth eaters’

Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, signed up to the 10:10 campaign yesterday on behalf of over 100 staff at Methodist Church House in London. Throughout 2010, staff will work to cut 10 per cent off the building’s energy use.

Martyn said: ‘We begin to change the world when we change our lives and lifestyles. It is absolutely right, then, that as Christian disciples heeding God’s command to be good stewards of the planet, and increasingly ‘earth keepers’ rather than ‘earth eaters’, we commit ourselves to joining the 10:10 campaign. Together we can make a small but significant change and express hope in God’s future.’

Using the principle of ‘small actions, big difference,’ office staff will be encouraged to switch off lights and computers when they are not in use. There will also be a travel survey, initiating a year-long challenge to look at travel patterns for work engagements in Britain and with partner churches worldwide.

Energy saving actions at Methodist Church House have already begun. Desk printers have been replaced by more efficient shared printers. All office staff have their own recycling bin with non-recyclable material now deposited in separate communal bins. Following the results of an independent audit by the Carbon Trust, there will be an investment in a suitable building management system and exploration of PIR (passive infrared sensors) lighting.

Tamsin Omond, Faith Coordinator for the 10:10 campaign, said: “It is great to have the Methodist Church joining the initiative. Faith groups have recently had a strong voice on this issue and turning words into action is essential to tackle the global problem of climate change. All our personal actions reinforce the message to our governments regarding the scale of ambition that we expect from international agreements.”

The wider Church is encouraged to join the campaign via http://www.1010uk.org


Source: Methodist News Service 07/01/2010