Pathway to Net Zero

We know that individuals, businesses and governments have to act urgently to limit global warming. And now we have a way of playing our part as churches. Check out our top tips for reaching net zero and scroll down for the full pathway.

Top Tips

Sign up for a ‘green tariff’
Switching to a green energy tariff reduces your carbon footprint significantly.
Enter the Parish Pathway
Get your own path to Net Zero.
Sign up for Eco Church
A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches.

Getting to net zero means reducing our emissions as much as we can – and then offsetting those we absolutely can’t reduce. The Church of England has set a target for reaching net zero with its buildings and transport by 2030 – and the Diocese of Oxford has a wider net zero target of 2035.

How are we doing? And how can you get involved? Find out more below.

Don’t forget to check out the Net Zero Zone for resources to help you out along the way.

Getting Started

Begin with prayer
All that we do, we do for love of God and neighbour, so starting with prayer for God’s guidance is key.
Find out your footprint
Want to know what the footprint of your church is? Fill in the 2019 Energy Footprint Tool and we’ll tell you! Please also complete the 2020 form via the Parish Returns website.
Enter the Pathway
Send us this form. Together we’ll pick a next step – audit, telephone audit or conversation – so that your church gets its own pathway.

Going Deeper

Register for Eco Church
Join the country’s largest programme for churches that want to show that the Gospel is good news for the whole earth.
Join in events
Stay tuned for webinars and events from the national Church and diocese that can help you along the Pathway. Arrange a Climate Sunday service, commit to long term action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sign ‘The Time Is Now’ declaration.
Check out our Net Zero Zone
Lots of resources to tell you what you can do and what other churches are doing. Search and filter to find exactly what you need.

Connecting

Join one of our groups for churches
Get in touch and we’ll put you in contact with other churches so that you can share your journey together.
Share your wisdom
Do you have particular areas of expertise? We’d love to hear from you!
Local action...
Join what’s going on locally – look out for opportunities to work with local community groups. Support the YCCN Relay to COP26 as it passes near your church.