The results of the latest Bishops’ Children and Youth Council listening report are in with 227 young people from primary and secondary schools and church groups around the diocese offering their thoughts and feelings on the subject of Climate Change.
Taking part in a series of activities, chats and creative sessions, they’ve shared what their schools and churches are already doing to help the environment - from recycling and using less resources, to promoting sustainable travel and creating green spaces - and suggested what more they think can be done to tackle the climate crisis.
The responses reveal that our children and young people are really keen to engage with the issue of climate change – in school, at home, and in church.
But just 21% feel their schools are doing enough to tackle the subject, only 29% think churches are making enough of an effort, and 31% believe they are climate change conscious enough in the way they do things at home.
Their top suggestions are switching to greener energy, planting trees, starting eco groups and donating food and goods.
Matt Long, our Youth Engagement & Intergenerational Communities Enabler, says: “I am always fascinated and surprised by the findings from our listening exercises.
“The biggest surprise this term is finding that 72% of children and young people think God cares about climate change, but only 17% think climate change is connected to faith.
“How can we engage our children and young people to turn their understanding of a caring God into faith-based climate action?”
You can read the full report here.
Bishop Martyn has made a video response to the report, thanking the young people, and reflecting on the key findings.
The children and young people were also introduced to Adam Clarke, our recently appointed Net Zero Carbon Programme Manager, who was asked:
- How can schools and churches move away from fossil fuels? Where can they access funding to help install green energy and solar panels?
- How might schools and churches work together to plant more trees?
In his response, Adam encourages churches and schools to keep up their carbon-reducing efforts, to look out for upcoming grants and to consider the wide range of schemes available which encourage active participation in tackling climate change.
The projects highlighted by Adam are:
Let's Go Zero
Eco Schools
Eco Church
National Tree Week
Tiny Forest
Read more about Adam and his role as Net Zero Carbon Programme Manager here.