Katherine Alldread (Laity): We are tasked with good stewardship of our planet, one of our greatest gifts.  As Christians we can and should be leading on how we look after our environment.  As individuals and churches we should look at our carbon footprints and do what we can to reduce them.  The Church through its Synod should provide clear guidelines for churches and members to follow to reduce climate change.  We should also look at the Church’s investments and carefully evaluate the practices of the companies in which we invest (and only invest in those meeting strong criteria).  One area where we have the potential to lead is in the care of our buildings and how we heat and light them- we need to think creatively about the use of alternative energy sources and the more efficient use of our great buildings.   Living differently, with an active focus on how we care for each other and the world around us, is not only good for the planet but also good for mission.

Molly Andrews (Laity): I believe positive steps forward have recently been taken in the Climate Change Policy adopted by the Church of England’s investing bodies in July this year. As powerful investors, the CoE are engaging in discussions with companies on ways forward in this area and using the decision of divestment from those businesses who fail to put in place strategies to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels or lower their carbon footprint. In addition, greater emphasis needs to be given to developing strategies which increase energy efficiency and renewable energy.

In the Bible we see how God created the world and placed us as stewards of His creation, we need to be sure we are responsibly fulfilling this role the Lord has entrusted to us, as individuals and corporately.  We see through Scripture, also, His charge that we care for the poor and  vulnerable, some of whom are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, and who are the least able to adapt to these effects. Many of our values and priorities, which are reflected in our way of life both socially and economically, need to be brought in line with God’s call upon us to be good stewards before this challenge will be met.

Rachel Bell (Laity): From the very first chapter of the Bible, the human race has been given the responsibility to look after and subdue the world God created. This falls to us both individually and corporately. I think it is important for the Church of England to act in a way that is not just prescriptive for how churches and individuals should live, but should lead by example. Christians, as well as the Church as a whole should be paving the way for how best to look after this temporary home we have been left in charge of. We ought to be a light in darkness to those around us so that they see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.

It would be wonderful to see General Synod assume a role that helps local churches and individuals think creatively about how they can prevent further damage to our world. They could then put measures in place to make living responsibly simple and achievable. I think the Church of England is in a good position to create a ripple effect as they urge Christians to be a good witness in how to live responsibly as God commanded us to.

Mark Broomhead (Clergy):  Whether we like it or not, society looks to the Church to take a lead on moral issues, and our attitude towards the environment is a good example of this. The Church of England’s “Shrinking the Footprint” initiative is a good start, there are many tools and resources to help us to start to make a difference, but if we are going to obtain our goal of Carbon reduction of 80% by 2050, with an interim target of 42% by 2020 I believe the central church needs to call the local church to greater accountability. The decision by C of E to sell off investments in tar sands and coal this year has been welcomed by campaigners and shows the effect that our ethically based financial decisions can have both environmentally and as a witness. I believe that synod needs to continue to make decisions like this, even if they may be costly to us in financial terms. I agree with Archbishop Justin when he says 'Actions have to change for words to have effect’. We have a responsibility to get our own house in order as part of our mission to present the gospel to this and future generations.

Patrick Coleman (Clergy): The Church of England is already part of wide-ranging conversation and action concerning climate change.  New attention has been given to the theological understanding of our role as stewards of creation through Pope Francis’s recent encyclical letter.

Both the Church and Synod need to take care in articulating responses and encouraging practical action so that the godly basis of our teaching and action can been seen and understood by all.  An appropriate level of repentance for past attitudes of supremacy over the created realm continues to be in order.

Shrinking the Footprint has been the Church of England’s practical response since 2006, and we should be encouraging a thorough review of its effects and what is needed to take its impetus forward into the next ten years.

Peter Collard (Laity): Unfortunately this issue has been clouded by extremists on both sides of the debate. Poor science, even worse forecasting and the financial interests of both sides have led to a complete breakdown in trust for those like myself. My biblical understanding leads me to believe that we are trustees of the planet and are required not to leave future generations to sort out our mess. 

In terms of action I think as a country we should impose an import tax based on pollution of the source country, which would finance our own reduction plans, whilst encouraging other countries to do the same and provide a level playing field for producers. Synod could pressure the government to do this.

Caroline Duffield (Laity): I am not as well-informed on this matter as I would like to be. I believe that where people are shaped by God they are more responsible towards the world they live in. In the beginning God created a perfect world and Christians will inhabit a perfect Eden in the new world when Jesus returns. Now we live in the "end times" of the new Testament, between these two perfect worlds, where wars rage and natural disasters occur. Climate change is a consequence of a fallen world.

If we are serious about engaging with this issue we need Christians to be involved but also need to realise that God will hold us accountable as stewards of God's world. Perhaps a more effective way is to call people to repentance and faith and pray that a changed heart will care for the world God put us in charge of.

Hannah Grivell (Laity): I wholeheartedly believe that climate change is something all of us need to think about and not just the Church of England. It is something I intend to bring up with the presidents of Churches Together in England this week at their forum. We cannot tackle this alone, only with the help and solidarity of all the Churches in England and all the people of England can we really think about a practical way to help eradicate the problems caused by climate change. Dialogue with other Churches is imperative in doing this.

Angela Heath (Laity): Synod’s recent advisory report on climate change policy sets out, in the context of our shared obligation to care for God’s planet,  the key principles of the Church’s approach:

• to practice what it preaches in its own investment policies, in order to promote and support clean technologies and reduce exposure to non-compliant operators
• the engage actively with the players among the carbon-generating industries and suppliers, to encourage beneficial change
• to upgrade its own expertise in the science of climate change, and best practice.

It also called upon each of us to aim for lifestyles that reflect our duty of stewardship of God’s Creation.

These are good, inspiring principles. But the challenges remain daunting, and the Volkswagen scandal implies that fraud and evasion are also factors. On some measures, the UK has done well on meeting emission standards – but on global comparisons, we are far from in the lead, and indeed falling behind. Government policy is ambivalent at best. A major problem is inadequate research (R&D budgets are inadequate), in which China and other Far Eastern countries are now excelling.

The Church should urge Government to promote a more coherent set of policies, and especially to champion research.

Richard Henderson-Smith (Laity): The Church and Synod have the responsibility to give a moral lead to the nation in the name of Christ. The Church should be a standard bearer for action including abandoning investments in fossil fuel production and exploration and reinvestment in renewable technologies. Christians and the Church must urge those who represent our nation to take similar actions in the lead up to the international climate summit (COP21) to take place in Paris in November and to follow up with the necessary responses. We must grasp that responsibility in the face of the urgent crises arising from climate changes which are undoubtedly happening (whether man-made or not). The majority of climate scientists and ecologists agree that human activities contribute to those changes, so humanity has a duty to attempt to prevent global warming by more than 2 degrees Celsius. Already the poorest people on earth are suffering the most from the effects of climate change. Christians should care for them as Jesus did. I believe that the Risen Jesus, as the Gardener of Eden, calls us to tend this earthly garden with him and to continue the work of building the God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.         

Julian Hollywell (Clergy): The Anglican Consultative Council took prophetic action in 1984 when establishing the Five Marks of Mission of the Communion.  It identified as one of the central charisms of Anglican participation in the Mission of God as being, ‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.’

Progress has been too slow.  It is only this year that a new climate change investment policy has been adopted by General Synod upon the recommendation from the Ethical Investment Advisory Group and though this has received international praise, too often Synod appears to be preoccupied with other issues and so fails to articulate a message of hope, rooted in scripture, that advocates both institutional and personal integrity.

The devastating effects of climate change are felt most acutely by the poor. It can be more comfortable for us to offer charity than live out our Christian discipleship by standing in solidarity with the poor; we should listen to them and the church should reflect their story and so be for the poor.   This Synod must re-orient the church’s focus and proclaim the Good News of God’s love, economic justice and environmental responsibility far more clearly.

Stephen Jones (Clergy):  Debate on climate change is technical and complex.  The mixed reaction of the scientific community to a recent pronouncement by the Catholic church is a warning to us.  Nonetheless, the Church has a scriptural duty to be a prophetic voice, proclaiming our human responsibilities, towards God, towards others, and towards the created world.

First, the human race is given both the privilege and the burden of being guardian of the whole creation.  We are to use its resources, but we are to be stewards of those resources.  We may enjoy the gifts of the world, but we may not squander them. 

Second, the climate change debate impinges upon other theological issues.  We have a rapidly expanding human population, and limited resources which we all share.  The issues of life and choice, proving so divisive in many cultures, are one example.  The church must often maintain principles which are hard to reconcile in practice.

What should the Synod say?  I would discourage the endorsement of political policies.  The Synod is not an alternative Parliament.  But we are a powerful voice in the national conscience, and should witness to the goodness and sanctity of God's creation.

Corinne Marsh (Laity): I believe this is certainly an important issue facing us today. God himself acknowledged in Genesis that His Creation was good. The world matters to Him and He sustains it. If we neglect and abuse the environment then we are damaging something that is precious to God.  In Genesis 2 verse 15 God created man and ordered him to work at taking care of His creation. Likewise, we are to be good stewards, acting responsibly towards God's Creation, taking care of it and enabling it to be fruitful, allowing it to play its intended role in bringing praise and glory to God. The world belongs to God. We therefore need to work hard to reach people with the Gospel as He holds us accountable for the way we live. I believe the Church of England should be involved in discussing these issues and seeing that the necessary resources are used wisely to promote ecological values around the world.  I am also of the opinion that much of the changes we see in the weather and climate around the world today is due to the natural cycle and an inevitable progression just as we no longer live in the Ice Age!

Simon Taylor (Clergy): Climate change is one of the most important issues that we are facing. What do you think should be the Church of England's (and Synod's) role in tackling this?

The Synod has already acted on Climate change.  In July, we spent time studying the Bible on this issue, and then had two big debates.  The first resulted in a call to governments to agree long-term low carbon targets in Paris December and to end fossil-fuel subsidies.  The motion also drew attention to fasting and praying for climate change on the first day of each month (a practice I have adopted), and co-ordinated the Church of England’s response with Anglicans around the world.  The second debate endorsed disinvestment from some forms of energy production and robust engagement to encourage companies to change their policy.  This has already been effective with BP and Shell.

This is what Synod has done.  It can and should continue to issue prophetic calls to governments and the international community; join with fellow Christians; and provoke theological discussion.  It can and should monitor the Church of England’s practice in investment and elsewhere.  However, without dioceses, parishes and individual Christians also changing their practice, this will be less effective.  So join me in fasting and praying for climate change on the first day of the month, and keep working locally for change that will make a difference.

Jason Ward (Clergy): I would want to bundle climate change, inequality and our compassion for the developing world together. It is the developed nations that are largely the problem, and the developing that will suffer- and Jesus is clear that Christians care for their neighbours whoever and wherever they are (luke 10:25-37). Realistically, there is not much that the C of E can do on a world-scale, but that doesn’t stop us from playing our part. While individual bishops can use their position to campaign politically, I think we as a Diocese could put in a motion at general synod level to free up money and loosen faculties so that putting solar power on vicarage and church roofs wasn’t left up to individuals to finance and push through, but became a centrally-resourced and driven initiative. 

Gillian White (Clergy): Climate change is surely one of the most important issues facing the human race although it is easier to ignore that on higher ground! Care for creation and speaking up for the most vulnerable, such as those caught up in the immediate effects of climate change, is central to my understanding of the gospel. Many Christians are already actively engaged in tackling climate change locally and nationally with prayer and preaching, through practical action as churches and individuals, to lobbying and campaigning. Climate change is also a great place to work in partnership with people and organisations beyond the Church. Drawing on the knowledge and expertise of people within the Church of England and beyond, I think Synod should take a lead in shifting understanding so more people in our churches and communities see climate change as an issue that affects us all and are motivated to act for change. Prayer, words and action will all have a part to play in that but perhaps most of all, a sense of hope that what we do will make difference.