AS A landowner with about 250,000 acres, the Church of England has a responsibility to administer land sustainably, says a recent report and guidance on peatlands protection from Operation Noah, a Christian charity campaigning on climate change.
The report, Church Land and the Climate Crisis: A call to motion, focuses on carbon emissions from land use. It notes the concentration on church energy use within the Church’s Routemap to net zero carbon, and its only passing reference to land, which the report suggests as “more likely to create more greenhouse gas emissions than all Church of England buildings combined”.
Peatlands, which cover around three million hectares within the UK, mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They have a net cooling effect on climate, reduce flood risk, and support biodiversity.
But about 80 per cent has been affected by human activity. Drainage for agricultural and forestry purposes has led to the decomposition of plant material and soil shrinkage, which releases carbon into the air. A study led by the UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, and the James Hutton Institute, estimated that net greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from peatlands could exceed the equivalent of about 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a 12 months.
“Church landowners should bring about positive change by promoting farm carbon audits and supporting farmers to make identified changes that may reduce emissions,” the report says.
“Churches have a climate impact beyond their very own carbon footprint, and changes might be made to make sure investments and regionally and nationally owned land or managed in step with the Church’s values and priorities.”
It suggests that key players to find ways to encourage more sustainable farming methods that are good for the climate and nature might be land agents, who manage land and tenancy agreements for landowners, including the Church Commissioners and dioceses.
As churches manage housing, businesses, and places of worship, potential ought to be explored for increasing green spaces, wildlife havens, community allotments, and concrete trees, the report says. Tree growing is one priority area for motion on church land.
“We call on the Church Commissioners and Church of England dioceses to discover all protected peat habitats inside their land, and to work with land agents, tenants and external partners to guard and restore the peat to a rewetted healthy state,” the report says.
“They could also make a positive impact on protecting peatland by introducing policies to ban peat extraction and peat burning on its land.”
With regard to supporting farmers to cut back emissions, the report calls on everyone to play an element in reducing emissions linked to food and agriculture, including reducing food waste and eating more locally sourced and plant-based meals.
It suggests, “Given that a lot church land is farmed, improving agricultural practices is vital, but this must be done collaboratively with farmers, who’re the major experts on the land they farm. The Church Commissioners have expressed some support for regenerative farming practices, and it should be interesting to see more information on their Sustainability Strategy.”
Operation Noah has a recent four-page resource for churches to download. It has already produced guidance on growing trees, and a recent resource to support farmers to cut back their agricultural emissions is to follow.
“As the Church takes positive steps and publicises them, it may raise a prophetic voice influencing parishioners, local communities, and other faith communities,” the report concludes.
“It also has the potential to influence wider society, government and other institutions towards vital large scale changes.”
