Church of England Urging Christians to Use Renewable Energy in Response to Climate Change

Climate change has been a major global talking point for quite some time. In response to this growing problem, the Church of England is endorsing a new charity campaign in hopes that Christians in the UK will transition to renewable energy sources.

According to The Telegraph, the Bishop of Salisbury, Right Rev. Nicholas Holtam of the Church of England, has developed a new campaign called the “Big Church Switch” in response to global warming.

The program, which is being launched by Christian Aid and Tearfund on Ash, was created to encourage Christians to choose renewable energy tariffs. With the new campaign in place, Rev. Holtam hopes to influence “hundreds of thousands of Christian to switch energy suppliers.”

“The Big Church Switch is a simple, practical, good idea. It supports the move to renewable energy,” Rev. Holtam said. “If Lent is about renewing our lives in response to the love of God, here is a way to follow. You can do it, and so will I.”

To become involved with the campaign, UK households can visit a website known as “The Big Deal,” which offers a deal from Green Star Energy with “100% clean electricity.” The tariff costs most households about £824 per year, which equates to approximately $1,164 in the U.S.

Energy use among U.S. data centers grew 36% from 2005 to 2010, and the need for renewable energy continues to grow as technology becomes more ingrained in the lives of people all over the world. Christian Aid’s head of advocacy, Laura Taylor, hopes that the UK government will also do its part to end its dependence on fossil fuels.

“Today we’re saying to the government: we’re switching to low carbon energy, now you must switch the country’s energy from fossil fuels to renewables,” Taylor said.

Christians have long wondered what their role is in helping the world transition to renewable energy. According to CNSNews.com, many Christians are more focused on helping developing countries that can’t afford more expensive, lower-yield energy sources.

The Scripture calls for Christians to help those who are poor, marginalized, and afflicted. Therefore, some Christians are frustrated that programs like the “Big Church Switch” are being funded in the UK while millions of people in India still rely on coal and nuclear energy.

Despite this perceived moral quandary, it’s inarguable that the “Big Church Switch” is at least helping the UK to change its poor energy habits.

By instituting a program of this nature, Rev. Holtam believes that the Church of England has taken the first step to “demonstrate their care for creation, tackle climate change, and show political leaders that they support faster action on renewable energy.”