A Rocha surprised the assembled delegates of Net Zero Carbon Officers and Diocesan Environment Officers, with confirmation of CofE Birmingham’s Silver-Eco status and achievement at the annual national CofE conference taking place at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, this week.
The CofE Birmingham has made history by becoming the first Church of England diocese to be awarded the prestigious Eco Diocese Silver Award, recognising unprecedented commitment to environmental sustainability and significant environmental achievements across the diocese's churches and operations.
Key milestones in this journey include:
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40% of diocesan churches registered with Eco Church
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30% of churches achieving bronze-level environmental recognition
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10% of churches reaching silver award status
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The Bishop of Birmingham, The Rt. Revd Dr Michael Volland said,
'Being the first diocese in the Church of England to receive a Silver Eco Award is a huge encouragement for us here in Birmingham and the region. It is a result of an enormous amount of commitment and hard work on the part of many dedicated and faithful people. I hope this award is an inspiration to other dioceses and pray that many will follow suit with continued focused efforts in relation to actively caring for God's creation.'
The Church of England Birmingham's success stems from a unique, integrated strategy. Unlike traditional environmental approaches, CofE Birmingham has woven ecological consciousness into every diocesan focus - from property management to education. A collaborative network of Deanery, and Parish, Environmental Champions and strong support by the Bishop and the diocesan leadership have been instrumental in driving this transformative work.
Partnerships have been crucial. St Peter’s Maney, which has an Eco Church Gold Award, helped by sharing their learning as it has moved through the Eco Church awards. The Birmingham Anglican Climate Action (BACA) group played a pivotal role, with volunteers Caroline Egan (Assistant Diocesan Environment Officer) and Heather Holmes (Lead Environmental Champion), significantly boosting the diocese's environmental leadership capacity.
The journey wasn't without challenges. Developing a comprehensive Land Management Plan required extensive collaboration with A Rocha UK and national Church of England bodies, demonstrating the diocese's dedication to meeting the highest environmental standards.
CofE Birmingham now stands as a beacon of environmental leadership, proving that meaningful ecological action is not just possible, but essential within institutional frameworks.
This award represents more than an environmental achievement, it reflects a deep commitment to responsible stewardship and our belief that caring for creation is a fundamental aspect of our faith.
Left to right is Ben Smith (Net Zero Carbon Project Manager), Caroline Egan (Assistant DEO), Heather Holmes (Lead Environmental Champion), Patrick Gerard (Bishop’s Adviser for the Environment (DEO)) and Polly Eaton (Eco Diocese Officer at A Rocha UK).
Press and Media enquires should be made to comms@cofebirmingham.com