At this year’s General Synod of the Church of Ireland, held in Limerick from 4th-6th May, members voted in favour of a resolution on climate change and fossil fuels.
The Church of Ireland’s investments are managed by the Representative Church Body (RCB), which was established in 1870 as the charitable trustee of the Church. The resolution directs the RCB to:
- exclude companies whose turnover (in excess of 10%) is derived from the production of coal or tar sands in recognition that these companies are unlikely to be able to assist with the transition to a low carbon economy.
- aim to increase (where possible and subject to adequate returns) its exposure to green alternatives, to reduce its exposure to oil and gas producers and to seek companies with good environmental policies that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint.
- continue to support collaborative engagement with companies and with policy makers for the delivery of this commitment on assisting the transition to a low carbon economy
- acknowledge that divestment from companies not taking seriously their responsibilities to assist with the transition to a low carbon economy may be the appropriate course of action.
- monitor and report annually on their implementation of this policy.
The resolution also endorses the Environmental Charter that was passed by General Synod in 2015: this may be found at Environmental Charter.
In his opening address to Synod, the Archbishop of Armagh, Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, said, “the special and unique identity we have as Christians in this land […] is an identity which we should cherish and never take for granted, one which holds within it and offers such great spiritual riches.” It is the hope of the Church of Ireland that this resolution, in working toward protection of the environment, will help to nurture such spiritual riches.