Net Carbon Zero

The United Nations states that Climate Change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. The consequence of it has led to devastating results. Recently, wildfires spread in Australia, canals flooded in Venice and storms engulfed the UK. We continue to experience record breaking heat waves, earthquakes, tsunamis and droughts across the world

We are continually looking at the carbon foot print of Durham Cathedral in the long term. Our emerging carbon reduction plan will lead the way to Net Zero Carbon by 2030

In 2021, we reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 33% compared to 2020 – despite resuming operations post-COVID. A large part of the reduction was owed to the strict management of heating schedules and equipment by the Cathedral’s Maintenance Team. A culture change and better energy management were the first step to significantly reducing emissions.

The term net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. This balance – or net zero – will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed.

Carbon is released into the atmosphere through oil, gas and coal burned in our homes, places of worship and the buildings we work in. It is also released to power transport. These gases increase global temperatures by trapping the sun's energy and are responsible for causing climate change.

To reach net zero, emissions from our churches, cathedrals, schools, clergy housing and office buildings across the country will need to be cut.

We’ve worked with Durham University and the Durham Energy Institute on behalf of the Church of England to help decarbonise our heating and meet their aim of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for our operations by 2030.

The research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The Church of England Environment Programme exists to enable the whole Church to address this — in faith, practice and mission. This includes tackling our own carbon emissions (aiming for NetZero Carbon by 2030) and our wider work.

The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, was invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to lead the Church of England’s Environment Programme with a charge to lead bold, deliberate, collaborative action across the Church to tackle the grave existential crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. He took up the post in June 2021.