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Policy papers

The Church of England and Tearfund are working with partner organisations and governments on climate change and disaster prevention and preparedness.

Here you will find the policy reports and briefings that have been written as part of this work.

They are split into two tiers.

The first tier contains the most recent reports and those which provide a good overview of some of the issues related to climate change. 

The second tier contains the most detailed and technical reports and responses to official consultations.
 
Tier 1 
  • Climate change and human security (June 2008) (PDF, 161K)
    This report was written for the Church of England’s Parliament, the General Synod, and explores the complex relationship between climate change and human security. It shows how climate change is already a pressing reality for many poor and marginalised communities around the world. It argues that it is not sufficient for the Church merely to cuts its own carbon footprint it has a moral obligation and responsibility to assist communities adapt to climate change. It was on the basis of this report that the Church of England’s General Synod, agreed to set up the Climate Justice Fund.
  • Climate change – not just a green issue (August 2007) (PDF, 69K)
    This briefing paper from the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division explores why climate change is not just an environmental protection issue, but one intimately connected with a wider world. and why at its heart it is a matter of global justice. The paper calls for a more holistic response by the Church to climate change by recognising the linkage between the Church’s call “to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation” and its mission “to transform unjust structures of society”.    
  • Towards a post-Kyoto climate treaty (November 2007) (PDF, 78K)
    This briefing paper from the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division explores the competing understandings of justice that inform and shape the differing positions of governments and civil society around the world. The briefing paper argues that progress in securing a robust and comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009 is dependent on moving away from partial understanding of overarching justice ,which helps transform our relationship with each other and the natural world. 
  • What the world is waiting for: action on adaptation (2009)
    This report argues that COP 15 in Copenhagen must deliver a coherent framework that massively scales up action on adaptation. Tearfund believes that a global Adaptation Framework must be agreed to strengthen international activities and commitments...   
  • Two degrees, One chance (May 2007)
    Released in the run-up to the G8 summit, this paper explains why global average temperature rise must be kept as far below 2°C as possible (from pre-industrial levels), based on a review of evidence of the impacts at different temperature ranges...  
Tier 2 
  • Church leaders letter on eve of Bali Conference (November 2007) (PDF, 176K)
    In a joint letter sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden and the Chairman of the Council of the EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland), the leaders called for "... governments and the European Commission to strengthen their commitment to addressing the challenge of climate change", as they gather at the Intergovernmental Conference on Climate Change in Bali, 3-14 December. The letter argues that the impact of climate change is felt disproportionately and most heavily by those who have done the eats to cause it, and this makes climate change not just a question of environmental protection but also of international justice.
  • Church of England response to DfID White Paper (May 2009) (PDF, 195K)
    This response by the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division to the DfID’s White Paper consultation explores in greater detail how the impact of climate change on many of the world’s poorest communities necessitates a fundamental revision in the way that governments and development NGOs think about and do development. 
  • Church Response to the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (June 2008) (PDF, 128K)
    In a detailed submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the reform of the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme, the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Europe Panel argued that any revenues accrued from the sale of auctioning rights should help finance the commercialisation of green technology.
  • Through the Glass Darkly – Europe and the Politics of Climate Change (October 2007) (PDF, 104K)
    This briefing paper from the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division explores in greater detail the EU’s green credentials and the claim by many members state governments that the EU is providing the necessary levels of moral and political leadership on climate change.
  • Churches urge EU leaders to build a greener economy (December 2008) (PDF, 205K)
    In advance of the December 2008 EU Summit, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden and the Presiding Bishop of EKD wrote to the President of the Council of the European Union, HE Nicolas Sarkozy, urging him to ensure "that climate considerations are not marginalised in the search to find short and medium term solutions to immediate economic pressures."
  • Joint Statement on the ETS (PDF, 184K)
    In July 2008, the Church of England joined with several other civil society actors in issuing a statement on the European Commission’s proposals to reform the EU’s Emissions Trading scheme. The statement included a series of recommendations as to how a reformed ETS could be a ‘good news’ story for many of the world’s poor. 
  • Greening the EU Budget: A Case for Reform (June 2008) (PDF, 116)
    In a submission by the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Europe Panel to the European Commission’s 2007 Consultation Paper on Reforming the EU Budget, the Church argues for radical revisions to the EU budget in favour of financing a low carbon economy.
  • EU post-2012 consultation (November 2008) (PDF, 130K)
    The Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Europe set out the Church’s position on Copenhagen in its response to a consultation document issued by the European Commission.
  • Assessing the alternatives Written with Tearfund support, this Stamp Out Poverty report assesses 12 proposals for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries; examining and comparing their potential to meet the massive costs of climate change.   
  • Separate streams? This report is based on empirical evidence from case studies undertaken in Niger and north-east Brazil, and aims to identify how climate change adaptation can be integrated within the water sector to benefit the most poor and vulnerable people...  
  • Carbon trading – A Tearfund briefing paper. This report assesses whether the carbon market is working to deliver emissions cuts and to bring sustainable development in the developing world, and makes recommendations for improvement.   
  • Linking climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This report looks at similarities and differences between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and discusses the rationale for adopting a more integrated approach to these issues.  
  • Adaptation and the post-2012 framework. Written in time for the 2007 UN climate change conference, this report argues that negotiations on the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol must begin at COP 13 in Bali and be concluded by COP 15 in 2009. Adaptation should be a fundamental...   
  • Dried up, drowned out: voices from the developing world on a changing climate (June 2005). This report reveals that poor communities around the world are extremely vulnerable to climate changes that are happening at the local level.  

This page was last updated on 07 June 2010

Climate Justice Fund is the Church of England’s national environmental fund, run in partnership with Tearfund. Email: climate.justice@c-of-e.org.uk

About the Church of England: The Church of England provides a Christian presence in every community. It plays a vital role in the life of the nation, proclaiming the Christian gospel in words and actions and providing services of Christian worship and praise.

The Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council is a registered charity No. 1074857.       Email: enquiries@c-of-e.org.uk       Tel: 020 7898 1200

About Tearfund: We are Christians passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives - overcoming global poverty.
So our ten-year vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

Tearfund is a registered charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) No. SC037624 (Scotland)      Email: enquiries@tearfund.org      Tel: 0845 355 8355