Dumbarton churches pledge to tackle climate change

Feb 5 2010 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

MORE than 80 delegates gathered in Dumbarton recently to learn how churches can play their part in tackling climate change.

They were attending a conference organised by the Presbytery of Dumbarton’s Church and Community Committee.

The Church of Scotland has challenged congregations to achieve a year-on-year reduction of five per cent in their carbon footprint.

The event in Riverside Church halls last Saturday provided information and advice about how that can be achieved.

Speakers included Adrian Shaw, the Kirk’s climate change project officer, Rev Roddy Hamilton of Abbotsford Church, Clydebank, which is an eco congregation and Lilian Delaney of the Energy Savings Trust.

Dumbarton’s MP John McFall and MSP Jackie Baillie also attended.

Rev Norma Moore, convener of the committee which hosted the conference, said: “Climate change is not just a theory, it’s a fact, and it is affecting us all.

“The Church of Scotland has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by per cent year on year and it was heartening to see so many people from local churches coming to hear more about how that can be achieved.”